Anastasius of Sinai

Ex Sermóne Anastásii Sinaítæ epíscopi in die Transfiguratiónis Dómini (Nn. 6-10: Mélanges d’archéologie et d’histoire 67 [1955], 241-244)

	Bonum est nos hic esse
Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father.”	Mystérium hoc manifestávit Iesus discípulis suis in monte Thabor. Postquam enim inter eos ámbulans sermónes de regno deque suo áltero in glória advéntu díxerat, ut, qui fortásse non satis certi erant de iis quæ circa regnum nuntiáverat, firmíssime tandem in cordis íntimis convinceréntur, utque étiam ex præséntibus futúra créderent, divínam manifestatiónem in monte Thabor mirabíliter exhíbuit tamquam præfiguratívam imáginem regni cælórum. Ita prorsus ac si díceret: «Ne témporis intervállum incredulitátem in vobis gignat, statim, in præsénti, amen dico vobis, sunt quidam de hic stántibus, qui non gustábunt mortem, donec vídeant Fílium hóminis veniéntem in glória Patris sui».
Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.	Osténdens autem Evangelísta poténtiam Christi cum ipsíus voluntáte conveníre, addit: Et post dies sex assúmit Iesus Petrum et Iacóbum et Ioánnem, et ducit illos in montem excélsum seórsum. Et transfigurátus est ante eos, et resplénduit fácies eius sicut sol, vestiménta autem eius facta sunt sicut nix. Et ecce apparuérunt Móyses et Elías cum eo loquéntes.
These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express.	Hæc sunt præséntis sollemnitátis mirácula, hoc est nobis salutáre mystérium quod in monte nunc est adimplétum; simul enim nos modo cóngregat et mors et festívitas Christi. Ut ígitur íntima ineffabílium horum sacrorúmque mysteriórum una cum eléctis inter discípulos a Deo inspirátos penetrémus, vocem divínam sacrámque audiámus, quæ ex alto, e vértice montis nos instánter cónvocat.
Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and – I speak boldly – it is for us now to hasten [after Him],	Illuc nos opórtet festináre —audénter dico— sicut Iesus, qui hic in cælis dux noster est ac præcúrsor,
through Whom, with spiritual eyes, [our] features will shine	quocum fulgébimus óculis spiritálibus, lineaméntis
in a sense renewing our soul	quodam modo ánimæ nostræ renováti,
conforming us to His image,	ad eius conformáti imáginem,
transfiguring us without ceasing into sharers in his Godhead	ac sicut ipse sine intermissióne transfigurát idivinǽque natúræ facti consórtes
and preparing us for the higher [places].	et ad superióra paráti.
Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision	Illuc currámus, animósi ac lætántes, et intrémus in íntimam nubem, facti tamquam Móyses et Elías, vel Iacóbus et Ioánnes. Esto sicut Petrus, in divínam visiónem et apparitiónem raptus,
and to be transfigured by that beautiful transfiguration.	pulchra hac Transfiguratióne transfigurátus,
Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.	*elátus e mundo, abstráctus a terra; relínque carnem, désere creatiónem et convértere ad Creatórem, cui Petrus a se abréptus: Dómine, inquit, bonum est nos hic esse.*
It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honour could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?	Equidem, Petre, vere bonum est nos hic esse cum Iesu atque hic in sǽcula manére. Quid felícius, quid áltius, quid est præstántius quam esse cum Deo, ipsi conformári, in luce inveníri?
Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transfigured into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here –	*Certe unusquísque nostrum, cum Deum in se hábeat et sit in divínam eius imáginem transfigurátus, cum lætítia exclámet: Bonum est nos hic esse,*
here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.	ubi ómnia sunt lúcida, ubi gáudium est et beatitúdo et iucúnditas, ubi ómnia in corde tranquílla sunt et seréna et dúlcia, ubi (Christus) Deus conspícitur; ubi mansiónem ipse cum Patre facit et advéniens ait: Hódie salus dómui huic facta est; ubi cum Christo thesáuri exstant et cumulántur bonórum æternórum; ubi primítiæ et imágines futurórum sæculórum velut in spéculo describúntur.

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father. “	τὸ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους Θαβὼρ μυστήριον δείκνυσι τοῖς ἐαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς τοὺς περὶ βασιλείας καὶ δευτέρας ἐνδόξου αὐτοῦ παρουσίας εἰς μέσον ἀγαγὼν προκατήγγειλε λόγους, - καὶ ἴσως ἀτελῶς διακείμενοι πρὸς τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐν πρώτοις λεγόμενα ἀδιστάκτως ^[241.10] διέκειτο ἐν ταῖς κατὰ ψυχὴν ἀδολεσχίαις -, πιστοῦν αὐτοὺς βουλόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν παρόντων τὸ μέλλον ὡς ἐν εἰκόνι τινὶ πρόδρομόν τινα οὐρανῶν βασιλείας ἵνδαλμα τὴν ἐν τῶ, Θαβωρίω, ὄρει παραδόξως θεοφάνειαν εἰργάσατο, ὡσανεὶ λέγων πρὸς αὐτούς· ἐπεὶ, ἵνα μὴ ἡ τοῦ χρόνου διάστασις ἴσως ὑμῖν τὸ ἄπιστον ἐργάσηται, Ἀμήν, λέγω ὑμῖν, θᾶττον καὶ παραυτά, εἰσί τινες τῶν ^[241.15] ὥδε ἑστηκότων καὶ ἀκουόντων οἵτινες οὑ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου, ἕως ἄν ἴδωσι τὸν ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ,
Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone.	καὶ σύνδρομον δεικνὺς τῇ βουλήσει τὴν ενέργειάν φησιν αὖθις ^[242.1] ὁ εὐαγγελιστὴς ὄτι μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας ἕξ παραλαμβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ ἀναφέρει αὐτοὺς εἰς ὄρος ὑψηλὸν κατ᾿ ἰδίαν
There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.	καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔαμψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια αὑτοῦ ἐγένοντο ^[242.5] λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὤφθησαν αὐτοῖς Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ συλλαλοῦντες.
These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express.	Ταῦτα τῆς παρούσης ἑορτῆς τὰ θεῖα τεράστια, τοῦτο ἡμῖν τὸ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους τελούμενον νῦν σωτήριον ὁμοῦ καὶ μυστήριον· αὔτη ἡ συναθροίσασα ἡμᾶς Χριστοῦ τελετὴ καὶ πανήγυρις. Οὐκοῦν ἵνα τῶν ἀπορρήτων καὶ ἀδύτων ἄμα ^[242.10] σὺν τοῖς προκρίτοις τῶν θεολήπτων θεολόγων ἐντὸς γενώμεθα μυστηρίων, ἀκούσωμεν θείας τινὸς καὶ ἱερωτάτης φωνῆς ἡμῖν ὡσανεὶ ἄνωθεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀκρωρείας τοῦ ὄρους
	\|\|\|προτρεπτικώτατα συγκαλούσης καὶ λεγούσης· δεῦτε ἀναβῶμεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ Κυρίου, ἐν τόπῳ, Κυρίου καὶ ἐν οἴκῳ, τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ὅπως ὑπὸ τῆς αὐτοῦ ὀπτασίας καί φωτοχυσίας περιλαμφθέντες ^[242.15] καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ κρείττω ἀλλοιωθέντες καὶ μεταρφθέντες καὶ φωτὶ προσλαβόντες φῶς βοήσωμεν λέγοντες· < Ὡς φοβερὸς ὁ τόπος οὗτος· οὐκ ἔστιν τοῦτο ἀλλ᾽ ἥ οῖκος Θεοῦ καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ πύλη τοῦ οὐρανοῦ·> [Gen 28:17]
Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and – I speak boldly – it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.	αὕτη πρὸς ὅν ἡμᾶς δεῖ κατασπεύδειν, ἀποτολμήσας ἐρῶ, ὡς Ἰησοῦς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς πρόδρομος ἀνιὼν ἡμῶν ὁδηγός, μεθ᾿ οὗ συναστράψοιμεν τοῖς νοεροῖς ^[242.20] ὄμμασι, τοῖς ψυχικοῖς χαρακτῆρσιν ἀννεούμενοι καὶ ἀναθεούμενοι καὶ σύν αὐτῷ ὡς αὐτὸς συμμορφούμενοι, ἀεὶ θεούμενοι καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖττον διαλλαττόμενοι + ὑπερμαχεῖς ἐλάφους τὰς ἀναβάσεις + τρέχοντες ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους καὶ ^[243.1] διαλλόμενοι ὑπὲρ περιστερὰς ἀσπίλους,
	μετὰ Πέτρου καὶ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωάννου ἐπὶ τὴν ἄκρον αἰρόμενοι καὶ μετὰ Μωϋσέως καὶ Ἠλίου ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν ἀεροδρομοῦντες, ὅπως καὶ περὶ ἡμῶν ὁ δεσπότης εἶποι· < Εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτοὺς μετὰ δόξης τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ.> ^[243.5]
Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfiormed by that glorious transformation. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.	Διὸ δράμωμεν θαρσαλέοι καὶ φαιδροὶ καὶ εἴσω τῆς νεφέλης χωρήσωμεν γινόμενοι οὕτος Μωϋσῆς καὶ ἄλλος Ἠλίας, οὗτος Ἰάκωβος καὶ ἄλλος Ἰωάννης· μετάρθητι ὥσπερ Πέτρος ἐπι τὴν θείαν θεωρίαν τε καὶ φαντασίαν, τὴν καλὴν ἀλλοίωσιν ἀλλοιώθητι, ἔκστηθι κόσμου ἀπόστηθι τῆς γῆς, κατάλειπε ^[243.10] τὴν σάρκα, ἄφες τὴν κτίσιν καὶ πρὸς τὸν κτίστην, μετάβηθι πρὸς ὃν ὁ Πέτρος ἐξιστάμενος ἔλεγεν· < Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμας ὧδε εἶναι. >
It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honour could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?	Μενοϋνγε, ώ Πέτρε, όντως χttλόν έστιν ήμάς ώδε είναι σύν ^'Ιησού χαί μεϊναε χαί ^1^ αιώνας άεί εϊναι ' τί τούτου μαχαριώτερον ή ϋμηλότερον ή τιμιώτερον τοϋ μετά νεοϋ είναι καί 6ς Οεόν τή μορφή είναι χαί έν φωτί εΙνχι;
Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here – here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.	Οϋχοϋν χαί ^[244] ημών λεγέτω έκαστος ό Πεόν έν χαρδία κτησάμενυς καί μεταμορφούμενας πρός τήν Οείαν έχείνην μορφήν άγαλλόμενος Καλόν έστιν ήμzς ώδε εΙναι, ^gν0α πάντα φωτεινά, ^gνθα χαρά χαί ευφροσύνη χαί αγαλλίασες, νθα έν τή rαρδία πάντα είρrνιχά χαί γχληνά καί άστχσίαστα, έν0α όπτάνεται Πεός ^[244.5] έν ή ποιεί μονrν σ~ν τί Πατρί, έν παραγενόμενος λέγει ' σήμερον σωτήρία τω οικω τούτω γίνεται, έν ή πάντες οί Θησαυροί τύ~ν αίωνίων αγα0ών σύν tώ Χριστώ παραγίνονται χαί άποτίflενται, ένήj πάντων τών μελλόντων αιώνων αι. άπαρχχί και εικόνες ώς έν έσοπτρω διαγράφονται.
[p.253]
It is thus that the just shall shine at the Resurrection. It is thus that they shall be glorified; into my condition they shall be transfigured, to this form, to this image, to this imprint, to this light and to this beatitude they shall be configured, and they shall reign with me, the Son of God	^[253.10] ούτως έκλά4ουστν ο€ δίκαιοι έν τή άναστάσεε, ούτως δοξασΟήσονταε, είς ταύτην τήν έείήν μορφήν μεταμορφω0ήσονται, είς τούτην τήν δδξαν μετασyηματεσθήσονται. είς τοϋτο τό εΙδος διατυπωθήσονταε, είς ταύτην τήν είκόυα, είς τοιοϋτον χαρακτήρα, είς τοιοϋτον φώς, είς τοιαύτην μακαριότητα σύμμορφοί τε καί σύνΟρονοε γενόμενοι έμνϋ του υΙοϋ του Qεοϋ ;

xcxxcxxc F ” “ This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 2004....x.... ’ “”.

	... ἐπεὶ Θεοῦ καταλλαγαὶ <καὶ> συγχώρησις ἐγκλημάτων πρὸς ^[241.5] τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐπεδήμησαν φύσιν, ἣν ἀνακαθαρθεῖσαν δεῖξαι βουληθεὶς τοῦ ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ, κενωθέντος ἰοῦ τοῦ ὄφεως ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ πατρὸς συνάναρχος λόγος,
Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father. “	τὸ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους Θαβὼρ μυστήριον δείκνυσι τοῖς ἐαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτοῖς τοὺς περὶ βασιλείας καὶ δευτέρας ἐνδόξου αὐτοῦ παρουσίας εἰς μέσον ἀγαγὼν προκατήγγειλε λόγους, - καὶ ἴσως ἀτελῶς διακείμενοι πρὸς τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐν πρώτοις λεγόμενα ἀδιστάκτως ^[241.10] διέκειτο ἐν ταῖς κατὰ ψυχὴν ἀδολεσχίαις -, πιστοῦν αὐτοὺς βουλόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν παρόντων τὸ μέλλον ὡς ἐν εἰκόνι τινὶ πρόδρομόν τινα οὐρανῶν βασιλείας ἵνδαλμα τὴν ἐν τῶ, Θαβωρίω, ὄρει παραδόξως θεοφάνειαν εἰργάσατο, ὡσανεὶ λέγων πρὸς αὐτούς· ἐπεὶ, ἵνα μὴ ἡ τοῦ χρόνου διάστασις ἴσως ὑμῖν τὸ ἄπιστον ἐργάσηται, Ἀμήν, λέγω ὑμῖν, θᾶττον καὶ παραυτά, εἰσί τινες τῶν ^[241.15] ὥδε ἑστηκότων καὶ ἀκουόντων οἵτινες οὑ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου, ἕως ἄν ἴδωσι τὸν ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ,
Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone.	καὶ σύνδρομον δεικνὺς τῇ βουλήσει τὴν ενέργειάν φησιν αὖθις ^[242.1] ὁ εὐαγγελιστὴς ὄτι μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας ἕξ παραλαμβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ ἀναφέρει αὐτοὺς εἰς ὄρος ὑψηλὸν κατ᾿ ἰδίαν
There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.	καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔαμψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια αὑτοῦ ἐγένοντο ^[242.5] λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὤφθησαν αὐτοῖς Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ συλλαλοῦντες.
These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express.	Ταῦτα τῆς παρούσης ἑορτῆς τὰ θεῖα τεράστια, τοῦτο ἡμῖν τὸ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους τελούμενον νῦν σωτήριον ὁμοῦ καὶ μυστήριον· αὔτη ἡ συναθροίσασα ἡμᾶς Χριστοῦ τελετὴ καὶ πανήγυρις. Οὐκοῦν ἵνα τῶν ἀπορρήτων καὶ ἀδύτων ἄμα ^[242.10] σὺν τοῖς προκρίτοις τῶν θεολήπτων θεολόγων ἐντὸς γενώμεθα μυστηρίων, ἀκούσωμεν θείας τινὸς καὶ ἱερωτάτης φωνῆς ἡμῖν ὡσανεὶ ἄνωθεν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀκρωρείας τοῦ ὄρους
	\|\|\| προτρεπτικώτατα συγκαλούσης καὶ λεγούσης· δεῦτε ἀναβῶμεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ Κυρίου, ἐν τόπῳ, Κυρίου καὶ ἐν οἴκῳ, τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ὅπως ὑπὸ τῆς αὐτοῦ ὀπτασίας καί φωτοχυσίας περιλαμφθέντες ^[242.15] καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ κρείττω ἀλλοιωθέντες καὶ μεταρφθέντες καὶ φωτὶ προσλαβόντες φῶς βοήσωμεν λέγοντες· < Ὡς φοβερὸς ὁ τόπος οὗτος· οὐκ ἔστιν τοῦτο ἀλλ᾽ ἥ οῖκος Θεοῦ καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ πύλη τοῦ οὐρανοῦ·> [Gen 28:17]
Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and – I speak boldly – it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.	αὕτη πρὸς ὅν ἡμᾶς δεῖ κατασπεύδειν, ἀποτολμήσας ἐρῶ, ὡς Ἰησοῦς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς πρόδρομος ἀνιὼν ἡμῶν ὁδηγός, μεθ᾿ οὗ συναστράψοιμεν τοῖς νοεροῖς ^[242.20] ὄμμασι, τοῖς ψυχικοῖς χαρακτῆρσιν ἀννεούμενοι καὶ ἀναθεούμενοι καὶ σύν αὐτῷ ὡς αὐτὸς συμμορφούμενοι, ἀεὶ θεούμενοι καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ κρεῖττον διαλλαττόμενοι + ὑπερμαχεῖς ἐλάφους τὰς ἀναβάσεις + τρέχοντες ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους καὶ ^[243.1] διαλλόμενοι ὑπὲρ περιστερὰς ἀσπίλους,
	μετὰ Πέτρου καὶ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωάννου ἐπὶ τὴν ἄκρον αἰρόμενοι καὶ μετὰ Μωϋσέως καὶ Ἠλίου ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν ἀεροδρομοῦντες, ὅπως καὶ περὶ ἡμῶν ὁ δεσπότης εἶποι· < Εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτοὺς μετὰ δόξης τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ.> ^[243.5]
Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here. [Mt 17:4; Mk 9:5; Lk 9:33].	Διὸ δράμωμεν θαρσαλέοι καὶ φαιδροὶ καὶ εἴσω τῆς νεφέλης χωρήσωμεν γινόμενοι οὕτος Μωϋσῆς καὶ ἄλλος Ἠλίας, οὗτος Ἰάκωβος καὶ ἄλλος Ἰωάννης· μετάρθητι ὥσπερ Πέτρος ἐπι τὴν θείαν θεωρίαν τε καὶ φαντασίαν, τὴν καλὴν ἀλλοίωσιν ἀλλοιώθητι, ἔκστηθι κόσμου ἀπόστηθι τῆς γῆς, κατάλειπε ^[243.10] τὴν σάρκα, ἄφες τὴν κτίσιν καὶ πρὸς τὸν κτίστην, μετάβηθι πρὸς ὃν ὁ Πέτρος ἐξιστάμενος ἔλεγεν· < Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμας ὧδε εἶναι. >
Indeed, Peter, it is truly good to be here with Jesus, to abide and be [with Him] for ever. What greater blessedness or higher honor could we have than	Μενοῦνγε, ὦ Πέτρε, ὄντως < καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι > σὐν Ἰησοῦ καὶ μεῖναι καὶ εἰς αἰῶνας ἀεὶ εἶναι· τί τούτου μακαριώτερον ἤ ὑψηλότερον ἤ τιμιώτερον τοῦ
to be with God,	μετὰ Θεοῦ εἶναι
to be in a form like God’s [cf Phil 2:6]	καὶ ὧς Θεὸν τῇ μορφῇ εἴναι
and to be in light?	καὶ ἐν φωτὶ εἶναι;
Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transfigured into his divine image [cf. 1Cor 3:18], we also should cry out with joy, It is good for us to be here:	Οὐκοῦν καὶ ^[244.1] ἡμῶν λεγέτω ἕκαστος ὁ Θεὸν ἐν καρδίᾳ, κτησάμενος καὶ < μεταμορφούμενος πρὸς τὴν θείαν ἐκείνην μορφὴν > ἀγαλλόμενος· < Καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὦδε εἴναι, >
where all things shine; where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is beheld.	ἔνθα πάντα φωτεινά, ἐνθα χαρὰ καὶ εὐφροσύνη καὶ ἀγαλλίασις, ἔνθα ἐν τῇ, καρδίᾳ, πάντα εἰρηνικὰ καὶ γαληνὰ καὶ ἀστασίαστα, ἔνθα ὀπτάνεται Θεός·
In [our hearts] he makes his dwelling with the Father,	^[244.5] ἔν ᾗ, ποιεῖ μονὴν σὺν τῷ Πατρί,
Entering into [our hearts] he says, Today salvation has come to this house.	ἐν ᾗ, παραγενόμενος λέγει· < σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ γίνεται, >
In [our hearts] all the treasuries of eternal blessings have entered with Christ, and are kept [there] with Him.	ἐν ᾗ, πάντες οἱ θησαυροὶ τῶν αἰωνίων ἀγαθῶν σὺν τῷ Χριστῷ παραγίνονται καὶ ἀποτίθενται,
And in [our hearts] we see, like images in a mirror, the first fruits of all the ages to come.	ἐν ᾗ, πάντων τῶν μελλόντων αἰώνων αἱ ἀπαρχαὶ καὶ εἰκόνες ὡς ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ, διαγράφονται.


[p.253] The Lord says:
	Τί γὰρ τούτου μειζότερον ἢ φρικωδέστερον εἴδεσθαι Θεὸν ἐν μορφῇ ἀνθρώπου ὡς τὸν ἥλιον καὶ ὑπερ τὸν ἥλιον λάμποντα τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ ἀστράπτοντα καὶ ἀκτίνας ἀκαταπαύστως φεγγοβολοῦντα καὶ τὸν ἄχραντον δάκτυλον ἐπὶ τοῦ ἰδίου προσώπου ἐπιτεθέντα και ὑποδεικνύοντα καὶ πρὸς τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκεῖσε ὄντας λέγοντα·
Thus shall the just shine at the Resurrection. thus shall they be glorified:	^[253.10] οὕτως ἐκλάμψουσιν οἱ δίκαιοι ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει, οὕτως δοξασθήσονται,
into this, my form, they shall be transfigured; with this glory they shall be clothed; with this character will they be impressed;	εἰς ταύτην τὴν ἐμὴν μορφὴν μεταμορφωθήσονται, εἰς ταύτην τὴν δόξαν μετασχηματισθήσονται, εἰς τοῦτο τὸ εἶδος διατυπωθήσονται,
into this image, into this likeness, into this light into this blessedness	εἰς ταύτην τὴν εἰκόνα, εἰς τοιοῦτον χαρακτῆρα, εἰς τοιοῦτον φῶς, εἰς τοιαύτην μακαριότητα
they shall be formed, and they shall reign with me, the Son of God	σύμμορφοί τε καὶ σύνθρονοι γενόμενοι ἐμοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ;