The Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
St. Theoctistus, bishop of Chernigov (1123).
New Martyr Abbacum of Thessalonica (1628).
Repose of Hieroschemamonk Nikon the Cave-dweller, of Valaam (1822), Priest Basil Shoustin, disciple of Optina Elders (1968), and Elder Tryphon of Kapsala, Mt. Athos (1978).
Friday. [II Cor. 7:10-16; Mark 2:18-22]
On the Transfiguration a voice from
heaven uttered only hear ye Him (Matt. 17:5). Why
is this so? Because the fruit of obedience was being shown
to them. It was as if the Heavenly Father were saying: Do
you want to attain this? Hear what He will suggest and
command you. If you go on His path, you will undoubtedly
enter into the realm of light, which will embrace you not
from without, but will come forth from within, and always
keep you in a state in which all of your bones will utter:
it is good for us to be this way. You will be filled with
the light of joy, the light of good will, the light of
knowledge; all sorrows will pass by, the dissonance of the
passions will disappear, falsehood and delusion will
disperse. On the earth you will become heavenly; from
among the earthly-born, you will become Godly-born; from
amidst the perishable you will become eternally blessed.
Then all will be yours, because you yourselves will become
Christ’s. He who loves Christ the Lord is beloved of
the heavenly Father, and Both come to him and make their
abode with him. This is the light of the
Transfiguration!