Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing Feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2016. Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2016 г.
August 14 is one of the clearest examples of syncretism, the overlapping or fusion of different religious traditions, in the Belarusian cycle of the year.
From pre-Christian times, Belarusians have traditionally seen the time around August 14 as marking the transition from the summer to the autumn cultivation cycle. Rain on August 14 is taken as a sign that mushrooms will be plentiful in the months to come and the date is traditionally marked by the blessing of both water from a sacred source and summer honey.
In the Orthodox calendar August 14 marks the first day of the two-week Dormition Fast, and the first of four major Orthodox feasts through August 29. The fast culminates in the Feast of the Dormition on August 28, equivalent to the Roman Catholic feast of the Assumption on August 15. Orthodox Christians celebrate August 14 as Makauje (Макаўе), the commemoration of the martyrdom for their faith of the Maccabbees, and Mjadovy Spas (Мядовы Спас), the Honey-Blessing Feast. Makauje illustrates how the Church chose a similar-sounding name to absorb the pre-Christian practice around this date of sprinkling poppy seeds (мак – “mak”) in the home and stables to ward off evil spirits.
Most celebrations of Mjadovy Spas in Belarus emphasize the blessing of honey and water and the ritual washing of one’s eyes to gain spiritual insight. Reflecting the strong local horticultural tradition in Davyd-Haradok, the parish of the Mother of God of Kazan focuses on the blessing of flowers.
З-за моцнай традыцыі садаводства ў Давыд-Гарадку, прыход Маці Божай Казанскай сьвяткуе Мядовы Спас інтэнсіўным асьвячэньнем кветак.
At the beginning of the liturgy the priest circles the nave, censing the congregation as a symbol of the protection of the Holy Spirit against evil.
Хаджэньне на пачатку літургіі.
