
On Tuesday, August 6th, faithful parishioners and guests gathered to celebrate the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Following the Divine Liturgy, we had the customary blessing of grapes and other various fruit. Glory to God for a beautiful feastday!
It is the tradition of the Day of Transfiguration to consecrate grapes, apples and other fruit after the Divine Liturgy. The custom of bringing fruit to the temple for consecration originates in the Old Testament time (Gen 4:2-4; Ex 13:12-13; Num 15:19-21; Deut 8:10-14). The Apostles brought this tradition to the Church of the New Testament (1 Cor 16:1-2). Instruction regarding bringing fruit to temple is found in the Third Rule of the Apostolic Canon, the earliest collection of ecclesiastic laws (canons), known since the second century. In Greece, August is the month of ripeness of fruit, mostly grapes and new ears of corn. Since old time, the faithful have been bringing them to temple for consecration and as Thanksgiving to God. St. John Chrysostom wrote, "Plowman receives fruit from the earth not so much for his labour and diligence, as out of goodness of God Who grows this fruit, because neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."
Grapes are brought to temple because they are directly related to the Eucharistic sacrament; that is why in the prayer for consecration of grapes the priest says, "Bless, Lord, this new fruit of vine which reached ripeness because Thou kindly provided good weather, drops of rain and stillness. Let eating this fruit of vine make us joyful. And give us the honor of offering this fruit to Thee, as the gift of purging of sins, altogether with the Holy Body of Thy Christ." (From FatherAlexander.org)
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Christ the Savior Orthodox Church
10315 Carey Road
Berlin, MD 21811
302-537-6055
Tue
16AugICON NOT-MADE-BY-HANDS
9:00am Div. LiturgyWed
17Aug7:00pm Bible ZoomSat
20Aug6:00pm Vespers
On Sunday, July 24, 2022, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, we had the annual Blessing of Chariots (cars, trucks, bikes, etc). It is a custom of Orthodox Christians to have their cars blessed both when newly acquired and on or near the feast of the Prophet Elias (July 20th), as he ascended as if into heaven on a fiery chariot. We thank God for a truly blessed day!
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