On August 6/19, the Orthodox world celebrates the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. According to Church Tradition, this event took place on Mount Tabor, which the Lord Jesus Christ ascended with the Apostles Peter, James, and John. The voice of the Heavenly Father testified: Christ is the Son of God, in Whom He is well pleased.

Since ancient times, this event was especially revered by the earliest Christians. According to Church rubrics and in popular piety, the custom of blessing fruits – grapes, apples, and others – was appended to the feast. Even in the Old Testament, there was a custom to bring the first fruits to God as a sign of gratitude. This custom has fully entered the tradition of Orthodox peoples.

On the eve of the feast, Monday evening, August 18, in Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL, All-Night Vigil was served. The Litia was performed and the bread, wine, oil, and wheat were blessed. At the Polyeleos, the clergy, servers, and choir sang the magnification of the feast.

"Having put on all of Adam and transformed the nature which of old had become dark, Thou didst illumine it with the transformation of Thine appearance and didst render it divine, O Christ," solemnly proclaimed the troparia of the 3rd Ode of the canon.

On the very day of the feast, the rector, Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk), celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by Deacon Alexander Kharitoniuk. In the choir, a trio sang under the direction of Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk), joined by Hieromonk Paisius (Alexeevets) and the servant of God Sergius.

After the Prayer behind the Ambo, Frs. Stefan and Alexander proceeded to the center of the church, where prayers were read for the blessing of fruits and grapes. The rector greeted all with the feast, wishing them a spiritual transfiguration and reminding them of the importance of gratitude to God for all His mercies, compassions, and gifts.

After Liturgy, the brethren and parishioners continued their fellowship in the refectory.