Transfiguration
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La Transfiguration du Christ est une des Grandes fêtes de l'Église orthodoxe, qu'on célèbre le 6 août.
Jésus had gone with his disciples Peter, James, and John to Mount Tabor. Christ's appearance was changed while they watched into a glorious radiant figure. There appeared Elijah and Moses, speaking with Jesus. The disciples were amazed and terribly afraid.
This event shows forth the divinity of Christ, so that the disciples would understand after his Ascension that He was truly the radiant splendor of the Father, and that his Passion was voluntary (Mark 9:2-9). It also shows the possibility of our own theosis.
This event was the subject of some debates between Gregory Palamas and Barlaam of Calabria. Barlaam believed that the light shining from Jesus was created light, while Gregory maintained the disciples were given grace to perceive the uncreated light of God. This supported Gregory's larger argument that although we cannot know God in His essence, we can know Him in his energies, as He reveals Himself.
Accounts of the Transfiguration are found in the Bible: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36, and II Peter 1:16-19.
Celebration of the feast
A Great Vespers is conducted on the eve of the feast, and on the morning of the feast, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom celebrated, traditionally preceded by the Matins service.
The Vespers service includes the readings: Exodus 24:12-18, 33:11-23, 34:4-6, 8; I Kings 19:3-9, 11-13, 15-16. The Matins service includes the reading: Luke 9:28-36. And the Divine Liturgy: II Peter 1:10-19; Matthew 17:1-9.
It is believed that Christ's transfiguration took place at the time of the Jewish Festival of Booths, and that the celebration of the event in the Christian Church became the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament feast. Presently it is celebrated on the sixth of August, forty days before the feast, Elevation of the Holy Cross. Just as Peter, James, and John saw the transfiguration before the crucifixion so that they might know who it is who will suffered for them, the Church connects these two feasts to help the faithful understand the mission of Christ and that his suffering was voluntary.
The feast of the Transfiguration of Christ once belonged to the season of Great Lent, but may have been considered too joyous for that time. Saint Gregory Palamas, a great teacher of the Transfiguration, is now celebrated on one of the Sundays of Lent instead.
Traditions
In Greece and Romania the harvest season traditionally began on the Transfiguration. Grapes, in particular, were not eaten before August 6. In some parishes, the first grapes would be brought to church for a blessing and distributed to parishioners.
Hymns
Tropaire (Ton 7)
- Tu t'es transfiguré sur la montagne, ô Christ notre Dieu,
- laissant tes Disciples * contempler ta gloire autant qu'ils le pouvaient:
- fais briller aussi sur les pécheurs que nous sommes
- ton éternelle clarté
- par les prières de la Mère de Dieu,
- Source de lumière, gloire à toi.
Kontakion (Ton 7)
- Sur la montagne tu t’es transfiguré
- et tes Disciples
- contemplèrent ta gloire, ô Christ notre Dieu,
- pour autant qu’ils le pouvaient,
- afin qu’en te voyant sur la croix
- ils comprennent que ta Passion était voulue
- et proclament à la face du monde
- que tu es en vérité le reflet
- de la splendeur et de la gloire du Père.
- Réveillez-vous de la torpeur dont vous êtes accablés,
- ne restez pas toujours couchés sur le sol;
- pensées qui inclinez mon âme vers le ba,
- élevez-vous vers le sommet de la divine ascension: avec Pierre et les deux fils de Zébédée
- empressonsnous de gravir le mont Thabor
- de contempler nous aussi la gloire de notre Dieu et d’écouter la voix céleste qu’ils ont eux-mêmes entendue,
- si bien qu'ils proclamèrent à la face du monde
- celui qui est en vérité le reflet de la splendeur de la gloire du Père.
Hymns de l'avant-fête
Tropaire (t. 4)
- Allons à la rencontre du Christ transfiguré,
- fidèles, célébrant dans la joie l'Avant-fête, et disons:
- De la divine allégresse voici qu'approche le jour,
- car le Seigneur gravit la montagne du Thabor
- pour rayonner de sa divine splendeur.
Kontakion (Ton 4)
- En ce jour par la divine Transfiguration
- le genre humain tout entier
- resplendit divinement,
- s'écriant plein de joie:
- Le Christ se transfigure, sauvant le monde entier.
External links
- The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ OCA web site
- The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ GOARCH web site
- Transfiguration - The Orthodox Faith, by the V. Rev. Thomas Hopko
- Icon of Transfiguration
