Bishop Panaretos of Tamissos, Patriarchal Exarch of Lithuania, presided over the Divine Liturgy on Thursday, August 6, for the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, at the Chapel of Saint Barbara the Great Martyr in Vilnius.
He was joined in the celebration by Protopresbyter Fr. Vladimir Saliangas and Presbyter Fr. Georgios Sunkaïla.
In his homily, Bishop Panaretos emphasized that whenever the Church celebrates the Transfiguration, the faithful are spiritually transported to Mount Tabor, where the Apostles Peter, James and John witnessed the divine glory of Christ.
He noted that through participation in the Divine Eucharist and reception of the Holy Mysteries, Christians receive Christ Himself and the uncreated light of His grace, which illuminates, strengthens and transforms the inner person.
The Bishop stressed that the Transfiguration is therefore not simply the commemoration of a miraculous event of the past, but a continuing invitation for every person to open their heart to divine grace and follow the path toward sanctification.
The Transfiguration, one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, commemorates Christ’s revelation of His divine glory to His disciples on Mount Tabor. According to the Gospel, His face “shone like the sun” and His garments became “white as light,” while the voice of God the Father proclaimed: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5).
The feast points to the ultimate calling of humanity: continual transformation through the grace of God and life in Christ, becoming participants in His uncreated light and Kingdom.
Source: greek.vema.com
