Orthodoxy is a religion filled with light. Every day we rejoice at a new day, God’s blessings, and the opportunity to know and serve the Lord. But there are days on which joy overflows, days that are dedicated to unusual, significant events. Although the human mind cannot understand the entire Divine essence of the Lord Jesus Christ, on such holidays as the Transfiguration of the Lord, we can imagine what it is like to be close to God.
3 ordinary fishermen: Peter, John and James saw a great miracle with their own eyes. Jesus chose them to climb a high mountain together. The exact name of the mountain is not known, but it is traditionally believed to be Mount Tabor in Galilee. 3 — so many witnesses confirmed, according to the Bible, the veracity of the event. The 3 apostles closest to Jesus were given the incredible honor of seeing the future. At a time when even his closest disciples considered Christ an earthly king-liberator, 3 of them saw his
Divine essence.
There, on the mountain, they witnessed how the teacher’s face was transformed, how his clothes became “like light.” But the miracle did not end there. Two great prophets, Moses and Elijah, appeared to talk with Jesus. The Lord appeared before the disciples emitting light, so bright that it was difficult to look at him.
It is no wonder that the disciples were afraid. So many events at once. Peter, as usual, took the initiative, proposing to build 3 tents on the mountain for the prophets and Christ. It is very important that while he was still speaking (voicing his understanding of what was happening), a bright cloud descended on the mountain and a voice was heard, proclaiming Jesus the son of God and commanding “to listen to him.” It is worth remembering the Lord’s command to listen to Jesus. His truth is eternal, but people can make mistakes.
The voice from the cloud was the last straw, the disciples fell on their faces in holy horror. What happened next? Jesus reassured them, told them not to be afraid, touched them, comforted them. This is our Lord, always ready to help, encourage and calm. Jesus is always full of love, sympathy and empathy.
Transfiguration is a joyful holiday, giving hope, sweeping away doubts. On this day in the East it was customary to bless the grape harvest. In Rus’, grapes were replaced with apples and the holiday received another name — Apple Savior.
Theophan the Recluse, a great teacher of the church, called the Tabor light the light of “joy and good mood,” which drives out sorrows, dispels delusion and lies. Let the Tabor light, the light of the Transfiguration, burn in the heart of every believer, so that there is no room left for doubts, sorrows and worldly passions.
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