Eduard Abashiya, a lecturer at the Department of Psychology of the Dnipro Institute of PJSC "IAPM", a lawyer, psychologist at the Amur-Nizhnodniprovskyi District Department of the State Institution "Probation Center" branch in Dnipropetrovsk region, and a member of the International Association of Psychologists and Counselors on Sexual Education, informs about the following. On August 14, Orthodox Christians celebrate the "First Savior" or "Honey Savior". This day always marks the beginning of the Dormition Fast. It will last for two weeks and end with the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This is the first of three folk-church holidays called Saviors. In old times, during these August days, people would prepare honey, nuts, and apples for winter, which they brought to church for blessing. It was believed that products prepared on the days of the Saviors had special healing properties and could help in treating many diseases.

By mid-August, beekeepers would start collecting honey. According to established traditions, beekeepers would leave part of the harvest in the church and distribute part to those in need. On Honey Savior, pancakes and lean pies were prepared.

This holiday is associated with the end of summer. It is the day of beekeepers. Beekeepers break the first honey combs in the hives. Only now are strict guardians of customs and fasters allowed to eat honey. The first honey obtained should be consecrated in the church.

Honey Savior is an exclusively folk name. On this day, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.

Since the Son of God sanctified the Cross with His sufferings, an extraordinary miraculous power began to manifest in it. The history of the feast, described in the Greek Horologion of 1897, also testifies to its manifestation: "Due to illnesses that were very frequent in August, from ancient times a custom was established in Constantinople to bring out the Honorable Wood of the Cross to roads and streets to sanctify places and avert diseases. On the eve, bringing it out of the royal treasury, they placed it on the holy table of the Great Church. From this day until the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, making processions throughout the city, they then offered it to the people for veneration. This is the procession of the Honorable Cross".

The origin of this feast dates back to the 9th century, its celebration was established in Constantinople, and in the 12th - 13th centuries it was established in all Orthodox churches of the world, - noted the psychologist.