Savior of the Apple Feast Day in Belarus

On 19 August Orthodox Christians of Belarus celebrate a big religious holiday, the Feast of the Transfiguration. The Gospel says that after Jesus and his apostles climbed the saint mountain of Tabor to pray, his face began to shine and his clothes became radiant white...

The Slavonic people gave this holiday another, beautiful and symbolic, name – Savior of the Apple Feast Day. People believed that it was high time to eat the new harvest. The last summer month marks three religious holidays rich in old-time customs of gathering a harvest and thanking God for it in the church. These holidays are Savior of the Honey Feast Day, Savior of the Apple Feast Day and Savior of the Bread (or Nut) Feast Day… Today these holidays remain all-time favorite and the most beloved tradition of August.  

On Savior of the Apple Feast Day Belarusian churches hold special services, and churchgoers have their baskets with apples blessed. Fruit festivals are organized in the open-air…