One of the greatest evangelistic events annually chanted in the Christian world, is the Transfiguration of the Lord.The history of the festival began around the 4th century, when at the initiative of the holy Empress Helena on Mount Tabor was built Christian church, consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration.According to the Gospel narratives describing the event completes about 40 days before the spring holiday of Easter, but the Eastern Christians celebrate the summer.The tradition to celebrate the Transfiguration in August is associated with Lent: in order not to be distracted by thoughts of events Lent, the feast was transferred to another period of the year.Within 40 days after the Transfiguration Christians celebrate Exaltation of the Holy Cross, thereby reminding ourselves Evangelical chronology of events.
Transfiguration.Holiday History
history Feast of the Transfiguration of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark, and these three narrative between them are very similar.
As mentioned in the Scriptures, the Son of God took their favorite disciples - John, Peter and James - and went with them to Mount Tabor, with the aim to pray to the Heavenly Father.Here, during the prayers of his face lit up like the sun, and the garments became white as snow.At the same time near the Son of God were the prophets Moses and Elijah, were talking with him about the future redemptive suffering.
When the disciples saw this transformation of his Master, Peter, the hottest of them said, "Teacher, is good for us to be here, let's located here three tabernacles (tents) - You, Moses and Elijah."After that, they were surrounded by a cloud from which the disciples heard the voice of the Heavenly Father, saying, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him."Then the vision ended, and Jesus Christ rebuked the disciples to tell anyone what he saw until a His Resurrection from the dead.
What does this incident in the spiritual sense?We know that the Lord while on earth, did not commit any random signs or miracles.Each extraordinary event described in the Gospels, always has an instructive meaning and moral edification.The theological interpretation of the Transfiguration event is as follows:
- phenomenon of the Holy Trinity.Not for the first time since the birth of Christ there is a phenomenon of the One God through the Holy Trinity.The first similar event took place on the day of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, when Pentecost were all present to hear the voice of the Father, acknowledging His Son Jesus Christ.The same thing happens on Mount Tabor, when God the Father calls from the cloud to listen to His teaching.It happened Epiphany, that is, the opening of the people Persons of the Holy Trinity.
- Transfiguration of Jesus Christ demonstrates the connection to God the Son of two natures - divine and human.Disputes about the duality of Christ's nature for many centuries did not stop among many Christian theologians.According to the interpretation of the Holy Fathers, the Transfiguration was a sign of the future transformation of all the people in the kingdom of heaven.
- In addition, here is symbolic and the phenomenon of the prophets of the Old Testament - Moses and Elijah.It is known that the Prophet Moses died a natural death, and the prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven with the flesh.In the event of the festival, described the holy evangelists, it shows the power of the Son of God over life and death, His royal dominion over heaven and earth.
date of celebration of the Transfiguration
Patristic theological teaching left a sample of seeds, as this should be seen evangelical event as the Transfiguration of the Lord.The history of the festival each year is remembered by all faithful Christians.In the Orthodox Church, this event is celebrated on August 19 on the Gregorian calendar, and the celebration is one of the Twelve (ie one of the 12 great holiday, which is celebrated annually Orthodox Christians).
special holiday
The people this holiday is called Apple Spas.Transfiguration of Our Lord is so called because on that day, according to the church regulations, should consecrate the fruits of the new harvest.There is a long tradition of bringing to the pious festival to perform a variety of fruit on them a special prayer that is read in churches after the liturgy.
In addition, the day Orthodox Christians for the first time allowed to enjoy the fruits of the new harvest, since before the feast of the Transfiguration there is a ban on the consumption of fruit apples and grapes.It is a specific restriction on the fresh fruit that starts with Petrov, fasting and ends with the Transfiguration.
When making this holiday the priests clothed in white robes, symbolizing the eternal divine light, revelation of Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor.
On Transfiguration (Apple Spas) in the Orthodox world, be used as a fish relaxation of strict fasting in honor of the holiday.
Holiday akathist
Akathist Transfiguration describes in detail the events of the festival, treating especially evangelical theological event.Praise and pleading prayer placed in the canticle, turned to the Lord Jesus Christ.Ikos Each ends with the words of the Apostle Peter, which he said the Saviour on Mount Tabor in the highest moment of tenderness of heart: "Jesus, the L-rd God, we are always good to be alone in the covert of Thy grace."Thus, we, like unto the Apostles, glorify the mercy of God, able to elevate human nature to the divine majesty.
Leavetaking Transfiguration takes place on August 26, a week after the holiday.Akathist to the Transfiguration is often done in the Orthodox churches in the evening, the feast day.It can also be read during the whole period Afterfeast.
The canticle "Transfiguration of Christ" prayer dedicated to the festive event, located at the very end.She often read in Orthodox churches after the festive liturgy.
Folk traditions of celebrating
Orthodox Christians around the world in a special way honored feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.There are centuries-old tradition of celebrating this event.On the eve of all Christians are trying to prepare a fresh supply of fruit harvest.Many farmers hoard the fruits grown on their own plot.
On the day Christians brought into the temple of the most beautiful and ripe fruit and put them on the center table, preparing for the consecration.Very fond of this tradition of small children, they are anxiously waiting and trembling prayers priest "for the blessing of the fruits", try to keep baskets of fruit on their own, without the help of adults.In some families, it is customary to congratulate each other, to give a variety of gifts at the Transfiguration of the Lord.Congratulations are often drawn in poetic form.After the service, the Christians go home to commit a festive meal.Here there is a pious tradition to start dinner with a blessing of the fruits.Also, there is a slight relaxation of the post - by eating fish meal is allowed.Many Orthodox mistress on Apple Spas (Transfiguration of Christ) are preparing a variety of dishes.It may be the apple and honey cakes, jams.
Transfiguration.Congratulations
Many Orthodox Christians write to each other in verse, congratulations, sending a telegram or SMS.For example, a common practice to give the Transfiguration of the Lord poetry.Also written congratulations among Christians decided to treat each other with fruit, apple pie, and walk-in guests.
celebration of the Transfiguration of the Holy Land
special way celebrated Transfiguration of Our Lord in the Holy Land.Throughout the year at Tabor decorum and privacy.A few pilgrim groups visit this place mainly in the period of Lent to Pentecost.But for the feast of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, a special mood, as numerous pilgrims and tourists from Russia to fill the pilgrim hostel and hotel rooms.From the surrounding areas - Kafr Yasif, Nazareth, Acre, Haifa, Cana of Galilee - also come a group of believers who want to visit the festival on the spot of the holy event.
After evening worship devout Christians dinner and try to go to bed early, at dawn to attend the festive liturgy.At the Liturgy almost all pilgrims partake of the Holy Communion.In addition, local believers there is a tradition of infant baptism in the celebration.
natives Christians celebrate the sacred event quite the opposite.Housed in tents in the courtyard of the monastery, they are drinking alcohol, playing musical instruments, dancing, firing their guns, singing cheerful folk songs are funny conversations, which often turn into a showdown, ending the fight.Noisy celebrations end at dawn, when the first bell rings, notifying the start of Matins.
After the service, a procession takes place, which the faithful natives greeted cheerful shouts and gun shots.Also, reckless fun continues after the liturgy.
Folk omens on the Transfiguration of Our Lord
popularly widespread popular tradition of celebrating an event such as the Transfiguration.Signs left in popular belief, mostly associated with the harvest.For example, there is a tradition on this day to treat the poor or low-income fruit grown in his garden.In this case, there is a belief that the coming year will be especially fruitful.Furthermore, if the day failed to meet the need of the poor, it means that the next year is unproductive fodder.Thus was born saying: "The Feast apple and eat the beggar."
also a tradition on the day of the Transfiguration to eat at least one apple with honey.This was considered a guarantee of good health for the coming year.
Among other things, there was a tradition to clean the entire grain harvest until August 19, as it was believed that after this date any rain will be disastrous for him (the so-called rain-hlebognoy).
Religious practice does not eat the fruit fresh crop is directly related to their degree of maturity.We know that apples and grapes fully ripen until the end of August, it becomes useful to the body.Also, in the popular mind is deeply rooted bond violations "apple fast" sin matriarch Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and thereby led the wrath of God to all mankind.That is why the common people in a special way monitor compliance with the tradition of not eating fresh apples in the period up to the Transfiguration.
According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, to be with purity and love to meet the Transfiguration of the Lord.Signs should not be taken seriously, you can not treat them as incontrovertible dogmas.
Transfiguration in 2014
August 19, 2014 celebrating the Transfiguration of the Lord again.The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church makes the Divine Liturgy in the male Solovetsky Monastery.According to the custom, after the service Patriarch delivered a sermon in which narrated about the history and significance of the Transfiguration in the life of every Christian.Patriarch Kirill congratulated on the occasion of the monastic brotherhood, headed by Archimandrite father and thanked them for the gifts presented to.So in the Transfiguration of the Lord passed greetings of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyril in the Holy Land Solovki.In addition, His Holiness donated to the monastery of St. Seraphim Vyritsky image.
Transfiguration Church, which served the liturgy the Patriarch is located in the territory of the Solovetsky Monastery - a majestic ancient cathedral, built in 1558.On this day in the Cathedral of the feast day is done.
Dropped August 19, 2014 - Transfiguration of the Lord - on Tuesday.Features festive divine service are such that if 19 August falls on a Sunday, then all the features of the Sunday service canceled.Chants verses, Canon will focus on only the major holidays, especially since this is the Transfiguration.The service, which will be made in any other weekdays of the day, no different from the Sunday version.
Features of this service:
- whole service dedicated only to the holiday.
- at morning sung glorification holiday favorite with verses of the psalm.
- «honest" is not sung at Matins, replaced choruses holiday.
- antiphons are sung at the liturgy of the Transfiguration.
- grand entrance on a celebratory poem reads the input.
- sung Zadostoynik.
- After reading opisthambonos performed the consecration of the fruits of the new harvest.
- At vespers on the feast day is sung the great prokeimenon.
Conclusion It is very important in the Christian world of the Transfiguration.The history of the festival opens its symbolism.Gore indisputably represents silence and lonely place - a condition for mental union with God in prayer net.The name "Favor" is translated as "light, purity," which symbolizes the purification of the soul from the burden of sin and its enlightenment in God.The Transfiguration of the Saviour represents the main goal of the Christian life - the complete victory of the spirit over bodily passions, free from everyday dirt and acceptance of the divine light, which is possible for any person seeking God.
