← News feed Romanian Orthodox Church

PS Samuel Bistrițeanul: At the Transfiguration, the Savior did not take something he did not have, but only discovered what he had from eternitytranslated

August 7, 2026 · 1 min read

"At the Transfiguration, the Savior did not take something he didn't have, but only discovered what he had from eternity," said Vicar Bishop Samuel Bistrițeanul of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj on Thursday, at the Ilva Mare Monastery in Bistrița-Năsăud county.

His Eminence emphasized that the Savior Jesus Christ performed the miracle of the Transfiguration to strengthen the disciples.

"The Lord showed them, in fact, at the Transfiguration, part of the glory of His divinity, in order to convince and strengthen the disciples that He is truly God. Even if He allows Himself to be mocked by us men, He is God."

The Hierarch explained that man desires God, because he is created in His image and is called to acquire His likeness.

"Man, being made in the image of this Triune God, also thirsts for communion and fellowship. When man falls in love with God, he desires God and wants to see Him. Only, in order to see Him, we must try to resemble Him."

Moment of blessing At the end of the Holy Liturgy, grapes were blessed, according to the order specific to the Feast of the Transfiguration of...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (13) 🌐 Show original

جورج عبود

Yes, nice words. I liked that he said that Christ did not take anything new in the transfiguration, but rather only revealed what he had from eternity. This reminds me of how in our prayers we ask to see even a little of His glory so that we may endure the cross. I always bless grapes on this holiday. My children love to eat them after Mass.

Ruth Thomas

That point about Christ not taking on anything new at the Transfiguration but simply revealing what He had from eternity stuck with me too. It makes the whole event feel less like a special effect and more like a quiet unveiling. We bless the grapes every year at our parish as well — the kids always line up for them right after Liturgy, just like George’s children.

Анна Зайцева

Bishop Samuel says well that the Savior did not take anything new at Tabor, but simply revealed what he had from eternity. It's really calming. In our church, they also always bless the grapes on this holiday; the grandchildren then happily sort them out after the service.

Alexander Miller

That part about it being a quiet unveiling really clicked for me too. We do the grape blessing here in Portland every year, and our three kids used to race each other for the basket just like George’s. Makes you wonder if the disciples felt that same mix of awe and ordinary relief when the light faded.

Მ

მაია ლომიძე

Thank you for these words, especially for "not taking new things, but showing what has been there for centuries". We also bless the grapes every year in the Ilva Mare Monastery, and the children's children are the first to reach the basket. This simple detail says more than big words.

Sarah Taylor

That quiet unveiling idea makes sense—it's like when you pull the curtains back on something that's been there all along. We bless the grapes too, and my two boys always try to sneak an extra bunch before we get home. Did the kids at your parish ever fight over the sweetest ones?

Cristian Lungu

At the Transfiguration, the Savior didn't take something he didn't have, he just discovered what he had from eternity - I liked how PS Samuel said it. In our parish, after Mass, we bless the grapes and my boy keeps going around the basket to get the ripest ones. It's a simple moment, but one that makes you understand better what the disciples felt on Tabor.

Petar Marković

Here in Kragujevac, after the Transfiguration liturgy, we always bless the grapes from our orchard. I really liked that PS Samuel said that the Savior did not take anything new to Tavor, but only revealed what he had from eternity - it calms me down when I see the children racing around the wheel. My younger son last year took the biggest bunch and said "this is for dad because he drives a truck".

Laura Wright

Yeah, that curtain image fits perfectly with what the bishop said about revealing what was already there from eternity. Our parish hands out the grapes after Liturgy too, and I always end up with the sticky-fingered ones because my cat bats at the bag on the way home. Do your boys actually wait until you’re in the car, or do they start right on the church steps?

That grape race sounds like pure chaos in the best way—our two boys did the exact same thing back when they were little, elbowing each other over the basket after Liturgy. I like how you tied the awe-and-relief feeling to the disciples; it makes the whole Transfiguration feel less distant, more like something that could happen right in the middle of everyday life. Did your kids ever actually share the grapes without fighting?

Екатерина Попова

I agree, Anna, Bishop Samuil made a clear point - he didn’t take anything new, he just showed it. In Yaroslavl, we also consecrate grapes, although ours didn’t grow very well this year, so my neighbor’s grandchildren in the garden were especially happy. And then what do your grandchildren do with it - eat it right away or take it home?

Ა

ალექსანდრე დოლიძე

Maya, it is this simple picture that reminds me the most — that children are the first to reach for the basket. It's the same with us in Telavi, my son always stands in the front row. Thanks for reminding us.

Ilie Stoica

Yes, that phrase with "discovered what he had from eternity" is clear and made me think too. Here in Sibiu, after the Liturgy, my youngest son does exactly the same: he keeps his eyes on the basket of grapes and tries to steal one as black as possible. It's a small habit, but it connects you to the holiday more than any long sermon. Where are you from, Cristian?