The Moldovan Orthodox Church, along with other churches following the old Julian calendar, is celebrating Transfiguration of Jesus today. 

According to the Church, “with this feast, the Savior laid the foundations of his divine discovery, because he showed his divine light and showed himself as true God”.

The celebration, which is one the Orthodoxy’s twelve great feasts of the year, marks the event where, according to the gospels, Jesus began to shine with bright rays of light while praying with three of his apostles on a mountaintop.   

This is the only day during the ongoing Dormition Fast on which fish is allowed, in addition to wine and oil.

On Transfiguration, believers bring grapes to the church to be blessed and shared. Popular tradition says the feast marks the end of summer and the “transfiguration” of nature.