20 August 2011. A Point of Unity. August: The Month of Feasts, Part Six. 29 August, The Feast of the Wonderworking Icon of Christ “Not Made by Hands” “Walnut Spas”

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Editor’s Foreword:

Can you forgive me? I FORGOT the last feast of the Lord in August, on 29 August, the Feast of the Wonderworking Icon of Christ “Not Made by Hands”. Here are some images from that feast…

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Editor’s Afterword:

Peasants called the Church holiday on 29 August “Third Spas”, “Walnut Spas”, “Canvas Spas”, or Bread Spas”. It’s easy to figure out that this was the Third Feast of the Lord in August, that nuts appeared to be ripened by this day, and that much of the harvest was in by then. However, it’s a bit harder to explain the “canvas” bit. On 29 August, the Church celebrates the transfer of a wonderworking icon of the Saviour from Edessa to Constantinople in 944, a piece of cloth on which, according to the Gospel story, was imprinted an image of the face of Jesus Christ. “By Third Spas, we’ll make our kvass”… after this day, according to folklore, the last swallow leaves and winter starts its entrance. It’s the first full day of feast after the end of the Assumption Lent; it’s the unofficial “end of summer” holiday (it’s the Russian analogue of Labour Day). The beginning of September brings “The Day of Knowledge” (the first day of school), the first autumn chills… time to clean out the stove and to check the caulking for leaks… winter does come EARLY in this part of the world…

BMD