The Feast of the Transfiguration is an ancient celebration based on Scripture. The event began to be observed in the Eastern churches in the fourth century, but it did not spread quickly among Western churches (including Anglicans). Shortly before the Reformation, the Latin church began to observe it as a universal feast on August 6. In liturgical simplifications after the Reformation, the Feast of the Transfiguration was removed from many calendars including the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. It was restored as a minor commemoration or "black-letter day" in the 1662 BCP, and the 1928 BCP provided this feast of our Lord with a collect, epistle and gospel.
The Feast of the Transfiguration commemorates a mysterious epiphany in the Gospels (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10, Luke 9:28-36). In these accounts, the Transfiguration of Christ is a distinctive and dramatic manifestation of Jesus' divinity. Jesus takes Peter, John and James up onto a mountain where He has a shining appearance during prayer. Moses and Elijah appear, converse with Jesus, and witness to His unique role. Then a divine voice proclaims, "This is my beloved Son; hear him" (Luke 9:35). May we also behold His glory and listen to Him!
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