Mount Tabor

Mount Tabor (Hebrew: הַר תָּבוֹר, Modern Har Tavor, Tiberian Har Tāḇôr, Arabic: جبل الطور, Jabal aṭ-Ṭūr) is located in Lower Galilee, Israel, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, 11 miles (18 km) west of the Sea of Galilee. It was the site of the Mount Tabor battle between Barak under the leadership of the Israelite judge Deborah, and the army of Jabin commanded by Sisera, in the mid 12th century BCE. It is believed by many Christians to be the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus.[1] It is also known as Har Tavor, Itabyrium, Jebel et-Tur, and the Mount of Transfiguration.

Due to its strategic importance, Mount Tabor has often been surmounted by a fortress. Tabor was first occupied by a Seleucid fortress in the 3rd century BC. It was later refortified in 66 AD by Josephus during the First Jewish Revolt, but fell to Roman Emperor Vespasian in 67.

In 348, Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem wrote that he preferred Mt. Tabor to Mt. Hermon as the site of the Transfiguration, and by the end of the 4th century there was a church on the site. By 570, three Byzantine churches are recorded as standing on Mt. Tabor, or perhaps one large church with chapels dedicated to Christ, Moses and Elijah.

The Latin (Franciscan) Church of the Transfiguration (or Church of the Savior) dates from 1924 but stands on the same site and reflects the plan of the earlier Crusader and Byzantine churches.

                                                         with Pius Devotta our tour leader

Above the main altar is an impressive mosaic painting in the high ceiling that depicts the central theme of the church - the transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James, and John.

   The mosaic shows a scene of  Jesus floating in the air above a cloud. He is flanked by two clouds - Elijah the prophet on the right side, and Moses (holding the Ten commandments tablets) on the left side. The three disciples are standing below, amazed from the scene of the transfiguration.

 On both sides of the convex ceiling are beautiful mosaics which show different phases of Jesus - infancy, suffering, death and  resurrection

 offices of the Franciscans and buildings where the monks reside, as seen below.

Many bible scholars including my Teacher Rev. David Pawson  ( davidpawson.org) believe that Mt.Hermon and not Mt. Tabor may probably  the location for the Transfiguration: for the following reasons (1) Jesus and his disciples are in the region of Caesarea Philippi just prior to the Transfiguration. (2) The general location of the mountain is not isolated. Much traffic passed by through the Jezreel Valley below. (3) A military fort was located on top of the mountain and was clearly in use during the Hasmonean period and the time of the Jewish Revolt, and likely would have been in Jesus' day as well.

Wherever be the location nothing can undermine the event, The transfiguration of our LORD JESUS CHRIST .Peter recollected it vividly when he said  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” (2 Peter 1:16-18).

John the beloved Apostle said Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory--the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

but the most astonishing thing is what the Apsotle Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthian Church.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.