Zakynthos Celebrates Jesus's appearance transformed on Mount Tabor, 6th August.

​The 6th of August, a day of celebration, for it is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, in Greek it is known as the Metamorphosi tou Sotiros Christou=(Μεταμόρφωση του Σωτήρος Χριστού). The feast commemorates the transfiguration or metamorphosis of Christ. 

The story goes that Jesus plainly told His disciples that He would suffer, be killed, and be raised to life. Taking his three disciples Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray. While praying, His personal appearance was changed into a glorified form, and His clothing became a dazzlingly white. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus about His death that would soon take place (Crucifixion). Peter, not knowing what he was saying and feeling very frightened, offered to put up three shelters for them. This is they say was in a reference to the booths that were used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Israelites dwelt in booths for 7 days. Peter expressed his wish to stay in that place. When a cloud enveloped them, a voice said, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen, whom I love; listen to Him!” The cloud lifted, Moses and Elijah had disappeared, and Jesus was alone with His disciples who were still very much afraid. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed until after His resurrection.
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The disciples never forgot what happened that day on the mountain and no doubt this was intended as John wrote in his gospel, “We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only”. Peter also wrote of it, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain”. Those who witnessed the transfiguration bore witness to it to the other disciples and to countless millions down through the centuries. Even today the story is told, the 6th of August is a reminder to those that there is always 'light' at the end of the tunnel. The Greeks celebrate this day as a starting point for change after hardship and turmoil, that they will be enlightened. ​In many places, they believe that on the eve of the feast, at some time, the heavens suddenly open and the “holy light” appears to those who had the patience and faith to stay awake

​For Zakynthians, in the past it would be a day for when they would take their grapes to the church for the priest to bless after the service, thus hoping their crops would be abundant, in some parts of Greece the custom is still acted out, here in Zakynthos however, I personally have not seen it or have heard that some still carry on this tradition. 

​However, It is a Holy day and the custom of eating cod, usually fried and Zakynthian aliatha (garlic dip) served with plenty of bread to dip in the aliatha, is definitely a custom that has not died out. It is also a day that those who are named Sotirios/Sotiria, Emorfia, Morfoula celebrate their name day, so for August the 6th.... Χρόνια πολλά!