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August 25, 2007, 7:29 PM BG, 4:29 PM GMT

History and Religion

Published on August 06, 2007 at 7:23 AM BG
Updated on August 07, 2007 at 4:20 PM BG

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Transfiguration, August 6

Transfiguration is one of the twelve holidays, celebrated in the very first centuries of Christianity. It reminds believers of one of the most important evangelical events – Jesus Christ’s appearance to his three closest disciples in all his celestial glory. This day, August 6, is celebrated by the Bulgarian Orthodox church. By this time, the hard work in the fields is over and people now pray for a good harvest.

The Apostles could not imagine Jesus Christ would have to undergo suffering and humiliation – they thought this to be incompatible with His glory. But He himself had often talked to them about the suffering awaiting Him, how He would be rejected by the pontiffs, about death and resurrection. To cement their faith, He decided to show three of his Apostles his true celestial glory. Together with Peter, Jacob and John he went up Mount Tabor in Galilea, then walked away and started to pray. Soon they fell asleep and when they awoke, they saw their teacher completely transformed. His face was shining like the sun and his clothes were as white as light. Jesus talked to the two greatest figures from the Old Testament – the prophets Moses and Elijah about his future suffering and his death at the cross. And then a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my dearly loved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This miraculous event was supposed to lift up the spirits of the Apostles, ward off any doubts they might have at the sight of Christ’s suffering and strengthen their faith in His divine nature.
To this day, all Christians connect Transfiguration day with change and new hopes. On this day the Holy Liturgy served at the Christian Orthodox churches includes a special antiphon – Grape Sanctification. Because whereas at the beginning of the month of August, there are apples in the Christian Orthodox lands to the North, in the Bulgarian lands, further to the South, the first grapes have already been plucked. The grapes are sanctified for the first time in church and are eaten on Transfiguration day.
According to the Bulgarian folk calendar, August 6 sees a complete transfiguration of nature. The Sun turns its back on summer to face winter, the storks gather before they fly off to warmer climes, the autumn crocus shows its head in the meadows. According to folk belief, on this day the sky opens up and if you are to see this, all your wishes will come true. And if anyone is to fall ill, he would soak some dried fruit and drink the water – the illness will be transformed. The colourful folk rituals, connected with Transfiguration are still alive in hamlets and villages across Bulgaria. On this day, fairs are held and livestock and goods exchanged. Once, unmarried girls and men would arrange betrothals and weddings. According to tradition going back to antiquity, weddings would take place in September, so that the child may be born in June and the bride could get down to work during the summer period. Transfiguration is the time, when the days grow shorter, and people await the coming of the cold. And each person should sit down and remember, that there have been times when he has been bad and that now is the time to undergo a transformation and become better.

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