On August 6, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates one of the twelve great feasts of the Lord – the Transfiguration of the Lord. It is connected with one of the most important evangelical events – the appearance of Jesus Christ in His heavenly glory before three of His closest disciples.

Preparing them for the upcoming events, He often spoke to them about the sufferings that awaited Him, about His death and Resurrection. And in order to strengthen the faith of His disciples, Jesus Christ showed three of the apostles His Divine Essence. Together with Peter, James and John, He climbed Mount Tabor in Galilee, moved away from them and began to pray, as they fell asleep. When they woke up, they saw their Teacher completely transformed – His face shone like the sun, and His clothes shone. Jesus was talking with two of the greatest representatives of the Old Testament – the prophets Moses and Elijah. Upon seeing this, the apostles fell to the ground in great fear, and when the Son of God approached them, apostle Peter was the first to speak: "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

At that moment, a bright cloud covered them, and a mighty voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” From that moment on, there was no longer any doubt that Jesus was the Son of God:

"The purpose of the Transfiguration is for Lord Jesus Christ to assure his disciples that he is not an earthly, but a Heavenly King of glory," says priest Kliment Harizanov from the capital's "Holy Transfiguration" church in an interview from the Radio Bulgaria treasury. "In the service on the holiday, attention is drawn to the meaning of the Transfiguration. When the apostles see Jesus Christ spat upon, scourged, with crown of thorns, crucified on a cross, they should remember precisely this glory on Mount Tabor. Not to be tempted and fall into despondency, but to know that He is the King of the world and true glory does not consist in empty earthly things, but in joining the heavenly, the spiritual world and reflecting heavenly reality."

According to priest Kliment, this great event is also related to us, because it shows the glory in which believers will be clothed at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. "Then all the dead will rise, and those who are alive on earth will be transformed in an instant, and just as our Lord Jesus Christ was transformed, all the righteous and saints will shine in the kingdom of heaven," the priest points out.

These days, people continue to seek reconciliation with God, priest Kliment says. Especially in moments of sorrow and severe trials, when there is no hope from anywhere, people turn to God. Then one is transformed in order to open their spiritual senses. The moment for repentance and confession arrives:

"For this reason, the Holy Sacrament of Repentance has been established in the Church, in which a person is washed of the sins they have committed after holy baptism. Repentance is a spiritual hospital. One can do the so-called sacred self-criticism and evaluate their life in the light of God's law. One can confess their sins to the priest with a pure heart, to be reconciled with God and with people. Therefore, Christianity is the religion of forgiveness. Just as the Lord forgives us, we must forgive in the same way. Let us be generous to people if we want to receive forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ."

This is precisely the meaning of the Transfiguration and that is why for all believing Christians, the Transfiguration of the Lord is still associated with spiritual transformation, with the hope of change for the better.

Read and listen about the holiday and the music that accompanies it in a publication from the collection of Radio Bulgaria:

• Transfiguration: a time of change and stock-taking

Text: Darina Grigorova

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: Darina Grigorova