Archimandrite Paphnutiy (Musienko): Christ like Loving Father will give us His hand on the path to salvation
The Lord requires of us neither rich offerings, nor consecrated apples or honey but humility. This was said by the press-secretary of the UOC Primate, Archimandrite Paphnutiy (Musienko) in the comments dedicated to the Dormition Fast and the three "Saviours," reports Foma in Ukraine.
Answering the question why three different feast days got in people one name – "Saviour (Spas) ", Fr. Paphnutiy said: "Spas" is short for "Saviour". This is the name for Crist in Ukraine, as in other Rus lands, dedicating to him icons, churches, spiritual canticles. On the other hand, the folk tradition of celebration has several folkloric features that give the image of Him whose memory is revered certain characteristics or traditions of the celebration itself," explained the Archimandrite.
"This fast is dedicated to the Mother of God, whose glorious feast of the Dormition completes its two-week duration, though during this period three times Christ the Savior is celebrated," said the press-secretary of the Primate. "It is the Holy Mother of God who showed us what gifts the Lord requires of us – neither rich offerings, not consecrated apples or honey, but humility, the most noble Christian decoration with which we should bear life's burdens, knowing that Christ, as a loving Father, will never leave us alone with them and certainly give us His hand and support on our difficult but with God’s help doable path to spiritual salvation," said Archimandrite Paphnutiy.
"Since ancient times, people have brought to the church and dedicated to God the first fruits of any crop, so everything that was returned from the church consecrated that day was treated with special reverence. Although not without exaggeration, some adherents of folk traditions put consecrated poppy almost above the holy water, scatter it in any corner of the house and together with other potion keep behind holy icons," he said.
According to the clergyman, it can be kept, but "one should not get carried away, forgetting that it is not the poppy or the potion that sanctify our homes, but the grace of the Lord, which one should learn to keep by prayer and godly life."
