UKRAINE: Orthodox Ukrainians prepare to mark festival of Christ the Saviour

As Orthodox Christianity continues to enjoy a revival in Ukraine, church holidays play an important role in the life of believers. In the second half of August, three of these religious holidays reflect the rural roots of most Ukrainians, and celebrate the bounty of the land. Since August 14, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra has been holding a large honey fair on its grounds to celebrate the first of these religious holidays, the Honey Saviour, also known as the First Saviour. This feast is dedicated to the Origins of the True and Life-Giving Cross, and believers have their honey blessed in church and then take it home for consumption. "Honey has curative properties, but besides that, the honey that can be purchased on the territory of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra has been blessed by the Lavra,'' said Archbishop Varsonofiy of the Kiev Perchersk Lavra, Ukraine's most prominent Orthodox monastery. "It has been blessed especially for the holiday of the Honey Saviour, and has God's blessing.'' During the festival, there are about 90 beekeepers at the Kiev Lavra, and each one brings from between half a ton and three tons of honey. More than 100 monasteries from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus are attending. "People come here not only from Ukraine but also from Poland, Belarus and Russia in order to buy our holy honey and to bring it back home and share it with their relatives. Some of the foreigners say that the honey they bought at the Lavra can cure those who are ill." This Orthodox festival has its roots in nature, as well as the country's history. The second half of August is the time when bees stop collecting pollen and start heading south as the winter approaches, cold dew covers the grass, and roses stop blooming. The Honey Savior, however, is not entirely about Mother Nature and the sweet amber liquid produced by bees. There is an element of military glory from Ukraine's and Russia's distant past, and the holiday also commemorates the separate victories of Byzantine Emperor Manuel, as well as that of Great Prince of the Principality of Vladimir, Andrei Bogolubski. Emperor Manuel won a battle against the Saracens and saved the Byzantine Empire from Muslim conquest, while the Great Prince of Vladimir defeated the Bulgars of the Volga, an invading nomadic tribe. Both battles took place on August 14, 1164, and according to the Church a sign from Heaven helped them achieve victory. The discouraged and tired Byzantine and Russian troops, though thousands of kilometres apart, each on their battle fields suddenly saw a radiant light go out from the icons of the Virgin Mary and Christ the Savior that they carried before them. The warriors became emboldened by this heavenly sign and went on to victory.

ITN Source | August 20, 2006

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