The August Fast & Feasts

The first two weeks of August are set aside as a special “protected” time of the year. As Great Lent prepares for the celebration of Easter and Pentecost and the Fast of Advent anticipates the feasts of Christmas and Theophany, this fast centers around the celebration of the Feasts of the Transfiguration of Christ and the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Looking at these feasts we see why the Church highlights this time as a special season of celebration. Christmas and Theophany proclaim the presence of Christ in the world, His historic coming in the flesh. Easter and Pentecost celebrate the fulfilled purpose of His coming: the presence of the Holy Spirit by the power of Christ’s resurrection. The feasts of Transfiguration and Dormition show us how this resurrection life will be realized for us in human flesh in the glorification of our bodies after the model of the transfigured Christ, a glorification already bestowed on the Theotokos because of her unique role in the salvation of humanity.

It is this physical glorification which we celebrate in the two Great Feasts of August. On the feast of the Transfiguration we look on the glorified body of Christ, the model of our future risen bodies. On the feast of the Dormition we celebrate Mary’s glorification and realize that already one of our race shares in that transfiguration which awaits us all in the kingdom to come.

As with the Church’s other feast seasons, there are several special liturgical observances associated with this time of celebration:

Water Blessing – On the eve of August 1, a special service to the Theotokos is held to begin the season. Water is blessed, a frequent sign of transfiguration in Christ. As Christ (the cross) comes in contact with the water, it is transformed into a sign of His presence. We drink this water in anticipation of our complete transformation which we are celebrating in these days.

Transfiguration (August 6) The blessing of grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables on this day, is a beautiful sign of the final transfiguration of all things in Christ. It signifies the ultimate flowering and fruitfulness of all creation in the paradise of God’s unending Kingdom of Life where all will be transformed by the glory of the Lord.

Dormition (August 15) Herbs and flowers are blessed on this day, recalling the tradition that a sweet fragrance filled the empty tomb of Mary when it was first opened.