Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is sometimes referred to as the Transformation of Jesus. Together with the apostles Peter, John and James the Great, Jesus climbed to the top of Mount Tabor. The Gospel of Luke 9:28-36 describes how the apostles awoke from a deep slumber and saw how Jesus took on a heavenly form and was accompanied by the prophet Moses (on the left, with the horns) and Elia. In the miniature John is still asleep with his head resting on a book. Peter is already awake and has sat up to speak to Jesus. Utterly confused by what he is witnessing, he says: ‘Master, it is good that we are here, let us put up three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elia.’ But as a cloud drifts in front of the spectacle, everything once again returns to normal. The feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated on 6 August.