The faithful in Jastrebarsko celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord with a solemn liturgical service in the Greek Catholic church located on Radnička Street. The celebration also included the traditional pilgrimage, which gathered the faithful after the Mass.
The solemn Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom was led by the Bishop of the Eparchy of Križevci, Monsignor Milan Stipic. The bishop celebrated the liturgy in communion with parish priest Fr Marjan Jeftimov, and numerous Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic priests were present at the liturgy.
In his homily, Bishop Stipic highlighted that Jesus often kept vigil alone or with his disciples. He recalled that Jesus went with Peter, John and James to the high mountain of Tabor, where he conversed with God during the vigil.
The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord is one of the twelve great annual feasts of the Byzantine rite. The theology and spirituality of the feast place particular emphasis on the transformation of fallen human nature into the image, the icon of God, because man was created in the image of God.
According to the bishop, we approach the uncreated divine light through the transformation of life and heart. On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, grapes are traditionally blessed, which is part of the liturgical rite.
The deputy mayor of Jastrebarsko, Nikolina Ribarić, also attended the liturgical celebration. After the Mass, the traditional Žumberak pilgrimage was held, marking the end of the solemn observance of this important church holiday.
