The Feast of the Transfiguration

Detail from Rafael's Transfiguration Scott 596 (1976) August 6 on the Catholic Liturgical calendar marks the celebration of the Feast of the Transfiguration. In 1976, Vatican City issued a set of six stamps (one of which is shown above) featuring details from Raphael's remarkable painting of the Transfiguration, a work completed in 1520. This was the last of the great Renaissance artist's works, as he died later that year. The Transfiguration is one of the most visually stunning accounts in the Bible. The story is presented fairly consistently in the three Synoptic Gospels (Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36 and Matthew 17:1-9). Jesus brings three of his apostles (Peter, John and James) to the mountain to pray (in tradition, the mountain is assumed to be Mount Tabor in Galilee). As they prayed, Christ's face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. Two figures then appear: the prophets Moses and Elijah. When Peter views Jesus with the prophets, he asks Jesus whether he should build three tents for Jesus and the prophets. As he says this a cloud appears over the scene, and from the cloud, the voice of God intones: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him (Matthew 17:5). At that, the cloud disappears, and Christ is left standing alone. Jesus instructs the three apostles to not discuss the incident until the Son of Man is raised from the dead (Matthew 17:9). With this, the apostles have been given a small hint of the power and majesty of God and the glory of Heaven. References: Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.com, Stamp Database Search Wikipedia.com, Transfiguration of Jesus Hamilton, James C., Vatican Notes, Volume 62, Issue 360, pages 10-15, 2014, Raphael's Transfiguration Veronica Szczygiel and Sister Anne Shields, The Catholic TV Monthly, August 2022, pages 4-6, The Transfiguration