The Fore-feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ; Commemoration of the Consecration of the Holy Resurrection Patriarchal Sobor; Holy Martyr Eusignius (360-63)
Hebrews 3:1-14; Matthew 16:13-18
A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Dormition Fast.
Read Matthew 16:13-18
On the fore-feast of the Transfiguration we receive the reading on the good confession of faith made by Peter the chief of the Apostles. This gives us an important preparation for the upcoming feast. To receive the grace of the feast—the blessing of the feast of Transfiguration—we have to ascend mount Tabor with the Lord. The foundation of this journey upward is founded on faith in Jesus Christ.
Each of us has to discern the identity of Jesus Christ. It is not enough to accept the popular opinion of the masses. Which is that Jesus is merely a good teacher, or perhaps a prophet at most. This view sees Jesus is one of the many teachers and preachers of history. Peter’s confession is radically opposed to the popular view of the people: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” St. Cyril of Alexandria says, “Peter did not say, “you are a Christ” or “a son of God” but “the Christ, the Son of God.” For there are many Christs by grace, who have attained the rank of adoption, but only one who is by nature the Son of God. Thus, using the definite article, he said, the Christ, the Son of God. And in calling him Son of the living God, Peter indicates that Christ himself is life and that death has no authority over him.” MKGK 215. This is the confession of faith that leads us up the holy mountain to meet the incarnate Lord of Heaven and Earth in order to be transfigured through him.