THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ON MOUNT TABOR HOLY MONASTERY
August 2014
On Tuesday, the 6th/19th of August 2014, the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ was observed at the Holy Monastery on Mount Tabor, where indeed it came to pass.
During this feast of the Lord, the Church commemorates the fact that, before His redeeming passion, Jesus Christ went up the mountain with Peter, James and John. Though not clearly referenced in the New Testament, the event has been made known by a very ancient ecclesiastical tradition.
On the mountain, a bright cloud covered the disciples and they saw the Lord, His face and clothes shining like the sun, talking with the prophets Moses and Elijah, foretelling His exodus, namely His crucifixion in Jerusalem; and they heard a voice from the cloud saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”, (Matthew 17, 1-8).
The event was offered by the Lord to His disciples and the Church in order to demonstrate man’s original beauty, which he had lost after his fall and which may be regained through Him by the Transfiguration, namely the exquisite change, in order to prepare them for His glorious Resurrection from the dead.
A vigil was held on the night of the aforementioned day, led by H.B. Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem in Matins and the Divine Liturgy. Co-officiating were Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; Metropolitan Polycarpos of Tanagra, visiting from Greece; the Patriarchal Commissioner in Northern Jordan, Archbishop Philoumenos of Pella; Hagiotaphite Archimandrites; the Hegoumen of the Monastery, Archimandrite Hilarion; priests from the Galilee area; and priests from Greece, Russia and Romania. Father Georgios Chardavelis of Greece chanted in Greek, whereas the choir sang in Arabic under the direction of Archimandrite Philoumenos. A great crowd of pious pilgrims from Russia, Ukraine and Greece enjoyed the blessing of this nocturnal open-air service.
His Beatitude preached the Word of God in Greek and in Arabic, see link: http://www.jp-newsgate.net/ar/2014/08/19/6932
On the morning of the same day, the Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, with co-officiating priests from Galilee and Accra. Participating were Orthodox faithful from Galilee, Jerusalem, and the occupied areas.
After the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Hilarion hosted the Patriarchal and Prelatic Retinue to a reception at his quarters, followed by fish lunch at noon.
From the Secretariat-General
365042 698160The Spirit of the Lord is with them that fear him. 826677