On Friday, August 19, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, one of the twelve most important holidays after Easter. People call it Apple Spas or Honey Spas. Believers carry baskets of apples, grapes and flowers to church.
The tradition of celebrating the Transfiguration of the Lord arose at the beginning of the 4th century, when, by order of Emperor Constantine and his mother, Saint Helena, the first church was erected on Mount Tabor in honor of this event.
40 days before the crucifixion, Jesus Christ ascended Mount Tabor along with three disciples. At the moment of prayer, his face lit up with an unearthly light, and his clothes became snow-white. Thus Jesus knew that he had to die for the sins of the people and revealed to the apostles his purpose. Coming down from the mountain, Christ ordered his companions to gather apples so that the father could bless them. After that, a temple was built on the mountain.
Once it was a holiday dedicated to the harvest. Our ancestors noticed that on this day the memory of the martyrs is venerated.
The holiday falls on the Dormition Fast. Therefore, there are certain ban.
You can not clean, sew, knit and embroider. On this day, only cooking is allowed.
It is forbidden to get married on a holiday.
In Apple Spas you can not kill insects.
It was believed that it was impossible to eat apples before the Savior. Especially women who have lost children.
Signs
If more people are treated with apples on August 19, then you can count on a fruitful year.
The leaves on the trees on Apple Spas are already yellow - autumn cold is just around the corner.
If it rains on Apple Spas, autumn will be rainy. Clear and sunny day - until the harsh winter.
What is the weather on Apple Savior, such will be on Pokrov (October 14).
Prayer for the holiday
Master Christ God, You healed my sufferings with Your passions and healed my wounds with Your wounds. Forgive me that I have sinned a lot against You, tears of repentance, revelry and conversion. Mix my body with the incense of Your animal Body and delight my soul with Your honest blood from the bitterness that the enemy has given me to drink.
Bring to You my heart and mind, bowed to the ground, and lead me from the abyss of the afterlife, for there is no repentance, I do not touch, I have no tears of joy that lift children to their inheritance. My heart has been strengthened and my mind has become clouded in worldly passions, therefore I cannot look at You in my weakness, I cannot warm myself with tears of love for You.
But, Master Lord Jesus Christ, treasures of goodness and grace, grant me complete and true repentance and humility and a fervent heart to find You. Give me Thy grace and renew in me Thy image and the constant creation of me by Thy Holy Spirit. And although I have left You, do not leave me. Come out to find me again, bring me back to Your pasture and number me among the sheep of Your chosen flock. Feed me with them the food of Your animal and eternal Word and Your Divine Sacraments, according to my supplications and prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Recall that on August 14, believers celebrated the first Spas - Honey. The Third Spas - Walnut - will be celebrated on August 29.
Source: Fakty
