Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Wednesday of the 9th week after Pentecost

108 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · 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 13.4-14.5

⁴Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ⁵doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; ⁶rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; ⁷beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. ⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ⁸Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. ¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. ¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. ¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. ¹³But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

¹Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

¹Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. ²For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. ²For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. ³But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. ³But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. ⁴He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ⁴He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ⁵I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. ⁵Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

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 20.1-16

¹For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

¹For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. ²And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ²And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ³And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; ⁴And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. ⁴and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. ⁵Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁵Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? ⁶And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? ⁷They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. ⁷They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. ⁸So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. ⁸And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. ⁹And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. ⁹And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. ¹⁰But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. ¹⁰And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. ¹¹And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, ¹¹And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, ¹²Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. ¹²saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. ¹³But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? ¹³But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? ¹⁴Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. ¹⁴Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. ¹⁵Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? ¹⁵Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? ¹⁶So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. ¹⁶So the last shall be first, and the first last.