Mount Tabor, Israel, Temple of the Transfiguration: description, history

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Mentions of this holy place can be found in many sources of ancient literature. Mount Tabor is not only a magnificent landscape that adorns the Izdrelon Valley of Israel, but also a centuries-old history. The most important events of different eras are associated with it. And it is hardly possible to overestimate the role that she played in the development of the spiritual history of the entire human race.

Where is it

Mount Tabor, or, as they say in Hebrew, Tabor, is located closer to the east of the central part of the Izdrelon Valley, in Israel. Just nine kilometers southeast of it is Nazareth, and twice as far to the west lies the Sea of Galilee.

Mount Tabor is not part of any mountain range or range, but is a stand-alone hill. Compared to others, it is quite low - 588 meters. The slopes here are gentle, and the shape has a soft and slightly rounded outline. Therefore, in many sources, the Hebrew name Tavor is translated as "navel",drawing an analogy with the human organ.

What does the title mean

Historians give several versions. The name Tavor, or, as they say in the Russian-speaking tradition, Tabor, is not translated and is given in the Old Testament in the same way. However, there is a version that says that the name Tavor is derived from the word "Tabur". The latter is translated as "navel". In support of this version, characteristic external signs are given of a detached, with gentle slopes and a somewhat concave peak, which is Mount Tabor.

There is another option. Its author is Teresa Petrozi. She claims that the modern name is derived from the name of the pagan deity Tabor, who patronized blacksmithing in these places in pre-Jewish (Canaanite) times. And the traces of paganism of this period found by archaeologists in some way confirm the assumption.

Stories related to Mount Tabor

For the first time this name is found in the Old Testament. In those days, Mount Tabor was a border, a kind of watershed that delimited the three tribes of Israel. Favorable geographical position, a good overview of the adjacent territories made this place desirable for any tribe. Therefore, the wars did not stop here.

Especially striking is the story of the battle between Barak and the Azorian commander Sisera, who led the army of King Jabin. A special role in the battle was played by the prophetess Deborah, who inspired Barak to fight with Sisera, foreseeing his victory over a large army.the last one. The name of this soothsayer is immortalized in the name of the village of Deburia, which is located at the foot. Where Mount Tabor originates.

Old Testament references

The fact that this is a special place, it was said in ancient times - before the birth of Christ. For the first time, Tabor is said to be a special place where the lands of the three tribes of Israel converged.

You can also find other references that remained in the books of the Old Testament: Joshua, the prophecies of Jeremiah. Since ancient times, if they talked about the significance, importance of a person, then they compared him with how majestically Mount Tabor rises.

Israel today is a modern state, but, despite this, carefully and reverently preserves its history, which has become the property of all mankind.

What did the New Testament testify to?

As is known from the ancient Christian Tradition, it is Mount Tabor that is considered the place where a great miracle took place - the Transfiguration of the Lord. However, the New Testament does not contain any mention of Mount Tabor. The place where the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ took place is not exactly called. Mark and Matthew in their Gospels mention a high mountain, but they do not provide any evidence that this is Tabor.

Therefore, to this day, some theological scholars express their doubts about the fact that the Transfiguration took place here. They consider Mount Hermon to be a more likely version.

Perhaps this is one of those mysteries that surround the Bible. And, probably, its whole meaning is hidden in the fact that peoplemust believe the Word of God without requiring any proof.

The Transfiguration of the Lord

A lot has been said about this miracle. Matthew, Mark and Luke in the Gospels tell about it. Ancient icons and frescoes of temples, beautiful paintings and wonderful stories testify to the Transfiguration of the Lord. This event is immortalized with a glorious joyful holiday, which celebrates the entire Christian world on August 19 (6).

The Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor is associated by all three evangelists with the events that took place six days before it. It was then that Jesus Christ told his disciples about the suffering that he would have to go through. What a difficult fate awaits the followers who have taken up his cross. About the fact that the Kingdom of God will soon open.

Jesus took with him to the mountain three of his most faithful and congenial disciples, who were there in the most difficult and crucial moments of his life: Peter, James and John. Having ascended the high slopes, the apostles, tired from the ascent, lay down to rest. Jesus on Mount Tabor began to pray. His face, shining with Divine light, became like the sun, and his clothes were transformed. Here each of the evangelists describes in his own way: Luke sees them shining, Mark sees them as white as snow, and Matthew says that they have become like light. Also, probably, the opinions of the apostles who saw the miracle, who woke up could not believe their eyes, would have diverged.

Christ on Mount Tabor, having appeared to the disciples in his heavenly glory, had a conversation with two strangers who turned out to be the prophets: Moses and Elijah. The conversation between them was about the outcome that awaits Jesus soon.

Why exactly these prophets appeared - there is no exact answer. But it is known that many of the Jews revered Jesus for Elijah. Apparently, the appearance of the latter was to show the absurdity of the assumptions of the Israelis. And the conversation of Jesus Christ with the most revered prophets among the Jews became another eloquent confirmation that he is the son of God, to whom everything is subject.

The apostles, who saw all this, felt the wondrous presence of Divine grace, were seized by an irresistible desire not to leave Mount Tabor. Therefore, Peter suggested that everyone stay here: build dwellings and not return to where malice, envy and hatred rule, threatening the life of their teacher.

A cloud over Mount Tabor

This is a miraculous commemoration of the nature of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The cloud is mentioned for the first time in the Gospels, which describe the details of this miraculous event. The bright cloud that enveloped all those on the mountain was a clear evidence that God is present here. A voice that was suddenly heard and said that Jesus is the son of God, who must be listened to, led the apostles into the strongest fear. They fell to the ground and were afraid to raise their eyes to the sky.

Such an unusual phenomenon, confirming the reality of those events, occurs in modern times. On the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a cloud appears in the sky above Tabor. An interesting fact is that it occurs exclusively on the Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration and covers not only the top of the mountain, but alsoof people. It is difficult to find a natural explanation for this miraculous phenomenon, as clouds are very rare here at this time of year.

What is the meaning of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ?

The search for the deepest meaning inherent in this wonderful event has become the meaning of life for many Christians. After all, life in Jesus Christ is impossible without the Transfiguration: without the sacrament of Baptism, without confession that brings repentance, without the Eucharist, which unites a person with the Lord.

The Transformation itself is the path that a person who believes in the Savior and that a new transformed state is possible only in union with the Lord must go through.

Transformation marks the changes taking place in a person who is trying to get away from his former, sinful and weak beginning. And strives for the new, which is strong by God's grace, pure and righteous.

Events after the Transfiguration

The veneration of Mount Tabor as the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus was initiated by the Equal-to-the-Apostles queen, who was popularly called Saint Helena. In the fourth century she erected a temple here, which she dedicated to the witnesses of the Transfiguration: Peter, John and James.

Later, already in the 12th century, Latin monks came here. At the end of this century, a tragic war takes place, as a result of which the temples are destroyed, and the mountain itself becomes uninhabited. Only on feast days do Christians visit it to worship here.

And only from the end of the 19th century the slopes of Tabor began to attract the attention of Catholics and Orthodox. Already inAt that time, the differences between them became clearer. This gave rise to disputes about where the true place of the Transfiguration of Christ is located. Therefore, today there are two churches on Mount Tabor: Catholic and Orthodox.

Catholic Church

Appeared here at the end of the 19th century. It was located on the territory where in the XIII century there was a fortress built by Muslims. Also here are the ruins of the temple of Latin monks, the ruins of the monastery of Byzantine times and other sacred places that Mount Tabor hides. The Temple of the Transfiguration is the greatest architectural find of Antonio Barluzzi.

The artist has created a stunningly beautiful basilica here. It bears the name of a miraculous event - the Transfiguration of the Lord. The road leading to the temple reveals ancient ruins to pilgrims - evidence of past eras that Mount Tabor has preserved to this day.

The Temple of the Transfiguration has two towers that divide the entrance to the basilica into two parts and are located above the ancient chapels. One is the name of the prophet Moses, and the second is Elijah. From this place begins a huge building of the temple, leading to the main place - the altar. The parishioners are led here by marble steps going down, which reveal the most ancient place - the ruins of the Byzantine basilica that was located here earlier.

Orthodox monastery

Besides the Catholic one, there is another church on Mount Tabor - Orthodox. This is a Greek monastery, which also bears the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord and is located to the northeast.

Its story begins with Archimandrite Irinakh, a monk of Lavra, who appeared here in the middle of the 19th century and settled on Mount Tabor after he had a vision about this place. Having discovered the remains of an ancient Byzantine temple, Irinakh and his assistant Nestor began to restore it. But it was not possible to bring the work to completion. At the age of 93, Irinakh died and was buried in these places. Finally, in 1862, the temple was completed and consecrated.

Today there are three thrones in it, each of them is dedicated to saints and events. The main, central, is named so in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It is here that the miraculous image of the Mother of God is located. This icon, called "Akathist", is famous for its healing effect on people. The southern throne bears the names of the prophets Moses and Elijah. And the northern one - Gregory the Victorious and Dmitry Solunsky.

Construction continued in 1911. A belfry was erected here.

Also, the property of the Orthodox church is a cave shrine - the ancient temple of Melchizedek.

Today's favorite

Ancient history has left its mark on this wonderful place: it is always full of pilgrims, tourists who want to get closer to the miraculous Divine Transfiguration.

Visiting these places makes it possible to feel the presence of God here, to touch the ancient walls of the temple. It is interesting not only to read, but also to see with your own eyes that mysterious cloud covering this sacred place, which has been called Mount Tabor since ancient times. Israel sacredly guards all the holy things collectedhere, and respects all the religions that are represented in these wonderful places.