The Serbian Orthodox Church and believers today celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which in Orthodoxy is counted among the 12 great Christ’s feasts.
The Transfiguration of the Lord is known in Orthodoxy as the summer Epiphany. It is a fixed holiday and is celebrated every year on August 19.
It always falls during the Dormition Fast, which is why Orthodox tables are lenten.
The holiday is dedicated to the memory of the event of Christ’s transfiguration on Mount Tabor, when he announces his later suffering and glory.
A large number of Orthodox churches in Serbia are dedicated to this holiday, and among them the most famous are the churches of the Transfiguration in Belgrade, Pančevo, Sokobanja, Smederevska Palanka and the Transfiguration monastery in the Ovčar-Kablar gorge, the Serbian Holy Mountain.
On the icons of the Transfiguration, which are located on the iconostases of Orthodox churches, Jesus Christ is depicted on the Mount surrounded by light, with Elijah, Moses and three apostles who are lying on the ground, frightened.
In Orthodox churches, on the Transfiguration, new grapes are brought out and blessed, which, according to the Orthodox Serbian custom, are eaten for the first time on this holiday.
The people believe that the Transfiguration is the day when people last bathe in rivers, because this holiday is also associated with the change of seasons.
There is a belief that on this holiday the entire nature is transformed, so it is said that “both water and the mountain are transformed.”
According to a widespread belief, it is not good to sleep during the day on the Transfiguration, because whoever sleeps on that day will be transformed, and will be sleepy all year round, and it is also believed that it is not good to cry on this holiday, because that crying will become a habit.
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Novosti; Photo: SPC