Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, also known as the Epiphany or Theophany. This event commemorates the biblical episode on Mount Tabor, witnessed by disciples Peter, James, and John, and is also celebrated by other Christian denominations.
The Transfiguration serves as a reminder for Christians of their ultimate goal—eternal life and resurrection. Described by three evangelists—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—the event features Christ conversing with Moses and Elijah, symbolizing the end of the Old Testament era and the beginning of Christ’s time. The Gospels describe Jesus’ face shining like the sun and his clothes becoming dazzling white, signifying his glory.
On the Eastern Christian calendar, the feast emerged in the 6th century, while on the Western calendar, Pope Callixtus III made it obligatory in 1457, in gratitude for the Christian victory at Belgrade. Locally, it was celebrated in the West as early as the 7th century and has been known in Poland since the 11th century.
In Poland, the main celebrations occur on Mount Grabarka, a site of significant importance for the Orthodox Church, drawing thousands of pilgrims each year. The Transfiguration is also observed by the Evangelical-Augsburg Church, the Polish Catholic Church, the Mariavite Catholic Church, and the Anglican Church worldwide.