- Статьи
- Local news
- Khlebny, or Nutty, was saved in 2025: what should a believer do, what should he sanctify in the church
Khlebny, or Nutty, was saved in 2025: what should a believer do, what should he sanctify in the church
Every year on August 29, Orthodox Christians celebrate Walnut (Bread) Saved, or Saved by a Miracle. It is both a church celebration and a national harvest festival. In 2025, a significant date falls on Friday. Izvestia reveals the essence and traditions of the last of the three August Rescues.
Orekhovy Spas: when to celebrate in 2025
In August, Orthodox Christians celebrate three special holidays, which are popularly called Saviours: Honey, Apple and Walnut. Each of them is connected not only with church traditions, but also with folk signs that have been rooted in everyday life for centuries. These holidays fall during the Dormition Fast and divide August into three parts.
Honey Savior, or Makovei, was celebrated on August 14th. It opened a series of August Rescues and is dedicated to the memories of the seven holy martyrs Maccabees. From that day on, new harvest honey was consecrated in the temples, and the housewives of the house prepared honey dishes.
It was popularly believed that during this period, bees finish their work, and honey reaches maturity.
Since the Honey Feast coincides with the beginning of the strict Dormition fast, lean viands prevailed on the table.
Yablochny Spas, or the Transfiguration of the Lord, was celebrated on August 19th. It symbolized a change in nature and in human life. It was believed that from that day on, summer began to lean towards autumn, and new harvest apples ripened in the orchards.
Fruits were consecrated in churches, and according to tradition, it was on this day that apples were allowed to be eaten for the first time after the beginning of lent. For many, Apple Day was not only a religious holiday, but also a family holiday: housewives baked apple pies and made jam.
The Nutty, or Bread, Feast falls on August 29 and completes a series of August celebrations. It has a special meaning in popular culture. It was believed that nuts ripen by this time, and the first harvest must be consecrated in the temple so that the next year would be rich and prosperous. In the old days, peasants always baked fresh loaves and shared them with their neighbors, believing that this would bring prosperity to the house.
In the Orthodox tradition, the date is associated with the Transfer of the Miraculous Image of the Savior from Edessa to Constantinople. According to legend, the Face of Christ was miraculously imprinted on the canvas, which saved the ruler of Edessa from illness, and subsequently became one of the greatest shrines of Christianity.
Nutty, or Bread, Saved — why does the holiday have two names
In popular culture, the holiday is known by several names at once. It is called walnut because it is by this time that hazelnuts ripen, which are harvested and consecrated in temples. The second name is associated with the end of the harvest: housewives bake the first bread from the flour of the new harvest and treat their relatives and neighbors to it.
In some regions, the name "Canvas Savior" is also found — fairs were traditionally held on this day, where linen and fabrics were sold, which symbolized the completion of summer agricultural work and preparation for autumn.
What should a believer do in Russia on August 29, on Orekhovy Savior
Festive events will be held in Moscow on the territory of the Danilov Monastery, including two performances by the monastery's Festive Male Choir in the open area in front of the Trinity Cathedral at 14:00 and 19:30, as well as sightseeing tours of historical churches and an exhibition-fair with monastic bread, nut pies and handicrafts. Visitors will be able to enjoy spiritual chants and take part in the consecration of the harvest.
Festive male choir of the Danilovsky Monastery
In most regions of Russia, mass celebrations are not traditionally held on this day — the celebration is modest and intimate. The main attention of believers is focused on visiting temples, consecrating nuts, grain, bread and water, as well as giving alms to those in need. After the service, people share consecrated food and treat their loved ones.
How is the service on Orekhovy Savior
A festive Divine Liturgy is celebrated in churches, and believers pray, among other things, to the early Christian martyr healer Diomede, the patron saint of health.
Those present light candles at the icon of the Savior Not Made with Hands, remembering the church story about the transfer of the image from Edessa to Constantinople. According to Orthodox tradition, this event symbolizes the healing of King Abgar and the beginning of the veneration of the miraculous plate with the imprint of the Face of Christ.
What to sanctify in the church on Orekhovy (Bread) Saved in 2025
After the liturgy, the products of the new harvest are consecrated in churches — nuts, bread, grain, honey and water. After the service, a festive table is organized at home: bread and pies with nuts, nut tinctures become symbols of well-being and health for the year.
The folk traditions of the Walnut Savior complement the ecclesiastical meaning of the celebration. On this day, it is customary to collect hazelnuts and grapes, and bake bread from the flour of the new harvest. This symbolizes that summer has come to an end and a new agricultural cycle has begun.
One of the most popular rituals is fortune-telling on nuts: a mature kernel promises fulfillment of a wish and success in the coming year, an empty one warns of possible difficulties. It was also popularly believed that rain on this day could portend a rich harvest in autumn, and the departure of swallows and cranes symbolized the approach of frost.
On this day, it is forbidden to swear, swear, gossip and quarrel — it is believed that a quarrel on a holiday will "close luck" for the whole next year. It is not customary to refuse help and show greed: on the contrary, it is customary to share bread and nuts, because generosity returns a hundredfold on this day.
It is also undesirable to perform heavy physical work, especially in the field or garden. It is forbidden to throw away old bread or treat it carelessly — it is treated with special reverence, as it symbolizes prosperity and God's grace.
In addition, it is not recommended to start new businesses or make important deals on Orekhovy Spas, as this day is considered a time of summing up and gratitude, not a start. Superstitions also warn against refusing hospitality: if you do not treat visitors with bread or nuts on this day, you can drive luck out of the house.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
