August 6
Reading:
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. Therefore,
fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be
some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son
of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost
disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before
them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the
light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of
light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias,
who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was
about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they
showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses
came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as
it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After
a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud
they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the
Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This
is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matt. 17:
5).
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). It is because of this
that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a
great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of
the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition,
the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His
Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days
before the Exaltation of the Cross.
Apolytikion of Holy Transfiguration in the Grave Tone
You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your
glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us
sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of
the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.
Kontakion of Holy Transfiguration in the Grave Tone
You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your
disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when
they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and
proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.
SOURCE:
SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2015(with 2014's link here also and further: 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and even 2007!):
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