Tuesday, 6 August 2024

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Tuesday of the 7th week after Pentecost

93 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Major feast Lord · Dormition Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Transfiguration of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ

The Holy Transfiguration is one of the twelve great feasts of the Orthodox Church and the second of the three "Feasts of the Saviour" in August. It commemorates the event recorded in the Gospels according to Saints Matthew, Mark and Luke, in which the Lord Jesus Christ, taking with him the chosen of his disciples, Peter, James and John, went up upon a high mountain, traditionally identified with Mount Tabor in Galilee. There, in the night, while he was praying, his face shone like the sun, and his garments became dazzling white as snow. There appeared to him two of the great figures of the Old Covenant, Moses, who had received the Law on Sinai and to whom God had refused the vision of his face, and Elias the prophet, who had been taken up alive into heaven on a fiery chariot. They spoke with him of his exodus, that is, the saving passion which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Saint Peter, beholding the glory and not knowing what he said, proposed to build three tabernacles, that they might remain on the mountain. While he was yet speaking, a luminous cloud overshadowed them, and out of the cloud came the voice of the Father bearing witness, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." The disciples fell on their faces in awe, and when they arose they saw no one but Jesus only.

The Church reads the Transfiguration as the manifestation of the divinity of Christ, hidden under the veil of his flesh. Moses and Elias, the one from among the dead and the other from among the living, stand for the Law and the Prophets, both bearing witness that Jesus is the Lord of both Testaments and the goal of all the Scriptures. The radiance which the apostles beheld was not a created light, the light of sun or moon, but the uncreated light of the Godhead, the same glory which shone in the burning bush and on the face of Moses, now seen pouring out from the body of the incarnate Word. The Fathers, and most fully Saint Gregory Palamas, teach that this light is the eternal energy of the Holy Trinity, in which God communicates himself truly to creatures, so that what the apostles saw was a foretaste of the glory in which Christ shall come at his second coming and a pledge of the glory promised to all the saints. The Transfiguration thus reveals the mystery of theosis, of the deification of human nature in Christ, and assures the faithful that flesh, when purified, can bear the splendour of God.

The feast is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross on 14 September, that the disciples might be strengthened by the vision of the glory before the scandal of the passion, and the Church places it within the Dormition Fast, allowing the faithful fish, oil and wine on this day. After the Liturgy it is the universal custom to bring the first fruits of the harvest, especially grapes and other fruits, to be blessed by the priest, in thanksgiving to the Giver of all good things and as a sign that creation is to be made new in the radiance of the risen Christ. The forefeast is observed on 5 August, and the afterfeast continues for seven days, ending with the leave-taking on 13 August.

Holy Martyrs Justus and Pastor of Complutum

Saints Justus and Pastor were two young brothers, aged about thirteen and nine, who suffered for Christ at Complutum (modern Alcala de Henares) in Spain during the persecution of Diocletian, around the year 304. When the prefect Dacian arrived in the city to compel the faithful to sacrifice to the idols, the two boys left their schoolroom of their own accord, casting away their writing tablets, and openly confessed Christ before the magistrate. Although they were small children, they refused every flattery and threat. Dacian ordered them to be scourged, hoping their tender age would make them recant, but they encouraged one another to endure. Seeing their constancy, the prefect commanded that they be taken outside the city and beheaded. Their relics were later enshrined in Alcala, where a great church was raised over their tomb, and their veneration spread widely through Spain and Gaul.

Holy New Martyr Habakkuk of Thessaloniki

The New Martyr Habakkuk (also rendered Avvakum or Abbakoum) is known from a single seventeenth-century codex preserved at the Great Lavra on Mount Athos, which records that he died for Christ at Thessaloniki on 6 August 1628. His name does not appear in the printed Synaxaristes of the New Martyrs, since no full account of his suffering has survived. From his designation as "Venerable" in the codex it is generally inferred that he was a monk, very probably from the Holy Mountain. The remembrance of his martyrdom was first published by Metropolitan Sophronios Eustratiades in his catalogue of Lavra manuscripts and his Hagiologion, by which his memory was once again numbered among the saints of the Church.

Saint Hormisdas, Pope of Rome and Confessor

Saint Hormisdas was born at Frosinone in Latium in Italy and, having been married before entering the clergy, was the father of the future Pope Saint Silverius. He was elected Bishop of Rome in 514, succeeding Saint Symmachus, and shepherded the Roman Church until his repose on 6 August 523. He is chiefly remembered for healing the Acacian schism, which had divided Rome and Constantinople for thirty-five years over the Henotikon of the Emperor Zeno and the lingering errors of the Monophysites. Through patient negotiation with the Emperor Justin I and the Patriarch John of Cappadocia, Hormisdas drew up the celebrated Libellus, or Formula of Hormisdas, a confession of right faith that upheld the decrees of Chalcedon and the condemnation of those who had favoured heresy. On 28 March 519 the formula was solemnly subscribed in the cathedral of Constantinople, restoring communion between the two great sees. Because his commemoration falls on the Feast of the Transfiguration, his memory is in some Orthodox calendars transferred to 5 or 7 August.

Daily readings

Vespers

Exodus — Exodus 24.12-18

¹²And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

¹²And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them. ¹³And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. ¹³And Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister: and Moses went up into the mount of God. ¹⁴And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. ¹⁴And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: whosoever hath a cause, let him come near unto them. ¹⁵And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. ¹⁵And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount. ¹⁶And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. ¹⁶And the glory of Jehovah abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. ¹⁷And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. ¹⁷And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. ¹⁸And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. ¹⁸And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

Vespers

OT — Composite 15 - Exodus 33.11-23; 34.4-6, 8

The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to one’s friend. Then he would return to the camp; but the young servant, Jesus, son of Navi, did not leave the tent. Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you say to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not shown me whom you will send with me. Yet you have said to me, “I know you above all others, and you have also found favour in my sight.” Now if I have found favour in your sight, show yourself to me, so that I may see you and find favour in your sight, that I may know that this great nation is your people.‘ And the Lord said to him, ‘I myself will go before you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If you will not go with us yourself, do not carry me up from here. For how shall it be truly known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be glorified, I and your people, more than all the nations.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘For you I will do this word that you have spoken; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you above all others.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your own glory.’ And he said, ‘I will pass by you in my glory, and will proclaim before you my name, “The Lord”; and I will be have mercy on those on whom I will have mercy, and will have pity on those on whom I will have pity.’ And he said, ‘You cannot see my face; for no human shall see my face and live.’ And the Lord said, ‘See, there is a place by me; stand on the rock. And while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen by you.’ So Moses rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sina, as the Lord had commanded him. The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, ‘The Lord. The Lord passed before his face, and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, God compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and full of mercy and true’. And Moses quickly bowed to the earth, and worshipped the Lord.

Vespers

OT — Composite 23 - 3 [1] Kings 19.3-9, 11-13, 15, 16

And Elias heard and was afraid; he arose and fled for his life, and came to Beersheba, in the land of Juda; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly someone touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat and drink, for you have a long journey.’ Elias looked, and there at his head was a cake of flour and a jar of water. He arose, ate and drank, and slept again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat and drink, for you have a long journey.’ He arose, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to mount Horeb. There he entered a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord will pass by.’ And a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elias heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood by the cave. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return to your way and you will come to the desert way of Damascus; and you shall anoint Elissaios son of Shaphat as prophet in your place.’

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 9.28-36

²⁸And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.

²⁸And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. ²⁹And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. ²⁹And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling. ³⁰And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: ³⁰And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah; ³¹Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. ³¹who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³²Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. ³²But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. ³³And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. ³³And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said. ³⁴While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. ³⁴And while he said these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. ³⁵And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. ³⁵And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my chosen: hear ye him. ³⁶And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. ³⁶And when the voice came, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Epistle

— Transfiguration weekly cycle

2 Peter — 2 Peter 1.10-19

¹⁰Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: ¹⁰Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: ¹¹for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ¹¹For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¹²Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.

¹²Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ¹³And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; ¹³Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; ¹⁴Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. ¹⁴knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me. ¹⁵Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. ¹⁵Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance. ¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁶For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: ¹⁷For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. ¹⁸And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. ¹⁹And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: ¹⁹We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Epistle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 6.20-7.12

²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. ²⁰for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.

¹Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

¹Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ²But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ²Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. ³Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. ³Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. ⁴The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. ⁴The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. ⁵Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. ⁵Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. ⁶But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. ⁶But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. ⁷Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. ⁷For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

⁸But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

⁸I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. ⁹But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. ⁹But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. ¹⁰And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: ¹⁰But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband ¹¹But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. ¹¹(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. ¹²But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ¹²But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

Gospel

— Transfiguration weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 17.1-9

¹And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

¹And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: ²And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. ²and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. ³And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. ³And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. ⁴Then 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. ⁴And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ⁵While 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. ⁵While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. ⁶And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. ⁶And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. ⁷And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and be not afraid. ⁷And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. ⁸And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. ⁸And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only. ⁹And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

⁹And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.

Gospel

Matthew — Matthew 14.1-13

¹At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

¹At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, ²And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. ²and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him.

³For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. ³For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ⁴For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. ⁴For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. ⁵And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. ⁵And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. ⁶But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod. ⁶But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. ⁷Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. ⁷Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. ⁸And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. ⁸And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. ⁹And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. ⁹And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; ¹⁰and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. ¹⁰And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. ¹¹And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. ¹¹And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. ¹²And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. ¹²And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

¹³Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him on foot from the cities.

¹³When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.