the first day of the dormition fast is a feast day called the procession of the cross (august 1), on which day it is customary to have an outdoor procession and perform the lesser blessing of water. in eastern orthodoxy it is also the day of the holy seven maccabees, martyrs abimus, antonius, gurias, eleazar, eusebonus, alimus, and marcellus, their mother solomonia, and their teacher eleazar. therefore, the day is sometimes referred to as "makovei". finally it is also considered the first of the three "feasts of the saviour" in august, the feast to the all-merciful saviour and the most holy mother of god.