This is one of three holidays in Orthodox Christianity on which food items are blessed at church and then consumed by the faithful rather than priests, akin to the First Fruits of Judaism.

[3] The holiday has a pre-Christian origin and is associated with harvesting of ripe fruits, especially apples.

In East Slavic folklore, it marks the beginning of autumn and means the transfiguration of nature.

In the Byzantine Empire there was tradition to bless harvested grapes during the Feast of Transfiguration.

In Russia apples are more common than grapes, hence the name of the feast.