Indeed, it was extended over the whole Western Church after that victory.
However, the feast was celebrated much earlier in the West, although not
universally. In Gaul and on the British Isles it was celebrated on the 27
July. In Germany and on other places it was celebrated on 6 August. And
there were also other dates observed in other churches.
The origin of the feast seems to be found in a pagan feast: the Vartavarh of
an Armenian godess. "Vartavarh" should signify "roseflame" - but what the
exact connection is with the special feast, I cannot say. Considering the
folk custom, it must have been a harvest feast (one of the reasons why the
medieval Church - and still the Oriental ones - bless grapes and wine). The
change to a christian feast is attribueted to St. Gregory the Illumenator of
Armenia, who retained the appellation - like today's Armenian Church -. Like
a rose, Christ opened His glory and power on Thabor.
Stefaan R.W. VERMEIRE.
----- Oorspronkelijk bericht -----
Van: Bill East <[log in to unmask]>
Aan: <[log in to unmask]>
Verzonden: woensdag 8 maart 2000 13:23
Onderwerp: Re: Transfiguration date
> The feast originated in the east; in the west, its general observance
> goes back to 1457, when Callistus III ordered its universal celebration
> in commemoration of the victory gained over the Turks at Belgrade on
> 22nd July 1456, news of which reached Rome on 6th August.
>
> We do not, in the Catholic Church, have "Sundays after the Epiphany",
> so there would be no chance of observing it on the last one.
>
> Oriens.
>
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