Makauje (Feast of the Maccabees/Feast of Honey-Blessing). Макаўе-Мядовы Спас.
Three mid-August church feasts in Belarus vivify pre-Christian traditions absorbed into our Christian faith.
The August 14 Orthodox Feast of the Maccabees/Feast of Honey-Blessing, which inaugurates the two-week Orthodox Dormition fast, is the first of these. The Orthodox church tries to focus attention on a churchly interpretation of the day. However, the very name chosen — Maccabees (Makauje – Макаўе) — reflects the church’s recognition that the deep folk tradition of having poppy seeds (mak – мак), flowers, honey or water blessed and then using the seeds and flowers to protect shrines and the home, and consuming the honey or water to protect their spiritual and physical well-being, will not go away. Indeed, every Orthodox priest knows that his parishioners, while patiently taking part in a service in honor of the Maccabees, are focused on the traditions with profound pre-Christian roots at the end of the service: obtaining a blessing for honey, garden flowers, and poppy seeds; drinking water, or washing the face and eyes with water, blessed by the priest.
Maccabee church service, Azdamichy 2012. Макаўе, Аздамічы 2012 год.
