The Blessing of Fruit

Source: uncutmountainsupply.com

"Bless, O Lord, this new fruit of the vine ..." 

(Prayer at the Blessing of Grapes on the Transfiguration)

Blessing of Fruit - We bless grapes (mentioned prominently in the prayers) and all different kinds of fruit on the Feast of Transfiguration. I noticed that I did not specifically mention that in yesterday's "In the Life of the Parish." So, if you plan on being here on Thursday morning for the festal Liturgy, you may bring a basket of fruit and place it on the table in front prepared for that purpose. At the end of the Liturgy, all fruit baskets will be blessed through prayer and Holy Water. As Met. Kallistos Ware writes about the Feast:

"The Feast of the Transfiguration ... is not simply the commemoration of a past event in the life of Christ. Possessing an 'eschatological' dimension, it is turned towards the future - towards the 'splendor of the Resurrection at the Last Day,' towards the 'beauty of the divine Kingdom' which all Christians hope eventually to enjoy."

From The Festal Menaion: On the day of the feast, fish, wine and oil are allowed, but meat and animal products are not eaten, because it is within the fast before the Dormition of the Theotokos.