Transfiguration; Metamorphosis

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever;
Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, 
O Christ our God; showing to Thy disciples Thy glory as each one could endure. 
Shine forth Thou on us, who are sinners all, 
Thy light ever-unending; through the prayers of the Theotokos; 
Light-bestower, glory be to Thee.

The high altar and the apse with an ornate mosaic depicting transfiguration of Basilica of Transfiguration, Mt. Tabor

The mosaic of transfiguration, Basilica of Transfirugation, Mt. Tabor

The main altar of Basilica of Transfiguration, on the lower level, built on the foundation of a Byzantine chapel

Basilica of Transfiguration, Mt. Table, built of the foundation of three Byzantine chapels that were each dedicated to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah

The ruin of a medieval Benedictine women's monastery chapel

On the Mountain You were Transfigured, O Christ God,

And Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they could see it;

So that when they would behold You crucified,

They would understand that Your suffering was voluntary,

And would proclaim to the world,

That You are truly the Radiance of the Father!

A view from Mt. Tabor

Sunrise on Mt. Tabor

“Today You have shown forth...”

Today all mortal nature shines with the divine Transfiguration

And cries with exultation:

"Christ the Savior is transfigured to save us all!"

A mosaic icon of transfiguration, Church of St. George, Madaba, Jordan

Finally, let us listen to and meditate on the apolytikion of transfiguration: Thou wast transfigured on the mountain.

For more information of Basilica of Transfiguration and Mount Tabor, see: http://198.62.75.4/www1/ofm/san/TABmenu.html