The feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord was celebrated in the Holy Monastery of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea in Gapyeong. For the first time this year the celebrations took place without the physical presence of the founder of the Monastery, the late Metropolitan of Pisidia and former Metropolitan of Korea, Soterios. Yet, everyone had the deep feeling that He was spiritually present and participated in the feast.
Clergy and faithful visited the Monastery on Saturday, August 6, from various parishes of the Metropolis, to participate in the Matins (Orthros) and the Divine Liturgy and in the memorial prayer that followed at the tomb of the blessed Metropolitan.
In his sermon, the Metropolitan of Korea Ambrosios explained that the ascent of the Lord with His three disciples “to a high mountain” took place firstly, so that the Lord would teach the disciples as well as all of us to look up to Heaven and not on earth; and secondly, that our salvation is in Heaven and not on earth. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Therefore, let us all put into practice the liturgical exhortation of our Church: “Let us lift up our hearts”.
After the end of the Divine Services, the nuns offered a common meal of love to all the participants in the yard of the Monastery.