On August 19, 2019, on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord , with the blessing of His Grace Gideon, Bishop Makarovsky, the abbot of the Tithes Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, a festive divine service was performed at the monastery by the brethren in the priesthood.
After reading the Holy Gospel, a fervent prayer was raised for peace in Ukraine and for the unity of the Orthodox Church.
At the end of the service, the blessing of the new harvest grapes and other fruits was performed.
Almost 2000 years ago, on this day, Christ showed the Apostles Peter, John and James the Kingdom of Heaven. Ascending Mount Tabor, Jesus was transformed: `` His face shone like the sun, but His clothes became white like light. '' (Matthew 17: 2). The apostles saw that before them was a Man, but with a divine nature. A real miracle for the disciples of Christ was the appearance of the prophets Moses and Elijah. And from the suddenly appeared cloud, the voice of God the Father was heard. He called to obey in everything His Son, Jesus.
The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord has been celebrated by the Orthodox Church since the IV century, when the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Elena built a temple in honor of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. For this holiday, the consecration of fruits is special. This ancient custom dates back to the 8th century. Spikelets and grapes were brought to the temple in gratitude to God for His love, for the gift of a generous harvest.
In Christianity, the consecration of fruits on the day of the Feast of the Transfiguration acquired a special symbolic meaning: in the Transfiguration of Christ it is shown that a new, transformed and blessed state that man and the world acquire through the Resurrection of Christ and which will be realized in the resurrection of all people.
