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 (1.),
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".
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| 1. Christ appears in the center of the icon blessing with His right hand and dressed in bright white robes (detail). |
Elijah (2.) and Moses (3.) stand at the top of
separate mountain peaks to the left and right of Christ. 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).
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2. The Prophet Elijah, appears on Christ's right-hand side (detail).
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3. Moses, who is seen
holding the Ten Commandments, appears on Christ's left-hand
side (detail).
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Below Christ are the three Apostles, who by their
posture in the icon show their response to the
transfiguration of Christ (4.). James has fallen over
backwards with his hands over his eyes. John in the
center has fallen prostrate. Peter 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 as to indicate the dramatic impact the
vision has had on them.
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| 4. The three Apostles who accompanied Christ to the moutain, Peter, John, and James, react to the vision of Christ's Transfiguration. |
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| 5. The garments of the Apostles are in state of disarray (detail). | 6. The Apostle James reacts to the vision by falling to the ground and attempting to cover his eyes (detail). |
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.
Hymns of the Feast
Apolytikion (Grave Tone)
You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your
glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could
comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your
everlasting light, through the intercessions of the
Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.
Kontakion (Grave Tone)
You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your
disciples, insofar as they could bear, beheld Your glory.
Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand
Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that
You are truly the effulgence of the Father.
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.
See also
Deification - The Uncreated Light
"Partakers of Divine Nature" - About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church
The Scandal of the Transfiguration
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