St. Petersburg, August 19, 2015
2 metric tons of blessed apples were distributed to St. Petersburg residents on the feast of Transfiguration in the Mikhailovsky Park of the Iskusstv Square, the event’s organizers reported to Interfax-Religion.
The diocese’s representative blessed the apples. The event was followed by street festivities.
Those who were unable to take part in the festivity were treated with apples in shopping centers of St. Petersburg and in the Isaakievskaya Square throughout the day.
On Wednesday, August 19, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated; this feast is also known in Russia as the “Apple Savior”, or “Apple Day” folk festival. It is one of the Twelve Great Feasts – the major feasts of the Orthodox Church.
According to the Gospels, on that day Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Then the apostles heard a voice out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him!” Thus Christ showed His glory to the disciples lest they should be scandalized, seeing His passion on the cross.
The Savior was transfigured before His apostles in February, 40 days before the crucifixion, but the Church afterwards moved the feast from Lent to August.
The tradition holds that the Transfiguration took place on Mount Tabor in Galilee in North Israel. It was on Mount Tabor where Empress Helen in the 4th century built a Church in honor of the Transfiguration and introduced the custom of celebrating this event.
On that day Orthodox priests wear white vestments that symbolize the Divine light issued from Christ on Mount Tabor, and after the festal service they bless the new fruit.
This custom dates from the 8th century. It was timed to coincide with the feast of Transfiguration because by August fruit was already ripe in the East (the most important kinds of fruit were ears of wheat and grapes that were used in the liturgy). In Russia grapes ripened by August not everywhere, so they were replaced by apples, hence the second, popular name of this feast: the Apple Day.
