The priest told what to do with the remains of consecrated apples.

Apples consecrated for the Transfiguration do not become sacred because they are sprinkled with holy water. The remains of fruits do not require any special "ritual" treatment, they can be disposed of in the usual way. The dean of the Baltai district of the Saratov diocese, Priest Oleg Zhilyakov, told Izvestia about this.

The priest noted that the question of what to do with the remains of consecrated apples regularly arises among parishioners, especially during the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, when the fruits of the new harvest are traditionally consecrated in churches.

"There is a popular opinion that apples consecrated for the Transfiguration, or, for example, grapes, are already a kind of shrine. Therefore, naturally, when eating a particular fruit, it is unacceptable to leave or throw away its remains. However, the idea that consecrated fruits become a kind of shrine does not correspond to the church's understanding," the priest explained.

Zhilyakov emphasized that the sanctification of food by itself does not make it a bearer of special grace or "magical" properties. According to him, we are talking exclusively about a prayer blessing, which does not change the product itself, but the person's attitude towards it.

"By itself, the consecration of fruits for the Transfiguration, as well as the consecration of eggs or cakes for Easter, does not endow these products with any special power or grace. But thanks to their consecration, our attitude towards them and, in general, to everything that God has sent down to us is changing," the priest said.

He also recalled that on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, known as the Apple Savior, the consecration of fruits is not the main thing.

"On this day, first of all, it is important to visit the temple, spend time with loved ones, pray and thank God for His mercy and the gifts of the earth that the Lord has endowed us with," concluded Zhilyakov.

Earlier, Priest John Stepanchuk explained the meaning of the consecration of fruits in the Apple Savior.