icon of the Transfiguration

 

The Icon of the Transfiguration

August 6/19 

          The feast of the Transfiguration of Christ in the Orthodox Church is one of the twelve great feasts of the Church and is preceded by a period of fasting.  In the Orthodox view the Transfiguration is not only a feast in honor of Jesus, but a feast of the Holy Trinity, for all three Persons of the Trinity are interpreted as being present at that moment:  God the Father spoke from heaven; God the Son was the one being transfigured, and God the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a cloud. In this sense, the transfiguration is also considered the "Small Epiphany" (the "Great Epiphany" being the Baptism of Christ, when the Holy Trinity appeared in a similar pattern).

          The Transfiguration event is reported in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and the Letter of 2Peter.

          In the icon, three still figures stand on peaks of Mt. Tabor.   The central figure of Christ holds His Scroll of the Law, and He is surrounded by a mandorla, which is used to depict sacred moments which transcend time and space, such as in the Resurrection,  and the Dormition of the Theotokos.  On His right looking toward Him is Prophet Moses, and on His left, also looking toward Him, the Prophet Elijah.  These two saints of the Old Testament had encounters with God the Father during their lifetimes and so have a special relationship with Christ himself. 

          The stillness of these three figures contrasts sharply with the figures of Peter, James and John, who seem to be hurtling down the mountainside - their sandals have come off their feet.   Peter shields his face from the brilliance.  Their faces show the shock and awe they are experiencing at this cataclysmic event as they witness this encounter of their familiar friend and Lord, and the two Prophets.

          The word “transfiguration” in Greek is “metamorphosis”, meaning a change of form, or structure;  a transformation.  We also are going to be made into something else, as Peter, John and James realized as they fell to the ground in awe of Christ’s Transfiguration. Christ revealed to them a glimpse, only as much as they could stand to see, of what we’re all journeying toward. The Transfiguration is said to have occurred 40 days before the Crucifixion, so His disciples knew now that He went to the Cross under His own power and of His free will. They knew that the Cross would not be the end of the story but that something must lay in store beyond it, not just for Jesus, but for all of us.

          Worshippers at the service of the Transfiguration traditionally bring baskets of fruit to be blessed, since this is at the end of summer when grapes and other fruits are ripening. Prayers are said for the healing of those who eat the fruits, because in ancient times most medicines came from plants.

          Transfigurations are everywhere: grapes become wine, wine becomes the Blood of Christ, herbs become medicine. Everywhere, God is working through His creation.

           

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