Transfiguration August 6 Luke 9:28-35 The scenery shows that this event takes place outdoors (on Mt Tabor). Jesus is dressed in white symbolizing God’s pure and divine light. His halo has the Greek omega omicon nu) meaning ‘He who is’ or ‘I am’. Jesus holds a scroll showing His authority from Scripture and His other hand is raised in blessing. Behind Christ is a mandorla (shaped like an almond from which it is named) used to show events that transcend time and space. The concept that at some point the holiness of an event or person cannot be illustrated in brightness and thus passes to holy darkness is shown by the lighter outside ring with the darker interior. On the right (Jesus’s left) stand Moses holding a book of the Old Testament Law. The prophet Elijah stands on the opposite side with his hand directing the viewer to Christ. Saint John Chrysostom states that these two saints who both saw visions of God represent Law (Moses) and the Prophets and the living (since Elijah was taken directly to heaven) and the dead (Moses died). On the left Peter beckons to Christ as he timidly speaks while John (in the center) and James fall to the earth away from the vision.