Transfiguration of Jesus
(In Byzantine Art)

«This is a 15th century fresco from Kiev. [Showing] Jesus in a rocket type device.»[1]

Other ancient alien believers describe this picture as Jesus within a rocket, rising upwards, even claiming to see a wake being left behind from the thrust of the engine(s).

I don’t think so.

In order to understand the truth behind the symbolism contained in this scene all one needs to do is refer to the Gospels.

«2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;

«3 and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.

«4 And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

«5 And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

«6 For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.

«7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.

«8 And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.»[2]

With these words the Gospel of Mark is describing the “Transfiguration of Jesus.”[2][3]

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported in the New Testament in which Jesus is transfigured (or metamorphosed) and becomes radiant upon a mountain.[3]

Transfiguration by Alexandr Ivanov, 1824
In these accounts Jesus and three of his apostles go to a mountain (the Mount of Transfiguration). On the mountain, Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light. Then the prophets Moses and Elijah appear next to him.[3]

The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on the mountain is presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place for the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth.[3]

Here we find the almost identical byzantine style used throughout the centuries:

Conclusions: Nothing mysterious here. This 15th century fresco from Kiev doesn’t contain any UFOs or rockets. It is simply a representation of the Transfiguration of Jesus, as described in Mark 9:2-8, in the Byzantine style.


* The information contained herein is based primarily on the work of Diego Cuoghi and the sources listed below:
1. www.in5d.com/ufos-in-art-history
2. Mark 9:2-8
3. Transfiguration of Jesus (Wikipedia)