Light on the Mountain

greek patristic and byzantine homilies on the transfiguration of the lord

Translated by

Brian E. Daley, SJ

st vladimir’s seminary press

yonkers, new york

2013

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Light on the mountain : Greek Patristic and Byzantine homilies on the Transfiguration of the Lord / translated by Brian E. Daley, SJ.

p. cm. — (Popular patristics series, ISSN 1555-5755 ; Number 48)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-88141-467-7 (alk. paper)

1. Jesus Christ—Transfiguration—Sermons. 2. Sermons, Greek—Translations into English. I. Daley, Brian, 1940–.

BT410.L55 2013

232.9'56—dc23

2013002958

COPYRIGHT © 2013 BY

st vladimir’s seminary press

575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707

1-800-204-2665

www.svspress.com

ISBN 978-088141-467-7

ISSN 1555-5755

All Rights Reserved

st vladimir’s seminary press

Popular Patristics Series

Number 48

The Popular Patristics Series published by St Vladimir’s Seminary Press provides readable and accurate translations of a wide range of early Christian literature to a wide audience—students of Christian history to lay Christians reading for spiritual benefit. Recognized scholars in their fields provide short but comprehensive and clear introductions to the material. The texts include classics of Christian literature, thematic volumes, collections of homilies, letters on spiritual counsel, and poetical works from a variety of geographical contexts and historical backgrounds. The mission of the series is to mine the riches of the early Church and to make these treasures available to all.

Series Editor

John Behr

Associate Editor

Augustine Casiday

For my fellow members,

past and present,

of the North American

Orthodox-Catholic Consultation

ἐν τῷ φωτί σου ὀψόμεθα φῶς

(Psalm 36:9)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Origen, Commentary on Matthew 12.36–43 (on Matthew 17.1–9)

John Chrysostom, Homily 56 on Matthew (on Matthew 16.28–17.9)

Proclus of Constantinople, Homily on the Transfiguration

Cyril of Alexandria, Homily 51 on Luke (on Luke 9.27–36)

Pantoleon, Sermon on the Transfiguration of the Lord

Leontius, Presbyter of Constantinople, Homily on the Transfiguration (Homily 14)

Patriarch Anastasius I of Antioch, Homily on the Transfiguration (Homily 1)

Timothy of Antioch, Homily on the Cross and Transfiguration of Jesus

Anonymous Incomplete Homily on the Transfiguration (7th–9th centuries)

Anastasius of Sinai, Homily for Feast of the Transfiguration

Andrew of Crete, Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration

John of Damascus, Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration

Emperor Leo VI (“Leo the Wise”), Three Homilies for the Feast of the Transfiguration

Homily 10

Homily 11

Homily 39

Philagathos of Cerami, Homily on the Feast of the Saving Transfiguration (Homily 31)

Neophytos the Recluse, Catechesis on the Transfiguration

Theoleptos of Philadelphia, Catechesis for the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Nikephoros Choumnos, On the Holy Transfiguration ...

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About Light on the Mountain: Greek Patristic and Byzantine Homilies on the Transfiguration of the Lord

The episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus plays a key role in the narrative of the Synoptic Gospels. Peter and his fellow Apostles have just acknowledged Jesus to be Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, and have been shocked by Jesus’ immediate prediction of his coming passion and death. Now Peter, James and John are allowed to share an extraordinary vision, marking him out as truly God’s own Son, radiant with divine glory. Early Christian commentators and preachers recognized the crucial importance of this incident for Christian faith and discipleship, as pointing in advance to the power of the cross and resurrection of Christ. The liturgical feast of the Transfiguration, anticipating that of the Exaltation of the Cross by forty days, came to be celebrated in the Eastern and Western Churches, beginning in the seventh century; yet since at least the third century, theologians have reflected on the significance of this event for the life of faith.

This volume brings together, in a new translation, a comprehensive collection of homilies on the Transfiguration of Christ from the Greek Patristic and Medieval Church, from Origen in the third century to St. Gregory Palamas in the fourteenth. Together they form a profound and moving set of meditations, from many perspectives and in many voices, on “the light of the recognition of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6), and on its importance for our lives.

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Table of Contents