Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

Transfiguration Feast Day

Question:

I would like to know what Russian Orthodox practicioners do on the Transfiguration Feast Day.  Could you please enlighten me on their customs and on any specific details such as recipes or specific foods that they eat on that day.

Answer:

Dr. Alexander Roman alex.roman@unicorne.org

The Feast of the Holy Transfiguration is one that is linked to the harvest of the first-fruits of the harvest season.  On that day, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to bring grapes and other soft-fruits to Church to have them blessed.

Christ took three of His Apostles to Mount Tabor prior to His Passion to visually show them His own Divine Glory as the Word of God Incarnate.  This took the form of His Body being totally enveloped in a powerful, energetic halo of Light.  And Christ did this, as the liturgical prayers indicate, to bring the Apostles joy and reassurance in advance of His terrible suffering during His Passion - so that they would not lose heart, but believe in His Resurrection from the dead as the "First-Fruits" as St Paul wrote.

In addition, the blessing of grapes, that is specifically mentioned liturgically, is an allusion to the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist, the New Wine that is Christ's Blood that nourishes us spiritually.  The liturgical prayers also refer to Christ Himself as the "Divine Cluster" attached to the Cross from which "Drips the Mystic Wine."

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