His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian: The Transfiguration of the Savior

is a Window Toward the Resurrection

The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord began at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. George the Great Martyr and Saints Epictetus and Astion in Saint-Hubert, Québec, with the celebration of Vespers officiated by His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian on the evening of August 5 and continued on the day of the feast with Matins and the Divine Liturgy.

“The Feast of the Transfiguration is one of the great miracles witnessed directly by the disciples of the Lord,” said His Grace. “This revelatory moment unveils the true identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.”

Referring to the passage from the Second Epistle of the Holy Apostle Peter, the bishop stated: “St. Peter the Apostle is one of the three witnesses of this divine revelation on Mount Tabor. Along with James and John, Peter is called by the Lord to ascend the mountain and witness this unique experience. These three Apostles are also present at two other significant moments in Christ’s life: at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, where they are brought in with her parents, and in the Garden of Gethsemane, during the hour of prayer and the Savior’s suffering.

Today’s reading from Peter’s epistle offers a living, personal testimony of what was experienced on the mountain. As the Church often emphasizes, the events described in the New Testament are not mere legends or imaginations but historical realities, lived by real people. St. Peter does not speak from hearsay or oral tradition, but from his own experience. His testimony is direct, clear, and unambiguous, coming from personal, concrete encounter with a historical reality.

The Gospel thus becomes not just a spiritual account but a witness to real events with profound theological implications. In this sense, the experience on Mount Tabor is not only a historical event but also a revelation of Christ’s divine nature.

This is the key to understanding today’s feast. God the Father reveals His Son in glory before chosen witnesses so that we today may believe based on their testimony. As St. John the Apostle would later say, ‘That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have touched… concerning the Word of life – this we declare to you.’

This is the power of the apostolic word: not just word, not just tradition, but lived life, glory seen, voice heard, Christ witnessed.”

Regarding the miracle described in the Gospel pericope – the Transfiguration of the Savior on Mount Tabor – “it is a manifestation of divine glory. Christ reveals Himself to His disciples to the extent they could perceive His true glory – the glory of the Son of God,” said the bishop of Canada.

The event is completed by the appearance of two major spiritual figures from the Old Testament: Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah,  representing the prophets. They speak with Christ, showing that He is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets. The revelation of the Old Testament converged toward Him. These two great men of God do not appear by chance: Moses, who received the Law on Mount Sinai and led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt; and Elijah, the zealous prophet of God, who was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Both knew the ascent and encounter with God on a mountain, and now, on Tabor, they meet God Himself incarnate.

At that moment, the voice of the Father is also heard from heaven, saying: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.’ This is the second time in the New Testament that the Father’s voice is heard – the first being at the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan. Now, however, the Father’s voice is directed to the disciples, not only as a witness to Who Christ is but also as a clear command: ‘Listen to Him.’

In other words, it is no longer the time of the Law and the Prophets, but the time of the Son. All things of old are fulfilled in Him. This is the profound meaning of the presence of Moses and Elijah: not just a recognition of the connection between the Old and New Testaments, but a confirmation that all things old lead to Christ, and Christ fulfills them.”

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian continued: “Even though Peter wants to prolong this glorious moment, to make it permanent – not yet fully understanding the meaning of the event – Christ tells them: ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’ It is a call to vigilance, to the understanding that this luminous experience is only a foretaste of the glory after the Resurrection. The disciples will accompany Christ on the path to the Cross, will see Him crucified, and then become witnesses of the Resurrection. The glory of Tabor is merely preparation for what they are about to live.

On the way down the mountain, Jesus commands the disciples not to tell anyone about what they had seen until the Son of Man rises from the dead. Why the silence? Because the mystery could not be fully understood except in the light of the Resurrection. Only after they saw Christ conquer death could they truly understand Who they saw in glory on Tabor.

The Transfiguration thus becomes a window toward the Resurrection, a testimony of the glory that will encompass the whole world at the end of time. It is also a call addressed to each of us: to ascend spiritually the mountain of encounter with God through prayer, purity, and obedience to Christ.”

Among the concelebrating priests were Fr. Mircea Panciuk, Protosyncellus Maxim Morariu, and Fr. Adrian Manea. The liturgical responses were given by chanters Ciprian Neagu, Mădălina Enache, and Theodor Coza.

(Notes by Nun Ana Bulgariu)