No one will argue with the fact that an apple is a healthy and tasty fruit. The human body needs fiber, vitamins and trace elements, especially iron. All this we can provide fragrant, fragrant, sweet and sour fruits. However, in Rus' there was a strict ban that did not allow people to enjoy apples when they begin to ripen. So why couldn't our ancestors eat these fruits before the Apple Savior?
folk tradition
Remember, in the famous poem by N.A. Nekrasov "Who is it good to live in Rus'?" one of the peasant women - an unfortunate mother who buried her little son - says: "I pray for him, I don’t take an apple in my mouth until the Savior." By this, a woman makes it clear that she cares about her child, even if he is in the next world.
The fact is that in Rus' there was an eerie belief that if the mother of the deceased baby allows herself to eat this fruit before Orthodox holiday Transfiguration of the Lord, which is celebrated on August 19, then in Paradise God himself will not give her child an apple. Not wanting to unwittingly harm the children who had gone to another world, the Orthodox tried not to eat any fruits at all before the set date.
Folk traditions largely reveal the essence of the ideas of the inhabitants of a particular country about higher powers. Apparently, the Russian peasants considered God and the angels distributing treats to be extremely vindictive and cruel creatures. The idea that innocent children can be offended and deprived of food (which is unlimited in Paradise) as a punishment for the actions of their parents, reflects the attitude of the common people to higher powers, first of all, as to punishing structures.
The ban on eating apples extended not only to unfortunate mothers grieving for their dead children, but to all women in general. They say it's related to biblical history about the fall of Adam and Eve. Since our ancestor violated the instructions given by God himself, being tempted by the fruits, then the Russian peasant woman, having eaten an apple, supposedly thereby takes the sin of Eve herself into her soul. So they thought in Rus'.
However, all Orthodox people tried not to break this tradition, because during the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the church consecrates the fruits of the new harvest. Until that moment, apples were perceived by people as fruits that were not allowed to be eaten.
Early varieties are banned
In August, Orthodox Christians celebrate three special holidays. Honest Trees Origin Day life-giving cross popularly called the Honey Savior, because on this date the church consecrates the fruits of the work of beekeepers. Then follows the Apple Spas (Transfiguration of the Lord). And completes the series of holidays dedicated to the harvest, the day of the Savior Not Made by Hands, called Nut Savior. It is interesting that honey and nuts in Rus' were also not eaten before their consecration in the church.
Nowadays, when all kinds of fruits are sold in stores all year round, Orthodox people who adhere to folk traditions try to limit the consumption of apples from the beginning of the Dormition Fast.
Some experts in church history express the opinion that the ban on eating sweet and sour fruits until August 19 was due to the priests' concern for the health of Russian peasants. They say that not all fruits ripen by the beginning of August, most fruits are still unripe at this time of the year, which is harmful to the gastrointestinal tract.
However, the presence of such a ban in itself could affect the national selection. People chose and planted in their gardens only those trees that begin to bear fruit in the second half of August, so as not to lead themselves and their household into temptation.
By the way, the first mention of the cultivation of apple trees as a garden crop is contained in historical documents from the time of Yaroslav the Wise. The fruits of this tree in Russia begin to ripen at the end of July. And such a well-known variety as White filling in some regions of our country can be eaten a month before the Transfiguration of the Lord. In Soviet times, many breeders worked on breeding early varieties of apples. This, for example, Kitayka golden early and Grushovka early.
What does the church say?
Modern priests are trying to overcome the negative attitude that has developed among the people in relation to God and angels. The clergy point out that higher power they cannot recoup in Paradise on dead children, depriving them of something as a punishment for the actions of their parents. That is, as such, there is no ban on eating apples until August 19th.
Initially, even before the adoption of Christianity in Rus', in the Holy Land on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, it was customary to consecrate grapes in the church. Since it does not grow everywhere in Russia, people began to replace the bunches with more common fruits - apples.
The only prohibition related to the aforementioned holiday is contained in the church charter (Typicon). It says that the clergy, who tasted the ripe grapes from the vine before their consecration, are deprived of the opportunity to eat grapes until the end of August. That is, within the next 10 days. And that's all. And no unfortunate children suffering in Paradise. And no Eve with Adam. And no terrible sin.
The fact that the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord falls on the strict Assumption Fast also does not mean that apples should be excluded from the diet at this time. They, like grapes, are not among the products prohibited by the Orthodox during fasting.
The only reason why the church is only recommends Christians, if possible, refrain from eating apples until August 19, this is the fact that they have not yet been consecrated. Apple Savior is perceived by believers, first of all, as an opportunity to thank God for the gifted harvest. It's impolite to eat without saying "thank you". So do many priests.
On the eve of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, popularly referred to as “Apple Savior”, people are wondering: is it possible to eat apples before Apple Savior, they want to know the priest’s answer - what is the Transfiguration, the history of the holiday, where are the fictions, where is the truth, where is the idle speculation? We turned to various clergy who tried to give exhaustive answers. If you still have questions, ask in the comments, please, the priests of our Novomoskovsk deaneries will answer you.
The events of the Transfiguration are described in the Gospels; all evangelists write about them, except for the Apostle John. During a prayer on Mount Tabor, three disciples of Jesus Christ - Peter, James and John - saw how the Teacher was transformed:
After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain alone, and was transfigured before them: and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light (Mt 17:1 -2).
On August 19, Orthodox believers celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, popularly called the Apple Spas. Some people who are far from the church don’t even know the name of the holiday itself, they don’t know what kind of “transformation” is, they only know that it’s Apple Savior, apples must be blessed. And before the Savior, you can’t eat apples, it’s a sin, and even if the child died, and before the Apple Savior you eat an apple, then there in heaven they will only give him half an apple, when everyone has an apple and so on. The people are full of all sorts of superstitions, and sometimes they don’t even understand the essence of what is happening, and why they go to the temple on this day, and that apples are not the most important thing in this holiday. Priest Alexander Prokopchuk, a lecturer at St. Tikhon Humanitarian University, answers the most common questions about the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Apple Savior.
- Of course, this holiday is dedicated to a great gospel event - the transfiguration of our Lord, Jesus Christ, but consecrating apples is already a purely Russian tradition. Initially, we are talking about the consecration of grapes, which is the Eucharistic fruit, because it is used to make wine intended for the Eucharist. But these days, our grapes do not yet ripen, and therefore apples are usually consecrated on the Transfiguration. It's connected with ancient tradition- bring the fruits of the new harvest to the temple in thanksgiving to the Lord and sanctify it.
- Father Alexander, then tell us what is behind the word "transfiguration" and what events took place then?
- The word “Transfiguration” is, in fact, a change that occurred with Christ, or, rather, with what vision Christ gave to the apostles, so that they could see Him in His glory. The Gospel tells us that after the apostles Peter, John and James stopped fishing in the Lake of Galilee and began to accompany Christ, they saw and heard many unusual things. The glory and majesty of Jesus Christ were manifested in his deeds and deeds, but what happened during the Transfiguration, when the apostles not only witnessed such a great change in the appearance of their teacher, but also watched him talk with the prophets Moses and Elijah, it exceeded everything they had seen before, because to see with their own eyes the people who lived before that for many, many centuries was no less amazing than what happened to Christ when his clothes became white and shone whiter than snow. Transfiguration is evidence of immortality, because the prophets, who appeared in the flesh and talked with Christ, showed the apostles that with God everyone is alive.
- Father Alexander, but it is said that a person was born to be deified, that if a person leads a righteous life, follows the commandments, such a divine light can also come from him?
- But there is an example in the stories of Motovilov, who led the biography of Seraphim of Sarov, how once in a conversation he was so transformed that his face shone with such heavenly light. And the Apostle Peter says in the epistle that when the last voice of the trumpet sounds, announcing the second coming of Christ, the dead will rise and put on their bodies, and the living will be transfigured. This indicates that man is also called to enter into this glory and be transformed just as the Lord was transfigured. The Apostle Peter in his second epistle writes that they (the apostles) say this as having seen the glory of the Lord and heard the voice from His Father's heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
– Father Alexander, is this what is said when the Apostle Peter asks the Lord not to leave here, how good it is here, but to make three “booths” and stay with all of them together with the Lord and the prophets in this blessed place?
Tabernacles are tents, who is at least a little familiar with Old Testament, knows that one of the holidays was called that - the Feast of Tabernacles. Tents were made from the branches, where the Jews lived for a whole week in memory of the times of the exodus from Egypt, when they wandered through the desert and lived in such difficult conditions on the march. When Peter says this, it seems to him that the expected kingdom has already arrived - 2 Old Testament prophet and Christ in the center, in glory, and of course, Peter wants to stop the moment, he has never seen or experienced anything better in his life! It seems to him that the earth has turned into the sky, and paradise has been embodied before his eyes. And one more thing: in the teaching at that time, the Lord said what was ahead of Him (meaning Golgotha and His sufferings on the Cross), and Peter wanted to avoid those terrible events, stop the moment and leave everything just like that, in such divine grace.
The Apostle Peter, struck by the greatness of the Lord, exclaimed: “Rabbi! it's good for us to be here; Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mk 9:5). After these words, a bright cloud appeared and covered everyone with its shadow. From the bowels of the cloud came the voice of God the Father: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to him (Matthew 17:5). After this miraculous event, Christ and the disciples descended from the mountain. The Savior forbade the apostles to reveal the mystery of the Transfiguration to anyone, “until the Son of Man rises from the dead” (Mk 9:9).
- Father Alexander, why is the Transfiguration of the Lord celebrated on August 19, and not following the calendar logic when it happened, on the eve of the Passion of Christ?
– In fact, not quite so, the transfiguration did not take place just before the very crucifixion of Christ, but about six months before that. Because, according to the Gospel of John, the Lord then goes to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, which took place just between the end of September and the beginning of October, approximately when we now have the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.
- But why then do we celebrate not at the end of September, for example, namely on August 19?
— We celebrate 40 days before the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Life-Giving Cross, i.e. the connection is maintained.
– And why did the Lord take three apostles with him to Tabor, after all, there were 12 of them, the closest ones?
- Because it is the number three - so many witnesses must be presented in court to confirm some fact. And then - these three disciples were the closest to Christ, and election is not a privilege, but a special assignment that a person receives to fulfill the tasks assigned to a person by the Lord. Moreover, they were forbidden to talk about what they saw.
- Well, it seems like a paradox turns out - he called as witnesses, but you can’t tell anyone about this?
— Yes, but, as often happens, it is very difficult to keep silent about what you saw, what stunned you, shocked you. But the other apostles were their closest friends, associates and even relatives, and how hard it was for them to keep their word not to divulge what they had seen before the time! Maybe the Lord did not want to attract additional glory to himself (he always asked not to tell anyone during other miracles, but you can’t shut the mouth of the people!).
But let's get back to folk traditions and beliefs, and answer some questions related to this holiday.
- Father Alexander, why are people interested in whether it is possible to eat apples before Apple Savior, they want to hear the priest's answer on this topic, what is the truth here?
— This is connected with the concept that the first of the harvest must be brought to God, because He sent it to us, and then we can use the fruits ourselves. But - in our country, apples ripen in different areas at different times, and it depends on the varieties, and many varieties of apples ripen in the southern regions much earlier than the onset of the apple rescue, so this is still pretty arbitrary. This is just a tradition and it has nothing to do with the commandments of God, therefore it is not considered a sin.
- Father Alexander, but people here often make some kind of magical rituals, for example, many believe that you need to go to consecrate apples in the temple on the Transfiguration, because as a result they become “magic” and, having bitten off such an apple, you can make a wish and it will come true. How does one feel about such advice?
- Well, this is already a fabulous continuation of the consecration of apples, it has nothing to do with reality, because in this case apples are considered as some kind of magical element, they are attributed Magic force. For church people, it is clear that this is complete absurdity.
- And here's another question: the very phrase "Apple Spas" - after all, Spas - does this mean the Savior? Is there anything so blasphemous in this phrase? - No, this is, as it were, such a common people's well-established expression, because the Dormition fast begins on August 14, the Church celebrates the Origin of the trees of the Cross of the Lord, in the common people - Honey Spas, because the blessing of water is performed, and honey is sprinkled with this water. Then the Transfiguration of the Lord - the second Savior, apple, and immediately after the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, Honoring is performed miraculous Image Savior - the third saved, walnut, because by this time the nuts were just ripe. That is, according to pious tradition, people bring to the temple to consecrate just the harvest that is ripening by these days, and thank God for what He gives them.
Transfiguration of the Lord - what the Lord reveals to the apostles: tells hieromonk Dimitry (Pershin) in this video.
We also offer to watch the film "Summer of the Lord" about the Transfiguration of the Lord and the holy places.
Prayers of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Troparion of the Transfiguration of the Lord
voice 7
Thou hast been transfigured on the mountain, Christ God, having shown Thy glory to Thy disciples, as if I could, may Thy everlasting Light shine upon us, sinners, through the prayers of the Theotokos, Light Giver, glory to Thee.
Kontakion of the Transfiguration of the Lord
voice 7
Thou hast been transfigured on the mountain, and as if holding Thy disciples, Thy glory, Christ God, seeing that when they see Thee being crucified, they will understand suffering freely, but they preach to the world that You are truly the Father's radiance.
The Greatness of the Transfiguration of the Lord
We magnify Thee, Life-Giver Christ, and honor the most pure flesh of Thy most glorious Transfiguration.
According to the materials of the Orthodox magazine "Foma"
Many people who are overweight and dream of losing weight are wondering: “What would you eat to lose weight?”. Most people think that if they eat exclusively fruits, they will inevitably lose extra pounds.
However, a purely fruit diet should be dealt with only when a person studies a little the composition and properties of the fruits that he was going to eat. And then, it will be a discovery for him how high-calorie some fruit representatives can be. Needless to say, many fruits have a high glycemic index, which makes them eat in unlimited quantities. Unfortunately, such a diet will not relieve, but on the contrary, add a couple of kilograms.
Fortunately, there is such a unique fruit that can deprive the problem of being overweight. This is a green apple. Qualified dietitians recommend eating apples for weight loss. Because they are useful, affordable, improve metabolic processes and digestion, help the intestines work, contain many essential vitamins and minerals.
Why green apple? This is because it does not contain as many monosaccharides as red or yellow varieties. The acid that is characteristic of it normalizes the acid-base balance. But there are restrictions for eating green apples. People suffering from gastritis or stomach ulcers should not eat them in large quantities, so as not to irritate the walls of the stomach and exacerbate the disease.
Benefits of apples for weight loss
Do apples help you lose weight? The answer to this question can be obtained by understanding in more detail the beneficial properties of this fruit.
- cleanse the body of toxins, toxins, heavy metals;
- contribute to the correct rhythm of metabolism;
- acidic varieties improve digestion;
- apple fiber has a beneficial effect on the peristalsis of the intestinal tract;
- have a low glycemic index, meaning they don't make you want to eat them over and over again
- green sour varieties are low-calorie.
After analyzing this list, everyone will understand whether apples are good for weight loss. Definitely they can be called one of the most affordable and useful dietary products. Many may have a question, is it possible to eat apples in the evening while losing weight? We will try to get an answer to it by analyzing several options for diets based on apples. No wonder there are a lot of them developed so that everyone can choose the right one for themselves.
apple diet options
Nutritionists offer various options, depending on the current condition of the patient, as well as on the result that he seeks to obtain. It can be either one-day fasting days on apples, or full-fledged balanced diets for a week or a month. In order to correctly assess your condition and choose the right nutrition schedule for yourself, it is recommended to contact a specialist in the field of diets.
- Diets for a week. This option is difficult to endure, most likely it is not for the weak-willed and beginners in this field, but the results will be noticeable immediately. The first three days, the number of apples eaten per day goes up from 1 kg to 2 kg. The third and fourth day the weight is kept at around 2 kilograms allowed. The fifth and sixth - one and a half kilograms, and on the seventh day does not exceed one kg. Starting from the fifth day of a rigid diet, it is allowed to eat a piece of stale rye bread. At the same time, it is not forbidden to drink water, green tea and herbal decoctions in unlimited quantities.
- diet for one day- apples and nothing else. When you need a quick result, for example, on the eve of an important event, when you find that your favorite dress just barely fits, and it would not hurt to lose 1-2 extra pounds, you can arrange an apple day for yourself. The amount of fruit is not limited, but usually varies in the region of 1.5 kg. Any liquid, even water, is strictly prohibited. If you are thirsty, eat an extra apple and you will be surprised by such an amazingly fast effect.
- Diet for three days based on apple juice. It will give not only an amazing result, but also help with urolithiasis. However, many may be confused complete absence chair. The scheme is very simple - you need to drink freshly squeezed apple juice every two hours, starting from eight in the morning until eight in the evening (8, 10, 12, etc.), one glass each. And so continue for three days.
As follows from the proposed options for such mono-diets, you can safely eat apples at night when losing weight. What other fruit can boast this property? It should be clearly understood that any diet is a stress and test for the body. And even if you managed to withstand such a diet, and there is a noticeable result, you do not need to immediately rush to the food that you had to deny yourself. In order not to harm yourself and maintain your figure, you should gradually include other foods in your diet and adhere to the principles of proper nutrition.
The question often comes to our editors: why can't you eat apples before the Apple Savior? We decided to find out the details from the clergy.
So why can't you eat apples before Apple Savior?
Dormition fast - almost as strict as great post. According to the church charter, hot food with butter is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday, and dry eating is prescribed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fish is eaten only once with this post - on.
At the same time, believers try to coordinate the measure of their fast with the priest, based on their bodily capabilities, health, the severity of physical labor and other circumstances - one should not take a feat beyond one's strength.
Beginning with the Transfiguration of the Lord, the fruits of the new harvest also appear at the meal. Many questions come to the site about when and why you can eat grapes and apples of the new crop.
"Hello! Even in childhood, my grandmother said that apples should not be eaten before the Transfiguration, especially for parents who have lost children, because this is reflected in the deceased baby. Please tell me the right way."
As for the prohibition “not to eat apples before the Transfiguration”, then in fact this prohibition, according to the Typicon, concerns grapes.
Apples are already our domestic replacement. But the meaning is to consecrate the first fruits of the harvest, and then eat them. Those. the prohibition applies to the fruits of that year's harvest. And of course, all these stories that eating apples affects dead children have nothing to do with reality.
Priest Dimitry Karpenko
To the three August holidays dedicated to the All-Merciful Savior, in ancient church the consecration of various fruits of the earth, which ripened precisely at this time, was timed. On the feast of the Origin of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross, honey and all herbal potions were consecrated, on the feast of the Transfiguration - grapes, apples and other fruits, on the feast of the Savior Not Made by Hands, nuts were consecrated. There was a pious custom that prescribed not eating grapes and apples before consecration on the feast of the Transfiguration.
The meaning of this custom lies mainly in the fact that a Christian, even in his life, strives for the consecration of all his actions, objects - everything that surrounds him. In addition, any abstinence performed in the name of the Lord contributes to the development of a person’s spiritual strength, helps to fight sinful passions, and strengthens faith. The subsequent eating of the consecrated fruits makes the feast more joyful.
Priest Mikhail Vorobyov
There is no fasting for apples, because there is no spell for apples, carrots or grapes. But there is a tradition recorded in the Typikon (Church Charter): monks who tasted grapes before the Transfiguration are deprived of the right to eat grapes for the whole of August. This also applies to those who guard the grapes.
The tradition also existed for farmers who brought the beginnings of their labors to the temple for consecration. Today's tradition is that we try not to eat the new harvest in August until the Transfiguration, because on this day we thank God for it. But, of course, it is difficult to observe this tradition thoroughly.
But if we have a garden, then it will be very cool and very symbolic to collect and bring the apples that ripen for the Transfiguration for consecration. The consecration of the fruits is our gratitude to God for the fact that He sends us a harvest year after year. Based on this gratitude, we try not to eat the new crop, each to the best of our ability. But at the same time, there is no strict rule, especially since the Assumption fast is underway and you need to eat something vegetable. In the Typicon, in violation of this tradition, it does not say about the sin of the monk, that he “did not abstain”, and the punishment is not severe - not to eat until the end of August.
So, the main thing here is not to eat or not to eat, but in gratitude to God for the harvest that is sent.
Priest Alexander Ryabkov
Apples seem to be a completely harmless and very healthy fruit. This was told to all of us in childhood by mothers and grandmothers, because before they only knew that an apple is a real treasure trove of nutrients: vitamins, trace elements, fiber, and in general - universal food, take it with you both on a hike and to school , and on a trip. This is because apples are easy to snack on. Got it and ate it. And since it is so good - maybe it is useful at the time? Certainly yes.
What is a diet?
Diet (Greek - diet, lifestyle) - these are the rules for eating food, when they especially pay attention to the type of food, the amount of vitamins contained in the food, and the time of eating. The diet is usually followed by those who want to improve their health, lose extra pounds. But the diet is prescribed to some patients - for example, if a person has diabetes, not everything can be done. And so that he knows what food to eat, the doctors make him a special diet. It, of course, should not be rejected, but on the contrary, try to fully follow it.
A person can prescribe a diet for himself - if you suddenly notice health disorders in which nutrition is to blame, you should seriously take up a diet. Apples are a great fruit! It is possible for diabetics, and for everyone - for everyone. True, it is better for some to give preference to dried apples, others to baked ones, and for others it is better to just drink compote from apples. Everyone is individual, so not everyone can say what this or that individual needs. That's what dietitians are for.
But here you should consider - what kind of apples (green or red; chemically processed or straight from the tree), snack time (morning, afternoon, evening?). As a rule, during diets, a person eats exclusively those foods that contain the largest amount of useful substances - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, mineral salts. And they prefer not to eat junk food during such a peculiar diet at all.
It turns out that apples are just what you need!
Nutritional value of apples:
- fats - 0.4 g;
- proteins - 0.4 g;
- carbohydrates - 9.7 g;
- water - 86.3 g.
If you pay attention to the above table, you can understand that this interesting fruit contains a sufficient amount of nutrients. At least enough for the human body to be satiated for the next half hour. And one day, losing weight ladies and gentlemen thought - why not eat an apple at night? After all, really - you will not see any minuses in it, it is almost perfect. But is it?
Cons of eating an apple at night
Firstly
, an apple creates an appetite. It turns out that after eating an apple before going to bed, literally in an hour or two you will feel hungry. A person loses weight, eats this "ideal" fruit at night, and then at night becomes a guest of the refrigerator - and it begins! Sandwiches, sausages and other heavy (and not always healthy) food. 
Secondly , nutritionists before eating an apple are advised to peel it. This makes it easier for the body to digest it. An apple is eaten before going to bed - while a person is sleeping, his stomach is working. What is he supposed to do at night? That's right, rest. Therefore, any food, including an apple, should be eaten no more than an hour and a half before bedtime.
Well Thirdly , an apple is also food, although not heavy. And before going to bed, (see above) it is advisable not to eat at all, but to drink a glass of one percent kefir.
Benefits of eating an apple at night
Still, if you want to eat apples at night, then you can eat a piece to fall asleep not with an empty stomach (otherwise, you will not be able to fall asleep because of the “screaming” stomach). And if suddenly there is no toothbrush with toothpaste nearby, then an apple will help you out perfectly! After all, it was in this way that teeth were “cleaned” in Rus'. Are you sure you have room for fructose in your flanks? It is found in apples, and is subsequently converted into glucose. The excess turns into fat. It is deposited in unloved places - on the sides, on the stomach, on the second chin, in the thighs.
As a result, it is still not clear whether it is worth eating apples at night. In each source, opinions differ, almost an eternal dispute. Decide for yourself (after all, we ourselves are the kings of our body). Thus, try to take a chance and eat an apple at night. And watch your well-being - how does your stomach react? Is there any discomfort in the abdomen? Do you want to eat within half an hour - an hour after it? Best of all, of course, there are natural apples, straight from the tree (of course, washed! This is out of the question). They are as useful as possible and practically do not contain those chemicals that are stuffed with store-bought fruits and vegetables. Based on your mini-experiment, draw a conclusion - and specifically, you, a losing weight person, can you eat apples at night? Good luck, achieve your goals and health!
