What is this feast?
The Feast of the Procession of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross is celebrated on August 14 in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). It also marks the first day of the Dormition Fast.
The feast commemorates an ancient tradition from Constantinople, where a relic of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross was carried in procession through the streets of the city. The Cross was brought into churches and public places so that the faithful could venerate it and pray for God’s protection, healing, and blessing.
The procession continued throughout the beginning of the Dormition Fast until the Feast of the Dormition.
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Why is it called a “Procession”?
The feast is named after the actual procession of the relic of the Cross through Constantinople.
During the hot summer months, when illness was common, the Cross was carried throughout the city and placed in churches for public veneration. The faithful gathered to pray, asking Christ to bless and protect the city through the power of His Holy Cross.
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Why is honey blessed?
The blessing of honey is an ancient first-fruits tradition.
As beekeepers gathered the first honey of the season, they brought it to church to be blessed, offering the first fruits of their labor to God in thanksgiving before enjoying them.
Over time, this beautiful custom became so well known throughout the Slavic world that many people began calling the day Honey Spas (Honey Savior / Медовый Спас).
The blessing of honey is a cherished tradition—but it is not the feast itself.
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What is the relation to the Dormition Fast?
The Feast of the Procession of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross and the beginning of the Dormition Fast both occur on August 14 in ROCOR.
This is more than a coincidence.
Historically, the Cross remained available for veneration throughout the opening days of the fast, reminding the faithful that every Christian journey—including the Dormition Fast—is lived under the sign of Christ’s Cross.
The blessing of honey expresses thanksgiving for God’s earthly blessings, while the Cross sets the spiritual focus of the fast: repentance, prayer, self-denial, and drawing closer to Christ as we prepare for the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
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Other Traditions
This feast is also associated with the Lesser Blessing of Water, another ancient custom that is still observed in many Orthodox churches.
For this reason, some Slavic traditions also refer to the day as Water Savior, although Honey Savior became the more widely known popular name because of the blessing of the first honey harvest.
