In the month of August there are three feasts of the Lord, besides the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. In Russian popular parlance, the first feast, the “First Saviour” is the feast of the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross. This is also the feast of the Maccabean Martyrs. On this day, in the Russian Church, it is traditional to bless holy water, as according to tradition this is about the time of the Baptism of ancient Rus’. On this day it is also traditional to give out blessed honey.
And so in our monastery, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Luke, joined by monastery clergy, processed to the spring for a Lesser Blessing of Water ceremony. At the end of the service, people were able to avail themselves of monastery honey.
Incidentally, the second feast of the Saviour in August is Holy Transfiguration, and the third feast, the feast of the Image-Not-Made-By-Hands.
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