On Friday, August 28, Orthodox Christians celebrate the **Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God**. This holiday falls on the same day every year and is dedicated to the dormition, or earthly death, of the Mother of God. According to a tradition not found in the Bible but in apocryphal texts, after the earthly death of the Mother of God, Christ ascended to heaven not only her soul but also her body. According to the testimony of the Constantinople church historian and monk Nicephorus Callistus, the Dormition of the Mother of God began to be celebrated during the reign of Emperor Maurice, who ruled Byzantium in the late 6th to early 7th century. The next day, August 29, is celebrated as the **Nut Savior**, also known as the Third Savior. This is the last of the three August Saviors — after the Honey and Apple Saviors. The Nut Savior, like the two previous ones, is an ancient holiday that intertwines Christian and folk traditions. The Third Savior was considered a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for the harvest of bread and nuts. It is called the Nut Savior because by this time nuts usually ripen and their harvest begins. This holiday is not as popular as the Honey and Apple Saviors, but it holds a special place in the folk calendar. On the eve of the holiday, on the evening of August 28, an all-night vigil is held in the churches. During the service, the Great Doxology is sung — a solemn hymn glorifying the Lord. It is performed during worship services on the days of great and particularly revered holidays. On the day of the Third Savior, water is blessed in the churches, as well as the fruits of the new harvest brought by the faithful.
