XPost: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox, alt.religion.christ
an.greek-orthodox, alt.religion.christian
XPost: alt.christian.religion, alt.christnet.theology
From: hayesstw@telkomsa.net
Introduction
The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus
Christ is celebrated each year on August 6. The feast commemorates the
transfiguration or metamorphosis of Christ on Mount Tabor, when our
Lord appeared in His divine glory before the Apostles Peter, James,
and John.
Biblical Story
The event of the Transfiguration is recorded in three of the four
Gospels:Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36. Jesus took the
Apostles Peter, James, and John with Him up upon a mountain, and while
they were on the mountain Jesus was transfigured. His face shone like
the sun, and His garments became glistening white.
Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ, talking to Him. Peter declared
how good it was for them to be there and expressed the desire to build
three booths for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. This reference to the
booths could imply that this occurred during the time of the Feast of
Tabernacles when the Jews would be camping out in the fields for the
grape harvest; for this Feast had acquired other associations in the
course of its history, including the memory of the wanderings in the
wilderness recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus.
While Peter was speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice
came from the cloud saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased; listen to Him." When the disciples heard this they fell
on their faces filled with awe. Jesus came to them and told them to
not be afraid. When the three looked up they saw only Jesus.
As Jesus and His disciples came down the mountain, He told them not to
speak of what they had seen until He had risen from the dead.
Icon of the Feast
In the icon of the Feast of the Transfiguration, Christ is the central
figure, appearing in a dominant position within a circular mandorla.
He is clearly at the visual and theological center of the icon. His
right hand is raised in blessing, and his left hand contains a scroll.
The mandorla with its brilliant colors of white, gold, and blue
represent the divine glory and light. The halo around the head of
Christ is inscribed with the Greek words O on, meaning "The One Who
is".
Christ appears in the center of the icon blessing with His right hand
and dressed in bright white robes (detail).
Elijah and Moses stand at the top of separate mountain peaks to the
left and right of Christ (Elijah stands on the left side in the icon
and Moses, holding the Ten Commandments, stands on the right side).
They are bowing toward Christ with their right hands raised in a
gesture of intercession towards Him. Saint John Chrysostom explains
the presence of these two fathers of the faith from the Old Testament
in three ways. He states that they represent the Law and the Prophets
(Moses received the Law from God, and Elijah was a great prophet);
they both experienced visions of God (Moses on Mount Sinai and Elijah
on Mount Carmel); and they represent the living and the dead (Elijah,
the living, because he was taken up into heaven by a chariot of fire,
and Moses, the dead, because he did experience death).
Below Christ are the three Apostles, who by their posture in the icon
show their response to the transfiguration of Christ. James (right)
has fallen over backward with his hands over his eyes. John in the
center has fallen prostrate. Peter (left) is kneeling and raises his
right hand toward Christ in a gesture expressing his desire to build
the three booths. The garments of the Apostles are in a state of
disarray to indicate the dramatic impact the vision has had on them.
The icon of the feast directs our attention toward the event of the
Transfiguration and specifically to the glory of God as revealed in
Christ. This event came at a critical point in the ministry of our
Lord, just as He was setting out on His journey to Jerusalem. He would
soon experience the humiliation, suffering, and death of the Cross.
However, the glorious light of the Resurrection was revealed to
strengthen His disciples for the trials that they would soon
experience.
The feast also points to the great and glorious Second Coming of our
Lord and the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God when all of creation
will be transfigured and filled with light.
Orthodox Christian Celebration of the Feast of the Transfiguration
This Feast of our Lord is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint
John Chrysostom, which is conducted on the day of the feast and
preceded by the Matins service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the
evening before the day of the feast. Scripture readings for the Feast
of the Transfiguration are the following: At Vespers: Exodus 24:12-18,
33:11-23, 34:4-6, 8; I Kings 19:3-9, 11-13, 15-16. At the Orthros
(Matins): Luke 9:28-36. At the Divine Liturgy: II Peter 1:10-19;
Matthew 17:1-9.
Resources
The Incarnate God: The Feasts of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary,
Catherine Aslanoff, editor and Paul Meyendorff, translator (Crestwood,
NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1995).
Festival Icons for the Christian Year by John Baggley (Crestwood, NY:
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2000), pp. 58-71.
The Festal Menaion translated by Mother Mary (South Canaan, PA: St.
Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1969) pp. 61-63.
Source:
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