Harvest in the Vatopedi Plain

The sixth month of the year was named after Zeus' wife, Hera, who in Latin was called Juno.[1]In different regions of Greece, depending on the agricultural work, June has its own unique name. In many places it is referred to as Kerasaris or Kerasinos because the cherries ripen, while elsewhere because of the "erinasmus" or "orniasmus"[2] of tame figs is called Orniastis, Rhinistis and elsewhere Aparniastis.

June, however, is mainly known as the Reaper, since it is directly linked to the ripening and harvesting of cereals. The reaping of grains by farmers, which was the first phase of their harvest. It takes place every June, when the ears of corn have ripened and the fruit inside them has become hard. The reaping was previously done with a sickle, starting from the place where the wind has bent the ears of corn.

The sickles and the threshing floors are now the first monumental objects, the second traditional places. The appearance of reaping and threshing machines, in the early fifties, slowly changed the way of reaping and threshing. The definitive change came with the appearance of combine harvesters at the end of the 1970s. In recent years, with the progress of technology and the use of machines, reaping and threshing have become much easier.

This month of the harvest and in the Vatopedi plain, the fathers of the Monastery, with the blessing of Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi, continuing the tradition with the use of appropriate machinery, harvested the fruits of the land that the Lord blessed and bore fruit. Harvesting has always been and is a work of great importance, both for rural families and for the fathers of the Monasteries, since it ensures bread for an entire year. Particularly at the I. M. M. Vatopedi, the harvest yields fruit that will be tasted not only by the fathers, but also by the pilgrims, but also by all others who enjoy the love and offering of the Monastery, especially in times difficult for modern man.

References:

[1] Regarding the month of June, see: D. SIMOPOULOS, "The Months of May and June", Geotropio Eleftherotypias, Issue 472 (May 2, 2009).

[2] This is artificial insemination with wild fig eggs or fruits.