Today (6.08.204) the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of the Savior, where Christ through His human nature manifests the uncreated glory of His divinity.
The Transfiguration of the Savior is one of the five major milestones in the gospel narrative of Jesus' life, along with the Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.
Regarding the Transfiguration of the Savior, we read in the narrative of the Evangelists, that the Lord took his disciples Peter, John and James and went up to Mount Tabor to pray.
As St. Nicodemus the Saint characteristically notes: "And he received only three Apostles, as pre-eminent and pre-eminent. But Peter was judged because he loved Christ very much. And Ioannis, because he was loved by Christ. And Iakovos, because he was able to drink the cup of death, which the Lord also drank".
His three disciples, as they were tired from the difficult ascent to Tabor, and as they sat down to rest, they fell into a deep sleep.
When they awoke, they beheld an exquisite sight, as the face of the Lord shone like the sun, and His garments were white as light.
Two men, Moses and Elias, were surrounding Him and talking with Him. About the miraculous event, Saint Nicodemus the Saint writes the following: "And he brought Moses and Ilian into their midst, in order to correct the false suspicions that many had about him. However, others called the Lord as Elijah. Others, how is Ieremias. For this reason, he represented the first and foremost Prophets in Tabor, so that the disciples, and through the disciples all people, would know how much difference there is between Christ and the Prophets. But Christ is a Despot. Prophets are slaves. And let them know that the Lord has the power of death and life. Therefore, from among the deceased, he brought Moses. And from the living, he brought Ilian."
After the disciples had somewhat recovered from their astonishment, Peter, desiring to preserve this holy intoxication caused by the radiance of the Lord, imploringly told them to set up three tents. One for the Lord, one for Moses and one for Elijah.
However, before he could finish his sentence, a cloud came that covered them and from it a voice was heard saying: "This is my beloved son; listen to him" (Luke, i. 28-36). That is, “This is my beloved Son, whom I have sent to save the world. Listen to him"
As a great despotic holiday, the Transfiguration of the Savior is an exception, within the short but strict fast of the Fifteenth of August, as eating fish is allowed.
At the same time, in rural areas it is customary on Transfiguration Day to bring the first grapes of the year to the churches to be blessed with a special wish, which are then distributed to the congregation.
Ἀπολυτίκιον (Download)
Heavy sound.
Μετεμορώθης ἐν τῷ ὄρει Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, δείξας τοῖς Μαθηταῖς σου τὴν δόξαν σου, καθὼς ἠδυναντο. Λάμψον καὶ ἡμῖν τοῖς ἁμαρτωλοῖς, τὸ φῶς σου τὸ ἀΐδιον, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, φωτοδότα δόξα σοι.
Κοντάκιον
Heavy sound. Αὐτόμελον.
Ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους μετεμορώθης, καὶ ὡς ἐχώρουν οἱ Μαθηταί σου τὴν δόξαν σου, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἐθεάσαντο,
Source: newsit.gr