The beginning of the Dormition Fast and the celebration of the Carrying of the Venerable Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lordtranslated

On August 14, the Orthodox Church enters the period of the Dormition Fast and celebrates the removal of the Honorable Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, and also consecrates the honey of the new harvest. The Samara Metropolis congratulates the clergy and laity on the beginning of this period of grace and holidays! The Dormition Fast is one of four multi-day fasts of the Orthodox Church. It lasts two weeks and ends on August 28 with the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A two-week fast before the Dormition was established at the Council of Constantinople in 1166. In its severity, it is equal to Lent. By imposing restrictions on themselves, believers imitate the Most Holy Theotokos Herself, who observed strict moderation throughout her earthly life. The holiday of the removal of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord has ancient origins. In Constantinople, there was a custom to wear the Venerable Tree of the Cross from the royal treasury onto roads and streets to consecrate places and ward off diseases, which often occurred in August.

In the Russian Orthodox Church, this celebration was combined with the remembrance of the Baptism of Rus' on August 1 in ancient times under the Holy Prince Vladimir. According to the rite accepted in the Russian Church, 14...