The Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Categories: work, hymns, feast-days
Date: 06 August 2010 10:06:48
Troparion - Tone 7:
You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God,
revealing Your glory to Your disciples as far as they could bear it.
Let Your everlasting Light also shine upon us sinners,
through the prayers of the Theotokos.
O Giver of Light, glory to You!
Kontakion - Tone 7:
On the Mountain You were Transfigured, O Christ God,
And Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they could see it;
So that when they would behold You crucified,
They would understand that Your suffering was voluntary,
And would proclaim to the world,
That You are truly the Radiance of the Father!
A blessed Feast of the Transfiguration to all! I missed our Archdiocese's Vesperal Liturgy, and celebration of our parish priest's 13th year of ordination, in a 13-and-a-half hour day at work. Not sure I reflected much of Christ's light yesterday or today in particular: all is well, thanks be to God, but it has been a physically, mentally and emotionally draining week.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's Online Chapel has a great reading for today; I found the following particularly helpful today:
Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. ... Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43).
This feast has been set in the Orthodox Calendar on this day [it once occured during Great Lent] as in 40 days we will celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross; and according to Tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion.
I am also reminded of my visit to Georgia last year, good memories, and the Church of the Transfiguration [at left] at Ikalto.
A blessed Feast Day to all!