On the eve of the Feast, we celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Annex of St. George’s Cathedral. At the end of the service, Father Samir offered a homily explaining the meaning of the Feast. Then, following the Holy Tradition, grapes brought by the faithful were blessed. In offering grapes – the harvest of the earth – we give thanks to the Creator of all, who in Transfiguration illumined and glorified the whole world.
The blessing of grapes reminds us of the necessity of spiritual renewal “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew, 3:8), and that such renewal can only be achieved in and through our Lord and God Jesus Christ: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me. and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John, 15:5).
