Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

St. James the Greater is remembered on his Feast Day – July 25 – for being the first of Jesus’ twelve apostles to be martyred. But more importantly, he was one of only three witnesses to the Transfiguration – an event that Thomas Aquinas describes as the holiest miracle in all of Christianity because it happened to Jesus himself.

In the words of Matthew:

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” Matthew 17:1-3

James – the Son of Thunder

St. James along with his brother John, are called “sons of thunder” in the Gospel of Mark, in all probability, referring to their fiery enthusiasm for spreading the word of Jesus. Less spoken about than Saints Peter and John, St. James was, nevertheless, known to be steadfast to the cause when others wavered and committed to the end.

James – Witness to the Transfiguration

Of the Transfiguration, the Gospel of Matthew tells us:

”While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

“When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.” Matthew 17:5-8

Both theologians and historians believe that the most likely location where this extraordinary event took place is Mount Tabor – an ancient elevation in northern Israel, at the edge of the Plain of Esdraelon in lower Galilee. This hill is also mentioned in the 13th century BC inscriptions of the Pharaoh Rameses the Second. The Old Testament mentions Mount Tabor as the site of the Israeli peoples victory under Barak over the Canaanites, led by Sisera, sometime in the 11th century BC.

Mount Tabor rises above the surrounding plains and other hills as the highest landform for miles around. It bears an impressive hemispherical shape with low brush adorning it. It is not difficult to see why so many important historical events have been associated with this hill.

This picturesque landscape is, today, home to the monthly ‘Miracle Walk’, where pilgrims join together to climb up the hillock and experience the same climb that St. James and his fellow apostles would have made when they bore witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus.

How to Pray for a Miracle at Mount Tabor

You, too, can be a part of these divine experiences by offering prayers for miracles at this site. If, by any chance, you are unable to make this vaunted pilgrimage to the holy lands yourself, The Salvation Garden praying community offers volunteers to undertake the arduous trip on your behalf, and offer any prayers that you may want said. Talk to our facilitators for a holy land prayer request fulfillment today.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

Miracle Prayer Request – Mount Tabor

Miracle Prayer Request – Miracle Walk at Mount Tabor

The Miracle Walk is a unique prayer ceremony, performed for special prayer requests only, on the top of Mount Tabor, the holy site of the Transfiguration of Jesus, the greatest miracle of all. Please read this explanation before submitting your prayer request

Transfiguration of Jesus - Miracle Prayer Request

The Transfiguration of Jesus: The Greatest Miracle

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event where Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant in glory – like the sun – upon Mount Tabor.

Jesus and three of His apostles – Peter, James, and John – go to pray on a mountain, later referred to as the Mount of Transfiguration and identified as Mount Tabor in the Holy Land.

On the mountaintop, while praying, Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light. Then the Biblical figures Moses and Elijah appear next to Him and He speaks with them. Jesus is then called “Son” by the voice of God the Father.

The transfiguration is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. This miracle is unique among others that appear in the canonical gospels, in that the miracle happens to Jesus Himself. Thomas Aquinas considered the transfiguration “the greatest miracle” in that it complemented baptism and showed the perfection of life in Heaven.

For The Salvation Garden, as a praying community, the Transfiguration miracle has a unique importance, as it happened during prayer and the voice of God was heard on the top of the mountain.

In Christian teachings, the transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on Mount Tabor is presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place of the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus Himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth.

Mount Tabor Transfiguration Prayer Request

Mount Tabor: Where Miracles Happen

Since the 3rd century, most Christians have identified Mount Tabor as the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus.

At the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, Mount Tabor is shaped almost like half a sphere, suddenly rising from rather flat surroundings and reaching a height of 575 meters (1,886 feet), thus dominating by a good 450 meters the the plain below.

Mount Tabor, in the North of the Holy Land, has long been a place of Christian pilgrimage. Until today, Mount Tabor is the site of the Church of Transfiguration.

When in need of a miracle – a personal miracle, a healing miracle, or any other celestial help – believers travel far to visit Mount Tabor and pray.

The Miracle Walk Ceremony: Prayer Request for a Miracle 

Following the footsteps of several pilgrims and stories of great miracles, the Miracle Walk Ceremony was developed.

Pilgrims can walk the same grounds upon which Jesus went through the Transfiguration and pray. In this holy site, where the greatest miracle of all occurred, believers feel as if the prayer reaches further into Heaven.

The Salvation Garden team performs this unique prayer ceremony, the Miracle Walk, walking on the top of Mount Tabor, praying at the holy site where miracles happen.

Miracle Walk Prayer Ceremony Mount Tabor Transfiguration Site

Send Your Prayer Request for the Miracle Walk

If you choose to send a personal prayer request for the Miracle Walk, we commit to take your prayer to the top of Mount Tabor, walk there while praying your request, and hope together with you that all of our prayers be heard and answered.

Clearly, we do not and cannot guarantee a miracle. While this holy site has seen miracles before, this is not for humans to decide nor promise. Only God has the answers.

The Miracle Walk practically takes a whole day. Your donation helps us to cover at least part of the costs, which include 2-3 hours drive in each direction, an hour long walk and prayer ceremony, security arrangements, and other administrative work.

The Miracle Walk is limited in availability and we can only perform it once or twice a month, so when submitting your prayer request, please allow 1-2 weeks until completion.

After the Miracle Walk, to make it more memorable, we will send to you a photo of your printed prayer request on top of the Tabor mountain.

Please click here to write your prayer request. Then, after you select at least one church, click Continue and there select the Miracle Walk option. 

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