Russia Religion Subjects Jesus Christ The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is one of the twelve great festivals of the Russian Orthodox Church and is celebrated on 6 (19) August as a portent of the kingdom of God on earth, the Resurrection and the Second Coming. This was the first occasion on which Jesus revealed His divine essence to His disciples. The iconography of the Transfiguration was established in Byzantium on the basis of the Books of Matthew, Mark and Luke, which describe how Jesus took Peter, John and James up into a mountain to pray, when He was surrounded by a blinding white light. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked to Jesus, while the voice of God was heard from a bright cloud: “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.’ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him’” (Matthew 17:1–5).

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