When is the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Apple Savior 2026: date according to the new and old calendar (style)

Every year, Orthodox Christians around the world eagerly await the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord , which is more commonly called the Second or Apple Savior . The event is one of the most revered of the twelve feasts in the Christian calendar.

However, after the historical transition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) to the new Julian calendar, many Ukrainians are confused about the date when the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Apple Savior are celebrated in 2026. Therefore, in this material below, we will provide in the form of a table the exact dates of the celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Apple Savior) according to the new and old calendars (style), so that those who celebrate according to the new style, as well as those who remain faithful to the custom of celebrating “according to the old style”, can prepare in advance for the exact date of the holiday.

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A quick and short answer for those who are simply looking for the date of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Apple Savior in 2026 according to the new and old calendar (style): According to the new (New Julian) calendar, the Transfiguration of the Lord (Apple Savior) is celebrated on August 6. According to the old (Julian) style, this holiday falls on August 19 .

Calendar of the First and Second Epiphany: comparison of dates according to the new and old style

To make sure you don’t miss any of the three summer holidays dedicated to the Savior: Honey Savior, Apple Savior, and Walnut Savior, we have collected all the exact dates of the holidays according to the new and old calendars into one convenient table below.

Why have the dates of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord changed?

The shift in dates is due to the fact that most Ukrainian churches and parishes officially switched to the new Julian calendar for fixed holidays on September 1, 2023. This calendar is much more accurate than the old Julian calendar, and almost completely coincides with the Gregorian civil calendar, which the rest of the Christian world has been following for a long time.

As a result of this reform, all church holidays were shifted 13 days back . That is why Apple Savior “moved” from the end of summer (August 19) to its beginning — August 6 .

The essence of the holiday: What does the Transfiguration of the Lord mean?

The religious meaning of this day is based on the Gospel events. According to tradition, Jesus Christ took three of his closest disciples — Peter, James, and John — to Mount Tabor. There, during prayer, His miraculous transfiguration took place: Christ’s face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzlingly white.

This event demonstrated to the disciples the divine nature of the Savior and strengthened their faith before the coming trials and His crucifixion. In folk tradition, the Christian content was closely intertwined with the harvest festival, which is why the day was called “Apple Savior”.

What do they bring to church for consecration on August 6?

Traditionally, on the Transfiguration, believers go to churches for the festive liturgy in embroidered clothes and, as is customary, bring baskets with them with the first fruits of the new harvest when the fruit trees and crops in the fields ripen.

Ukrainians usually put the following in a holiday basket:

• Apples (the main symbol of the holiday, from which the church blessing for eating is taken);
• Pears, plums, grapes and other seasonal fruits;
• Honey and honeycombs ;
• Ears of wheat and rye , as well as bouquets of wildflowers (a symbol of gratitude to God for earthly gifts).

Important for believers: The Transfiguration of the Lord always falls during the Assumption Lent (which lasts from August 1 to 14 according to the new style). Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to bring to church and consume meat products, eggs, milk or alcohol. However, in honor of the great holiday, the church allows a relaxation of the fast: it is allowed to consume fish and a little natural wine.

What is strictly forbidden to do on Apple Spas?

Since the Transfiguration is a great twelfth holiday, certain spiritual prohibitions and restrictions apply on this day:

1. Hard physical labor. It is forbidden to build, sew, knit, clean the house, do laundry, or do heavy work in the garden.
2. Quarrels and swearing. Conflicts, insults, bad language, and evil thoughts should be avoided. The day should be spent in peace, silence, and prayer.
3. Loud parties. Due to the restrictions of the ongoing Assumption Lent , lavish feasts, loud music, and excessive merriment are prohibited.
4. Killing insects. Folk omens, which have come down to us from our pagan ancestors, say that on this day one should not chase away or kill insects, even flies or mosquitoes – it is believed that this can scare away good luck.

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Folk omens for August 6

Ukrainians have long noticed that after Yabluchny Spas, the weather begins to change noticeably, there is less daytime sun, the nights become cooler, and in the distance the first breath of autumn is felt, as our ancestors used to say, “The Savior has come – prepare gloves in reserve” and began active harvesting and preparing the field for harvesting. From our ancestors, we inherited the following folk signs for this day:

• What the weather will be like on the Feast of the Savior on August 6th, will be the same on the Feast of the Protection of the Savior (October 1st).
• If the day is sunny and cloudless, autumn will be dry and warm, and winter will be harsh.
• A rainy day on the Transfiguration promises a wet and long autumn.
• A dry and hot day means a winter with little snow.

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