The Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ
2 Peter 1:10-19; Matthew 17:1-9
Feast of our Lord. Holy Day of Obligation.
Read Matthew 17:1-9
As we celebrate our Lord’s Holy Transfiguration this day let us meditate on this beautiful sticheron from the Litya at Great Vespers for the feast:
Christ, the light that shone before the sun,* dwelt on earth in a human form.* Wishing to fulfil the divine work of salvation before His Cross,* today He mystically reveals the image of the Trinity on Mount Tabor.* He took aside His three chosen disciples, Peter, James, and John;* and for a short time He concealed His incarnation.* He was transfigured before them,* manifesting the splendour of the original beauty.* By this He strengthened them in their faith;* yet He spared them from losing their life at the sight,* and so their eyes saw only as much as they could behold.* He also called upon Moses and Elias,* the most venerable of the prophets,* to witness to His divinity,* testifying that He is indeed the reflection of the Father,* the Lord of the living and the dead.* A cloud also enveloped them as a tent,* and the voice of the Father bore witness on high, saying:* “This is My beloved Son; hear Him!* I have begotten Him before the daystar in a virginal manner;* I have sent Him to save those baptised in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,* those who confess in faith that the power of the divinity is one and indivisible.”* O Christ our God, You love all mankind;* make us shine in the brightness of Your inaccessible glory;* and in Your supreme goodness,* make us worthy to inherit Your never-ending Kingdom.