06 Transfiguration of Christ

8/14/2019 06 Transfiguration of Christ

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TheTransfigurationofChrist

TheTransfigurationofOurLord,andGod,andSaviour,JesusChristWhichtheHolyChurchcelebratesonAugust6

OurLordhadspokentoHisdisciplesmanytimesnotonlyconcerningHis

Passion, Cross, and Death,but also concerning the coming persecutions and

afflictionsthattheythemselveswouldendure.Sincealltheseevilswerenearat

hand,but the enjoyment of good thingswhich they hoped to receive in their

steadwasyettocome,ourSaviourdesiredtogivethemfullassurance,evidentlyandopenly,concerningthatglorywhichispreparedforthosewhoenduretothe

end.Therefore,fulfillingthatwhichHehadpromisedshortlybefore,thatthere

besomestandingherewhichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyseetheSonofman

cominginHisKingdom(Matt.16:28).HetookHisthreeforemostdisciplesand

ascendedMountTabor,whereHewastransfiguredbeforethem.Hisfaceshone

likethesun,andHisclothesbecamewhiteasthelight.Suddenly,togetherwith

thisdreadandmarvellouseffulgenceoflight,thereappearedthosepinnaclesof

theProphets,MosesandElias,who spokewith theLordJesus concerningHis

savingPassion thatwas about to takeplace. StandingbeforeHim as reverent

servants,theyshowedthatHeisLordofboththelivingandthedead,forMoses

cameforthfromHades,havingdiedmanycenturiesbefore,andElias,asitwere

fromheaven,whitherhehadbeentakenupwhileyetalive.Afteralittlewhilea

radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud theyheard that same

voicewhichhadbeenheardattheJordanattheBaptismofChrist,testifyingto

theDivinityofJesusandsaying:This isMybelovedSon, inwhom Iamwell

pleased;hearyeHim(Matt.17:5).

TheHolyOrthodoxMetropolisofBoston Page1


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Sucharethemarvels,trulyworthyofGod,celebratedinthispresentfeast,

which is an image andprefiguring of the future stateof the righteous,whose

splendourtheLordspokeof,saying:Thenshalltherighteousshineforthasthe

sun (Matt.13:43). It isbecauseof this that theKontakionof thisFeast is said

daily (when there isnotagreat feast) in theServiceof theTypica inperpetual

commemoration of the glory thatwillbe the lot of the Saints. According to

tradition, the Lords Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His

Crucifixion; this iswhy theTransfiguration is celebrated fortydaysbefore the

ExaltationoftheCross.

Restfromlabour.Fishallowed.

HOUwasttransfiguredonthemountain,OChristourGod,showingtoThy

disciplesThygloryaseachonecouldendure.Shine forthThouonus,whoaresinnersall,Thy lighteverunending, through theprayersof theTheotokos,

Lightbestower,glorytoThee.T

N themountThouwast transfigured,andThydisciples,asmuchas they

couldbear,beheldThyglory,OChristourGod;thatwhentheyshouldsee

Thee crucified, theywouldknowThyPassion tobewilling,andpreach to the

worldthat Thou,intruth,arttheEffulgenceoftheFather.

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Text:TheGreatHorologion1997TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02445IconscourtesyTheHolyTransfigurationMonastery

THEMENAION:2006TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryAllRightsReserved.Nounauthorizedreproductionsallowed.

A SELECTION OF HYMNS FROM

THE MENAION

NOTE

IfthisFeastfallonaSunday,wechantnoneofthehymnsoftheResurrection,

butalloftheFeast.

VESPERS

ThereisnoreadingfromthePsalter.ForLord,Ihavecried,weallowforsixversesandchantthefollowingStichera,repeatingthefirsttwo:

FourthTone.ByCosmastheMonkEFORE ThyCross,O Lord, amountainbecame like untoHeaven, and a

cloud spread out like a tabernacle.WhenThouwast transfigured and the

Fatherbarewitness toThee,PeterwithJamesandJohnwerepresent, for they

were tobeseenwithTheeat the timeofThybetrayal;so thathavingseenThy

wonders,theymightnotbeafraidatThysufferings,whichmaywebecounted

worthytoworshipinpeace,forThygreatmercyssake.(Twice)

B

EFORE ThyCross,O Lord, Thou didst take the disciples up into a highmountain,andThouwasttransfiguredbeforethem,illuminatingthemwith

the rays of Thy power. For in Thy love forman on one hand, and in Thine

authority on the other, Thou hastwilled to show them the splendour of the

Resurrection. Do Thou grant that we too in peace may be counted worthy

thereof,OGod,sinceThouartmercifulandtheFriendofman.(Twice)

B

hen Thouwast transfigured upon a highmountain,O Saviour, having

withTheethechiefdisciples,Thoudidstshineforthwithglory,tosignify

that theywhobecame eminent on theheight of virtues, shall alsobedeemed

worthy of divine glory. AndwhenMoses and Elias spakewith Christ, they

showedthatHeistheLordofthelivingandthedead,andtheGodthatspakeof

oldthroughtheLawandtheProphets.AndthevoiceoftheFatherbarewitness

unto Him from a bright cloud, saying: Hear ye Him, Who by His Cross

despoilethHades,andgrantethuntothedeadlifeeverlasting.

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HEmountainonce shrouded ingloom and smoke isnowhonourableand

holy,whereonThy feethavestood,OLord.Forthemysteryhidbefore the

ageshath in these lasttimesbeenmademanifestbyThydreadTransfiguration

unto Peter,John andJames. Since they could not endure the radiance of Thy

countenanceand thebrightnessofThygarments, theywerebornedown to the

groundupontheirfaces;andseizedwithamazement,theymarveledastheysaw

MosesandEliasspeakingwithTheeofthethingsthatshouldbefallThee.Anda

voicefromheavenbarewitness,say in:This isMybelovedSon, inWhomIam

wellpleased;hearyeHim.ItisHethatgranteththeworldgreatmercy.

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Glory:bothnow.PlagalofSecondTone.ByAnatoliusREFIGURINGThyResurrection,OChristGod,Thoudidst takeThy three

disciples,Peter,James,andJohn,anddidstascenduponTabor.Andwhen

Thouwasttransfigured,OSaviour,theMountofTaborwascoveredwithlight.

Thy disciples cast themselves upon the ground,OWord, for they could not

endure to lookon the form thatnonemaybehold.TheAngelsministeredwith

fear and trembling, the heavens shuddered and the earth quaked,beholding

uponearththeLordofGlory.

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FortheEntreaty.SecondToneHRIST, theLight thatwasbefore the sun,goethabout incarnateupon the

earth;andbefore theCross,accomplishing inamannerworthyofGodall

thingspertainingtoHisdreaddispensation,Hemysticallyrevealeththeimageof

theTrinitytodayuponMountTabor.Forhavingtakenasidethethreepreferreddisciples,Peter,James,andJohn,HeledthemupwithHim;andconcealingfora

while the flesh He had assumed, He was transfigured before them, openly

revealingthemajestyoftheoriginalbeauty,andnotyetinfull,butonlyasthey

wereable toreceive,havingbodilyeyes.Forwhilegiving them fullassurance,

Healsosparedthem, lestatthesighttheyshould losetheirvery lives.AndHe

brought forward themosteminentof theProphets,evenMosesandElias,who

also,asfaras in them lay,barewitness toHisDivinity,andthatHe is the true

Effulgence of the Fathers Essence, the Lord of the loving and the dead.

Wherefore,acloudcompassedthemroundaboutlikeatent;andfromabove,thevoiceoftheFatherresoundedoutofthecloud,bearingwitnessandsaying:This

is My beloved Son, Whom I changelessly begat from the womb before the

morningstar;HimhaveIsenttosavethemthatbebaptizeduntotheFather,and

theSon,andtheHolySpirit,andwhofaithfullyconfessthattheoneDominionof

theGodhead is indivisible.HearyeHim.DoThouThyself, therefore,OChrist

God, Thou Friend of man, make us also to shine with the light of thine

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unapproachable glory, and show us forth asworthy heirs of Thy Kingdom,

whichhathnoend;forThouartsupremelygood.

FortheAposticha,thefollowingStichera:

e thatoncespake in figuresuntoMosesonMountSinai:saying, IamHeWho Is, todaywas transfigured uponMount Taborbefore the disciples.

Havingtakenonthenatureofman,HeshowedinHimselftheoriginalbeautyof

its image.AndbringingMosesandElias intoHispresenceaswitnessesof this

grace,Hemadethempartakersofthegladness,foretellingHisdeparturebythe

Cross,andHissavingResurrection.

H

Verse:Thineare theheavens,andThine is theearth; theworld and the fullness thereofhastThoufounded.

AVID,theancestorofGod,forseeingintheSpiritThycominguntomenin

the flesh,OOnlybegottenSon, fromafar callethout:TaborandHermon

shall rejoice inThyName.ForwhenThouwentestup into thismountainwith

ThydisciplesO Saviour,Thouwast transfigured,making thenature thatwas

darkenedinAdamtoshinelikelightningonceagain,andtransformingitintothe

gloryandbrightnessofThyDivinity.Wherefore,wecryuntoThee:OCreatorof

all,Lord,glorybetoThee.

D

Verse:TaborandHermonshallrejoiceinThyName.HENtheforemostApostlessawtheuncontainablefloodofThylightupon

the Mount of the Transfiguration, O beginningless Christ, and ThyGodheaduntowhichnomanmayapproach, theywerechangedwithadivine

ecstasy;andwhen thebright cloud shoneupon them roundabout, theyheard

theFathersvoiceconfirmingthemysteryofThineassumptionofmansnature.

For even after Thine incarnation, Thou art One, the onlybegotten Son and

Saviouroftheworld.

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Glory;bothnow. PlagalofSecondToneODAYuponMountTabor,OLord,ThouhastshownthegloryofThydivine

formuntoThypreferreddisciples,Peter,John,andJames.FortheysawThygarmentsflashinglikethelightandThycountenancebrighterthanthesun;and

sincetheycouldnotbearto lookuponThineunendurableradiance,theyfellto

theground, innowiseableto liftuptheirgaze.Fortheyheardavoicebearing

witness fromonhigh:This isMybelovedSon,Who is come into theworld to

saveman.

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MATINS

AftertheFirstReadingfromthePsalter,thefollowingSessionalHymn:FourthTone.Josephwasamazed

LEARLYshowingtheexchange*thatAdamsmortalraceshallmake*withThy glory at Thy dread * and second coming on the earth, * Thouwast

transfigured,OSaviour,uponMountTabor. *Elias great in zeal * andMoses

spakewithThee.*ThoudidstcallThythreedisciplestoThyself,*whosawThy

glory,O ourMaster, * andwere amazed atThydazzling light.OThouWho

shonestThylightuponthem,*grantoursoulslightnowalso.

Glory;bothnow.RepeattheSameAftertheSecondReadingfromthePsalter,thefollowingSessionalHymn:

SameMelodyIGHonTaborsholymount*Thouwasttransfigured,OChristGod;*and

acloudofbrilliantlight*andspreadoutlikeatent,*andwithThyglory,it

coveredThythreeApostles.*Hence,theylookedtotheground,*notbearingto

beholdthegreatbrightnessof*theunapproachable*splendourandgloryofThy

countenance,*OSaviourJesus,ourTimelessLord.*OThouWhoshonestThy

lightuponthem,*grantoursoulslightnowalso.

Glory;bothnow.RepeattheSameOIKOS

RISE,yesluggards,wallownotforeverontheground;yethoughts,which

bendmy soul toward the earth,bestir yourselves, andmount up to the

heightofdivineascent.LetusruntoPeterandthesonsofZebedee,andletusgo

withthemtoMountTabor,thatwiththemwemayseethegloryofourGodand

hearHis voice; forwhen they had heard it from on high, they preached the

EffulgenceoftheFather.

SYNAXARION OnthesixthofthismonthwecommemoratethedivineTransfigurationofourLordandGod

andSaviourJesusChrist.

VersesTaborwasglorifiedaboveearthseveryregion

WhenitlookeduponGodsnatureshininginglory.

OnthesixthChristtransformedHisformasaman.

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On thisdaywecommemorate theHolyMartyredChildrenJustusandPastorofAlcalade

HenaresinSpain,thebrethren,whoweretorturedandbeheadedunderDiocletian.

VersesLeavingteacherandschoolbooks,ThylittleMartyrs

Runwithjoytothetestoftheirfaith,OSaviour.

On thisdaywe commemorate theholyMartyredChildrenJustusandPastorofAlcalade

HenaresinSpain,thebrethren,whoweretorturedandbeheadedunderDiocletian.

OnthisdaywecommemoratetheholyNewMartyrEudociaandfourotherVirginMartyrs

nearSarov,whowereslainbytheatheistsintheyear1919.

UntoChristGodbegloryanddominionuntotheages.Amen.

EXAPOSTILARION

ThirdTone.TheOriginalMelodyCHANGELESSLightoftheLightof*ThineunbegottenBegetter,today,O

Word,havewenow seen * inThyLightsmanifestation * theFatherand

HolySpirit*asLightonTabor,*guidingwithlightallcreation.(Thrice)ForthePraisesweallowforfourversesandchantthefollowingStichera,repeatingthefirstone:

FourthTone.ThouwhowastcalledfromonhighEFOREThyvenrableCrossandwillingPassion,*takingthedivinedisciples

whomThouhadstpreferred,*OMaster,Thouwentestupwiththem*intoMountTabor,*wishingtoshowthemThygloryopenly.*Andastheyalllooked

onThee transfiguredwondrously * and shining forthbrighter than the sun, *

theycastthemselvesdown,*beingamazedatThymightandsovereignty;*and

theycriedout:ThouarttheTimelesslight*andtheFathersEffulgence,though

Thou,OChrist,*ofThineownwill,withoutchange,artmademanifestnow in

theflesh.(Twice)THOUWhoartGodtheWordbeforetheages,*Who,aswithagarment,

coverest Thyselfwith light, * Thouwast transfiguredbefore Thy three *

electdisciples, *asThou,OWord, shonestbrighter than the sun. *Mosesand

EliasstoodoneithersideofThee,*makingitplainthatThouarttheLord*both

ofthelivingandthedead;andtheygreatlyglorified*Thytendermercy,Thine

ineffable * dispensation for us, and Thy very great * condescension,whereby

Thou*hastsavedalltheworldoncelostinsins.

O

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HOUWhowastbornofavirgincloudaforetime*andbecamest fleshand

didst ascendMount Tabors height, * Thouwast transfigured thereon,O

Lord*anddidstencompass*Thyselfaboutwithabrilliantcloudoflight.*Then

as Thy disciples stood with Thee, there came the voice * of Thy Begetter,

proclaimingThee*HisownbelovdSon,*trulyofoneessenceandone throne

withHim.*AndPeter,awestruck,criedaloudtoThee:*Itisgoodtobehere,O

mostmerciful*BenefactorandSaviour,*andinwonderknewnotwhathesaid.

Glory;bothnow.PlagalofFourthTone.ByByzasHRIST tookPeter,James, andJohn, into ahighmountain apart, andwas

transfigured before them; and His face did shine as the sun, and His

radiancewaswhite as the light.And there appearedMoses and Elias talking

withHim.Andabrightcloudovershadowed them,andbehold,avoiceoutof

thecloud,whichsaid:ThisisMybelovedSon,inWhomIamwellpleased;hear

yeHim.

TheGreatDoxologyandtheremainderofMatins.Andthebrethrenareanointedwithholyoil.

LetusliftuptheeyesofourunderstandingtotheWordWhonowsits,withHis

Body,abovethevaultsofheaven.AndHeWhosits indivinesplendouronthe

righthandofmajestyuttersthesewordstousasiffromafar,Ifanyonewantsto

stand in the presence of this glory, let him imitateMe as far asHe can, and

followthewayandmanneroflifeItaughtonearth.

SaintGregoryPalamasHomilyThirtyfive(18)AnotherontheTransfigurationoftheLord.

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Our Transfiguration in Christ1Who hath called you out of darkness

into His marvellous light (I Peter 2:9)

TheLordJesusChrist is,as theChurchconfesses intheCreed,LightofLight,

trueGodoftrueGod.HeisbegottenoftheFatherbeforeallages.Beforethe

lightcreated for thisworld in thisage,2before theProphetMosescould lifthis

pen andwrite, therewas evening and therewasmorning,DayOne3Christ

eternallyshinesforthasuncreatedLightofLight.Whenwechant,Christhathtoday transformed * the quenched and darkened nature of Adam onMount

Tabor;*andmakingittoshine,Hehathdeifieditwondrously,4weconfess,in

HisTransfiguration, thegiftandsourceofourTransfiguration. Ifwesowill,all

1TheGospelnarrativesoftheTransfigurationofourLordandGodandSaviourJesusChrist

are found in SaintMatthew 17: 19; SaintMark 9: 210 and Saint Luke 9: 2836. The Lords

TransfigurationoccurredFortydaysbeforeHisCrucifixion.TheChurchwaits to celebrate the

LordsTransfigurationuntilFortyDaysbeforetheFeastoftheExaltationoftheVenerableCross

onSeptember14/27;otherwisewewouldbecelebratingtheFeastoftheTransfigurationduring

theGreat Fast. SaintJohndoes not include the Transfiguration ofChrist in hisGospel, eventhoughhewaspresentwithSaintPeterandhisbrotherSaintJames,because,Afterexamining

theGospelsofMatthew,Mark,andLukefrombeginningtoend,Johnconfirmedthattheyhad

recordedthetruth1 asSaintSophroniusnarrates,sotherewasnoneedtoreiterate,32yearsafter

theLordsAscension,whattheyhadwritten.2 Gen.1:35.

3 Cf.SaintBasilHexaemeron1:6

4HolyTransfigurationAugust6,SmallVespers:Aposticha,Menaion,p.39.


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thedaysofour livesasOrthodoxChristians couldbeaprayer tobedeemed

worthyoftheglorythattranscendethlight.5Wefindconsolationinthepromise

thatGodgivesprayertohimwhoprays(ISam.2:9LXX).

SaintsMosesandEliasfoundtheglorythattranscendethlight inthatday

when the prophecy, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy Name6 was

fulfilled inChristsTransfiguration. SinceChristpromisedHisdisciples, of a

truth,therebesomestandinghere,whichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyseethe

KingdomofGod7theglorythattranscendethlight,theKingdomofGod,was

mademanifestonMountTabor.Could the regular lightofday illuminate the

ProphetsMoses,whohasnobody,andElias,who,asitwere,wascaughtupinto

heaven?TheuncreatedLight,GodHimselfinHisDivineEnergies,providedthat

illumination. Is this light the radiance of the Divine Essence? The Prophet

Jeremias assures us that this cannotbe the case, Forwho has stood in the

substanceandessenceofGod?8 InHisTransfigurationChristmadethenature

thatwasdarkenedinAdamtoshinelikelightningonceagain,andtransform[ed]it into the glory of thebrightness of [His]Divinity.9 Butwhen thedisciples

entered into the bright cloud they could not bear to look upon Thine

unendurable radiance, they fell to the ground, in nowise able to liftup their

gaze10Noman has seen the Divine Essence any time,11butwe can make

known and praise the beneficent [energies] of the Godhead.12 The Divine

5 SmallVespers:Glory,Menaion,p.39.Or,asSaintSeraphimofSarovsays,Thetrueaimofour

ChristianlifeconsistsintheacquisitionoftheHolySpiritofGod.AWonderful

Revelation

to

the

World.tr.TheHolyTransfigurationMonastery.6 Ps.88:12(LXX).ThistextisaProphesyofChrist,cf.Aposticha,2ndStichera.Feastofthe

TransfigurationofChrist.

7 Luke9:27.St.Markwrites,VerilyIsayuntoyou,Thattherebesomeofthemthatstandhere,

whichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyhaveseentheKingdomofGodcomewithpower(Mk

9:1).

8Jer.23:18LXXAlexandriniantext.

9 Aposticha,SecondStichera.[VirtualParishEditor]

10 Aposticha,Glory.

11Jn.1:18a.ThisistheunrevealedoftheGodhead...isbeyondmindandmatterandthereisnotraceofthosewhohavepenetratedtoItshiddeninfinitudeOntheDivineNames1:2,3;St.DionysiustheAreopagitetr.JamesParker18971899.12On theDivineNames1:4,Parker,p.5.The textreads,makeknownandpraise thebeneficentprogressionsoftheGodhead.Wehavesubstituted,fromthevocabularyofSaintBasiltheGreat

andlaterSaints,thetermenergiesbecausethereisnochangewhatsoeverinthemeaningofthe

two terms, progressions and energies. The latter terminology is what the Church has

consistentlyusedsinceSaintBasilstime.


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energies,oractions,oftheLorddoenterintooursoulsandbodiessothatthere

still are those who appear like Saint Stephen the First Martyr who gave

testimony ofChristbefore a council ofJews And all that sat in the council,

lookingsteadfastlyonhim,sawhisfaceasithadbeenthefaceofanangel(Acts

6:15).

In theMatins for the Feast of the Transfiguration, both of the Sessional

Hymns close with the prayer, Grant our souls light now also13 and the

TroparionoftheFeastpraysforusall,ShineforthThouonuswhoaresinners

all Thy light ever unending. Howmight we gain this uncreated light, this

deifyingpower;howisitthatwe,asOrthodoxChristians,areabletoshareGod

allGodsLightwithHim?

Since it isalwaysbest tobeginat thebeginning, letusacton theadviceof

Saint Isaac the Syrianwhen hewrites, Of every goodwroughtwithin you

noetically and in secret, be certain that baptism and faith have been the

mediatorswherebyyoureceived it;throughtheseyouwerecalledbyourLordJesusChristtoHisgoodlabours,toWhomwiththeFatherandtheHolySpiritbe

glory, honour, thanksgiving and worship unto the ages. Amen.14 Saint

Dionysius has a special word for the Baptismal Mystery; that word is

Enlightenment.15 InMystery of Enlightenmentwe receive theuncreated and

lifegiving light of the Father, and of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit.We are

N. B. Saint Dionysius the Areopagite and Damariswerebaptizedby Saint Paul after his

Sermonon theAreopagus (cf.Acts17:1634).TheOrthodoxChurch is the oneChurchof the

Creed.SaintJohnChrysostomteachesOneLordOneFaith,OneBaptism,OneChurch(cf.Eph.

4: 5, 6), and the Church has consistently maintained the ineffable distinction between the

unknowable,imparticipatableDivineEssenceandtheknowable,participatableDivineEnergies,

given this controlling premise: For, with regard to things Divine, the unions overrule the

distinctions andprecede them, and arenone the lessunified, even after the selfcentered and

unifieddistinction.(OntheDivineNames2:11,Parker,p.26.)Thereisnoviolationofthedivineunity(Deut.6:4Hear,OIsrael,TheLordourGodisoneLord.).

13Matins,SessionalHymns,TheMenaionp.43.14TheAsceticalHomiliesofSaintIsaactheSyrian1984TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02145,p.9AllRightsReserved.Unauthorizedreproductionprohibited.15OntheEcclesticalHierarchy2.1,Parker,pp.75f.St.DionysiusspeaksofholyBaptismasIllumination,ofthebirthinGod,p.75,and,atleast60timesthroughouthiswritings,asthe

Divinegiftoflight;OntheDivineNames2:11,Parkerp.26wheretheoftrepeatedphrasegiftoflightappearsforthefirsttime.


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bathedinthelight16oftheLordWhoseFather,whileHehungontheCrossfor

usmenandforoursalvation,wrappedthevisibleworldindarkness.17

InthethreeimmersionsofOrthodoxBaptism,twothingsarerevealedtoand

withintheChristian:FirstheisBaptizedintotheDivineNameoftheFatherand

ofTheSonandoftheHolySpirit.InthepowerofthatNameheisgivenanew

name(Rev.2:17),hisBaptismalname.Second,inthissametripleimmersion,he

participates in the threedaydeathandburialofChrist afterHisdeathon the

Crossforusmenand foroursalvation.Heemerges from theBaptismal font

RiseninChrist,thenheisSealedwiththeHolySpirit,afterwhichheistonsured

in the name of theHoly Trinity and offers his shorn locks toGod as a first

offeringtoHim.TheChristiandoesthisasanewcreature.18Finally,aspurged

of all his sins, andwith awell ofwater springing up into everlasting life19

bubblingupwithinhim,hepartakesof theBody andBloodofOurLordand

GodJesusChrist in theknowledge that Exceptye eat the fleshof theSonof

man,anddrinkHisblood,yehavenolifeinyou.20 BornanewofwaterandoftheSpirit 21 inGod,namedanew,andhavingbeen enabled totasteand see

that the Lord is good22 in themystery of the Body and Blood ofChrist, the

ChristianisnowenabledtodwellinGodand,inHisdivineenergies,whichare

God Himself, God desires to dwell in him forevermore. In this way is all

prophecyfulfilled:HediedourdeaththatwemightliveHislife.

Howmight theChristianorderhis lifesoas topreserveand togrow in the

ineffablegiftofuncreatedlightgrantedtohiminhisholyBaptism?Ourfirstclue

16Someyearsago,intheCathedralParishofSaintNectariosinSeattle,WashingtonwhereFather

NeketasPalassis isRector,FatherNeketaswasadministering themysteryof Illumination to a

lady.TheprayerThat theremay comeupon thiswater thepurifyingoperationof the super

substantialTrinity,letuspraytotheLordhadbeenreadtogetherwithalltheotherprayers.The

candidate forBaptismwasjustabout toenter thewater,butshehesitatedonce,and thenonce

again.FatherNeketasaskedhertogoaheadandstepintotheBaptismalFont.Shereplied,How

canI?Thereisaringoffirearoundit.

AndtoourGodbeglory.

17TheFourthTheologicalOration, St.GregoryNazianzenSelectOrationsofSaintGregoryNazianzen,tr.C.G.Browne,M.A.andJ.E.Swallow,M.A.NPNFSecondSeries,Vol.VIIp.309A;

Wm.BEerdmansPublishingCo.GrandRapidsMI1955.

18 Gal.6:15

19Jn.4:14

20Jn.6:53

21Jn.3:5

22 Ps.33:8LXX


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comes fromEcclesiasticus,He that feareth theLordwill repent fromhisown

heart.23

Blessedisthemanwho,withprayerandfasting,putshimselfintothehands

ofFatherJohntheRomanianwholivedinourtimesasapioneerintheChurchs

struggle against the heresy of Ecumenism. His incorrupt relics await our

venerationintheMonasteryofSaintGeorgeofHozevanestledinthenorthwall

oftheprecipitousravineleadingdownfromtheBrookKedrontotheDeadSea.

WiththeProphetDavidwepray,MystepsdoThoudirectaccordingtoThy

saying24 it may help us to read the following taken from Readings andMeditationsontheDivineScripturebySaintJohninthelightofthefollowingtext:Follow...holiness,withoutwhichnomanshallseetheLord25.

ThisisthewilloftheHolySpirit,tobeHisbelovedincontinualreality.TheSpirit

ofGoddoesnotdwellinthosewholiveinrestbecausetheMostGoodGodwishedthat

His beloved servants should not have rest in this life, but rather live in suffering,

difficulties,worries,poverty, andnakedness, in solitude anddebts, in sicknesses and

defamations, inbattlesandcrushingofheart,withsicklybodyand imagedetestedby

others,inastatewhichdoesnotcomparetootherpeoples,andalonely,peaceful,and

quietdwelling,completely invisibletomenandfreeofanythingthatproducesearthly

consolation. Therefore, these peopleweep, and theworld laughs; these sigh,but the

world enjoys; these fast but the world amuses itself. During the day, they wear

themselvesout;and,duringthenight,theypreparefordeprivation.Therearesomewho

offer themselves to weariness voluntarily and also submit to afflictions; some are

persecuted,whileotherswerekilled,andsomehidincellars.Inthemwasfulfilledthe

wordthatsays, Youwillhaveafflictions,butinMeyouwillhavejoy,becausetheLord

knows that theoneswho live in restcannot remain inHis love.Therefore,Christ the

Saviourhaspreventedthesefromrestandsatisfaction.HeWhoseloveismorepowerful

thandeathofthebodywantedtoshowalsoinusthepowerofHislove.Amen.

Saint John the Romanian Save Us.

23Ecclesiasticus( )21:6bLXX

24Ps.118:133LXX

25Heb.12:14


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The Incorrupt Relics of Saint John the Romanianare venerated by his Disciple Fr. Ioanichie.

06 Transfiguration of Christ

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