The Akathist to the Transfiguration of the Lord is a prayer that gives glory to the most important of all feasts, when the Lord Jesus Christ revealed His face to the apostles Peter, John, and James on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Reading this akathist helps to deepen the understanding of the significance of this event and its impact on the lives of believers. It also helps to pray for oneself and others to receive the light of understanding and faith.
Condak 1
Thou, O Commander and King of Glory, hast been exalted by the heavens and the earth, the Creator of all, who, having transformed the mountain of the Transfiguration with glory, didst cause all creation to be amazed, the heavens to tremble, and all earthly-born to rejoice. We, however, unworthy ones, do offer thanksgiving worship to Thee, and with Peter from the heart cry out to Thee:
Jesus, Eternal God, may it be good for us to be under the shelter of Thy grace at all times.
Icos 1
O Christ, Light-Giver, Thy Divinity, which is unknown to angels and inaccessible to men, didst reveal itself to Thy chief disciple on the mountain of the Transfiguration through unapproachable lightning and rays of Thy eternal Light. The same disciples were transformed by the awe of Thy Divinity, and, being enveloped in a bright cloud, didst hear the voice of the Father, and, understanding the mystery of Thy Incarnation, didst cry out to Thee thus:
Jesus, Eternal Son of God, enlighten us with the light of Thy face, shining with glory.
Jesus, Almighty and Good God, stir us up from the deep sleep of sin, and awaken us from the darkness of ignorance.
Jesus, living Light, inaccessible and unapproachable, lead us out of the darkness into the light.
Jesus, filling the whole world with Thy glory, lead us into the heavenly abode.
Jesus, Light of Peace, deliver us from the world of evil, and free us from the darkness in which we sit.
Jesus, Sun of Righteousness, clothe us with power and righteousness, and deliver us from the snares of death.
Jesus, Eternal God, may it be good for us to be under the shelter of Thy grace at all times.
Condak 2
Beholding, O Lord, that Thy disciples were still unenlightened, and did not understand that it was fitting for Thee to go to Jerusalem and to suffer many things there, and to be crucified, Thou didst begin to tell them that all this was to be endured by Thee for our salvation. However, they were not yet able to think of what is divine, but only of what is human. Therefore, Thou didst take Peter, James, and John, and, after six days, didst lead them up to the mountain of the Transfiguration, to show them Thy divine glory before the Cross, that they might rationally sing to Thee during Thy sufferings:
Alleluia
Icos 2
Thy disciples, O Lord, did not understand the freedom of Thy voluntary sufferings. Therefore, before Thy Cross, Thou didst lead Thy chief disciples up to a high mountain in the still of the night, to show them the wonder of Thy Transfiguration, and the inapproachable and divine presence, that, when they see Thee crucified, they might understand that Thy sufferings were voluntary. Therefore, we cry out to Thee thus:
Jesus, Thou didst lead Thy disciples up to the high mountain, and lead us also, that we may learn to seek the delights of the heights.
Jesus, Thou didst deliver Peter and the sons of Zebedee from worldly cares and the multitude, and deliver our mind from earthly attachments, that we may learn to avoid the passions of the flesh.
Jesus, Thou didst lead Thy other disciples to a great height through many labors, and teach us to strive with many labors and hardships every day.
Jesus, Thou didst show Thy Transfiguration to Thy disciples in the silence of the night, and now, O Lord, enable us to be enlightened by the sweetness of Thy words in the night.
Jesus, Thou didst reveal Thy glory to three witnesses in the stillness of the Transfiguration, and now, O Lord, grant us to contemplate Thy glory in silence and solitude.
Jesus, Thou didst make the mountains of Favour and Hermon rejoice with Thy Name, and grant us to ascend the mountain of prayer, calling upon Thy sweet Name.
Jesus, Eternal God, may it be good for us to be under the shelter of Thy grace at all times.
Condak 3
By the power from above, Thou hast clothed Thy chosen Apostles, Jesus, with Thee on Mount Tabor, that they may seek the things that are above and may meditate on heavenly things, and not earthly, and may clothe us, who have fallen down and are always overcome by the weakness of the flesh, with Thy power and glory, that Thy power may be perfected in our weakness, for which reason we shall hymn Thee with love:
Alleluia
Icos 3
Having shown Thy glory, O Christ, our Savior, to Thy disciples before the Cross and Thy voluntary passion, Thou hast chosen three from among the living on earth, that they may be witnesses of Thy divine glory, for these three were better than all nations and tongues before Thy eyes: Peter, who loved Thee more than others, and who first of all confessed Thee as the Son of God, James, who first of all the Apostles, because of the hope of future blessings, bowed his head under the sword and thus laid the beginning of Thy martyrdom, and John, who preserved chastity of body and spirit with all purity and received a special grace, beyond others, to see the ineffable revelations and Thy divine glory. Receive also from us Thy praises, sincere:
Jesus, receiving from Peter before Thy Transfiguration the confession of faith, receive also my warm confession.
Jesus, who gave to Peter on Mount Tabor the boldness to speak with Thee, speak also good and peaceful words in my heart.
Jesus, who called the sons of Zebedee, sons of thunder, because of the flame of their love, do not strike me with the thunder of Thy wrath.
Jesus, who did not allow the fire from heaven to come down on Samaria, quench the fire of passions in me.
Jesus, raise me up with the chaste John to the heavenly Mount Tabor.
Jesus, with the courageous James, who first drank from Thy chalice, lead me into paradise.
Jesus, Eternal God, may good be ours always under the shelter of Thy grace.
Condak 4
The storm of Thy Baptism on Mount Sinai occurred, when Thou didst give the law to Thy servant Moses in thunder and lightning, and also on Mount Horeb a strong spirit occurred, destroying mountains, trembling and fire, when the prophet Elijah desired to see Thee, but not in the whirlwind, nor in the trembling, nor in the fire, Lord, but in the voice of a gentle whisper Thou didst show Thy Face and Thy divine glory to them, when Thou didst appear to them on Mount Tabor, with joy crying out to Thee:
Alleluia
Ikos 4
Having heard, O Lord, the words of Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor concerning Your departure, which You desired to accomplish in Jerusalem, they became witnesses to the whole world that You are truly the Son of God, sent to save humanity from God the Father, and revealed by the voice from heaven. Moses was called from the dead to testify to those held in Hades of Your peaceful coming, while Elijah was called from paradise to tell Enoch of the glory of Your Transfigured Body, which was seen by the immaculate flesh of Your Body. We, amazed by the mystery of the appearance of Your prophets on Mount Tabor, humbly call to You:
Jesus, God-seer Moses, may we behold Your Face, which You desired to reveal, appearing to Moses in the form of God, face to face, and may we behold in the future the sweetness of Your Face, which is beyond all desire.
Jesus, in the vision of the glory of Your former glory, which You showed to Moses, reveal to us in Your Kingdom the Face of Your glory, which is beyond all speech.
Jesus, in the stillness and voice of the gentle whisper, guiding Elijah, guide me wonderfully in the stillness of the divine impassibility.
Jesus, having raised Elijah on the fiery chariot of the unapproachable God, raise me wonderfully to the height of the most perfect life.
Jesus, who formerly spoke to the prophets in many ways and announced Your departure to them on Mount Tabor, nourish my soul, which is thirsty for eternal life, with the words of life.
Jesus, who revealed the mystery of the Transfiguration to Your disciple, inflame my cold faith with the inexpressible sighs of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, Eternal God, may good always be ours under the shelter of Your grace.
Condak 5
O Star of God, shining in the night, be like the inexpressible radiance of Your immaculate Body, when, O Lord, You raised Your prayer to Your Father on the highest mountain, and Your Face shone like the sun, and Your garments were resplendent, white as snow. The apostles, having found the divine power, saw Your glory, as the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and stood trembling, singing to You:
Alleluia
Ikos 5
Having seen You on Mount Tabor in the form of humanity, and having seen You, O Lord, in the glory of Your divinity, conversing with Moses and Elijah about Your departure, they understood Your eternal power and divinity, hidden under the covering of flesh, and were amazed, listening to the words spoken and enjoying the sight of Your divine glory, which they saw, as much as their human eyes could behold. With them, we sing to You:
Jesus, shining upon Your disciples the inexpressible and divine glory of Your Face, shine in our souls Your eternal light.
Jesus, having made the first leaders of the law and the grace of Your eternal light participants, gather our wandering mind through Your participation.
Jesus, having revealed the hidden lightning of Your divinity in Your flesh on Mount Tabor, reveal the hidden sins in my poor conscience.
Jesus, illuminating the holy mountain with the rays of Your uncreated light from Your flesh, illuminate the darkness of my soul with the light of Your commandments.
Jesus, having enlightened the world with the radiance of Your Transfigured Body, enlighten and adorn us, who are darkened.
Jesus, having purified Your disciples with the radiance of the Mount Tabor light, like snow, purify and renew us, who are darkened.
Jesus, Eternal God, may good always be ours under the shelter of Your grace.
Кондак 6
Beholding the benevolent and salvific conversation of Thine, O Christ our God, with Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor, Thou didst greatly rejoice Thy disciples, Peter, James, and John. But Peter, with a voice filled with divine love, said: “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if Thou wilt, let us make three tabernacles, one for Thee alone, and one for Moses alone, and one for Elijah alone.” We, however, are unworthy and dare not ask Thee directly, but we humbly beseech Thee for mercy and cry out to Thee with trembling voice:
Alleluia
Икос 6
A brilliant cloud shone forth on Tabor as a sign to the whole world, when Peter, asking about the tabernacles, was granted the revelation of the Father’s voice and the coming of the Holy Spirit. And when the Apostles, surrounding the mountain, were overshadowed by the cloud, they were filled with great fear and, entering the cloud with fear, they felt Thy inaccessible Divinity, and with great boldness cried out to Thee thus:
Jesus, the ancient pillar of Israel in the wilderness, guiding us by the cloud, show us the way to Thy Kingdom.
Jesus, Who hast anointed Thy Apostles with the light of the cloud on Tabor, anoint us with the dew of Thy Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the Living One in the uncreated Temple in heaven, show me the radiant and holy tabernacle of Thy Divinity.
Jesus, not willing to dwell in earthly tabernacles, create within me the inner, beautiful tabernacle of Thy Spirit, that I may ascend to heaven.
Jesus, clothed in light, as with a garment, clothe me, naked and bare, in the robes of Thy divine beauty and purity.
Jesus, stretching out the heavens as a skin, clothe me, torn and rent, in the radiant garments of Thy heavenly beauty.
Jesus, Eternal God, it is good for us to be always under the shelter of Thy mercy.
Кондак 7
Although Thou hast revealed the secret of Thy Divinity, O Christ, from eternity, Thy Heavenly Father, as before on the Jordan at the time of Thy Baptism, again testified to Thy Divinity, saying: “This is My beloved Son; hear Him.” The Apostles, however, having lost their strength through great fear, fell to the ground, crying out to Thee:
Alleluia
Икос 7
Beholding the new and glorious sight on Tabor, O Lord, Thou didst make Thyself visible to the witnesses and servants, and the voice of the Father and the sound of the cloud were heard, and they were filled with fear and suddenly enlightened by the new light, they looked at each other in wonder, fell to the ground, and, with their faces to the earth, they bowed down to Thee, O Lord of all, and sent up praises to Thee thus:
Jesus, Image of the Holy and Glorious Trinity, transform my dark and unclean life.
Jesus, Radiance of the Glory of the Father, enlighten my fallen and plunged soul.
Jesus, wondrous and fearful in the glory of Thy divine appearance, renew my soul, which is worn out by the passions.
Jesus, full of love, quiet and peaceful, illuminate my soul, which is polluted by the passions, with the unutterable light of Thy Body.
Jesus, Eternal Light, show us the Father in the light that was revealed on Tabor.
Jesus, Unchanging Light, show us the Holy Spirit in the invisible Light of Thy Kingdom.
Jesus, Eternal God, it is good for us to be always under the shelter of Thy mercy.
Canon 8
Wondrous and strange, O Lord, Thou didst manifest Thyself to Moses and Elias on the mount, beholding the divine Epiphany, and speaking of Thy voluntary Passion, standing before Thee in sacred reverence. And when Thou didst envelop them in a cloud of light and a voice from heaven, Thy glory was taken up by Thy disciples, and the prophets returned to their places, singing to Thee:
All hail
Ikos 8
Thou wert from all eternity, O Word of God, unnumbered, when Thy holy Flesh was transfigured on the mount, and yet Thou didst not depart from those below, when the prophet, having seen the vision, had passed away, Thou didst approach those who were lying on the earth, Thy disciples, in fear, and with Thy hand Thou didst touch them, saying, “Arise, fear not.” And Thy disciples, lifting up their eyes and seeing none but Thee, their one God, with them, rejoiced exceedingly and gave thanks to God, singing to Thee thus:
Jesus, Thou hast words of eternal life, always abide with us in our earthly pilgrimage.
Jesus, Thou hast filled us with the vision of Thy divine glory, do not leave us destitute in Thy service.
Jesus, Thou hast revealed the mystery of Thy voluntary Passion before the Cross, grant us always to remember Thy sacrifice for our sake.
Jesus, Thou hast shown Thy glory to us before Thy death, grant us always to understand the deification of Thy Flesh.
Jesus, Thou art the image of the Unoriginate, renew in my soul the wondrous vision of Thy image and likeness.
Jesus, Thou art the seal of the Father, imprint in my flesh the inexpressible beauty of Thy goodness.
Jesus, Thou art the Eternal God, grant us always to be under the shelter of Thy grace.
Canon 9
All creation was shaken, beholding Thy glorious Transfiguration on the mount, O Christ, our Savior. The angels, unseen, stood in awe and reverence before Thee, the heavens trembled, and the whole earth was moved, seeing the glory of the Lord. The mountain of Favour, once dark and shrouded in mist, was covered with a bright cloud, and on it Thy holy feet stood. And Thy disciples, O Lord, unable to bear the sight of Thy unendurable glory, cast themselves down to the ground, covering their faces, until Thou, having passed away in vision, didst raise me up, crying out to Thee:
All hail
Ikos 9
Blind and unenlightened, the wicked cannot understand the mystery of Thy glorious Transfiguration, O Lord. Therefore, when Thou didst descend from the mountain with Thy disciples, at the dawn of day, Thou didst command them to tell no one of the vision until after Thy Passion and Resurrection on the third day from the tomb. And they were silent, and told no one of these things in those days, but only in their hearts cried out to Thee thus:
Jesus, Thou hast taken on the form of Adam, enlighten the darkened nature of humanity.
Jesus, Thou art borne in the cloud, fire, and mist, drive away the darkness of the soul in us.
Jesus, Thou hast delighted Thy apostles with the radiance of Thy divine voice, delight us always with the words of Thy divine revelation.
Jesus, Thou hast enlightened Thy disciples with the cloud of Thy goodness, enlighten us always with the rays of Thy glorious Transfiguration.
Jesus, Thou hast sanctified the mountain of Favour with Thy holy feet, direct our feet to serve Thee alone.
Jesus, Thou hast commanded us to ascend to Thy mountain with pure hands, stir up our hands to pray and ascend to Thee.
Jesus, Thou art the Eternal God, grant us always to be under the shelter of Thy grace.
Condak 10
Save the world, O Lord, for You have been transformed on Mount Tabor for our sake, that You may make us worthy of the heavenly glory prepared for Your elect, and transform our body of humility into conformity with the Body of Your Glory, for the general resurrection of all and for Your eternal Kingdom, which You have prepared from the beginning of the world for those who love You. May You also enable us to behold Your face, as Moses and Elijah beheld it on Mount Tabor, and to sing to You a hymn of eternal praise with all the saints:
Alleluia
Icos 10
O Eternal King! You have created all things for our salvation. You have taken on our flesh from the Most Holy Theotokos Mary and have come into this world in the form of a servant. Similarly, You have been transformed on the holy mountain, not for Your own glory, but for our sake, the condemned, that You may enlighten our darkness and transform us, who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, into beloved children of Yours. Therefore, we thankfully cry out to You:
Jesus, the radiant image on Mount Tabor, make us from slaves into children of God.
Jesus, who even to the point of bodily exhaustion, transform our fallen nature with Yourself.
Jesus, who have revealed the unutterable beauty of Your Kingdom on Mount Tabor, establish in us the peace, the joy, and the truth of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, who have illuminated the whole creation with the divine brilliance of Your flesh, renew us in the flesh in Your second coming.
Jesus, who have revealed the fire of Your divinity on Mount Tabor, may the fire of Your divinity consume my sins.
Jesus, who have nourished Your disciples with the sweet conversation, sanctify my dry soul with Your holy mysteries.
Jesus, O Most High God, may good always be ours under the shelter of Your grace.
Condak 11
I offer to You, O Lord, a hymn of all praise, celebrating Your Transfiguration and crying out to You: Grant us, Your servants, the height of heavenly life and the glory of Your divine essence, and enable us to ascend mentally to Your holy mountain, to behold with our rational eyes the glorious Transfiguration, that we may sing to You:
Alleluia
Icos 11
You are the Unapproachable Light and the Giver of Light, O Jesus, the Eternal and Ever-existing Light. You have brought the Light into the world when You entered the Mount of Transfiguration with Your holy flesh, and there You revealed the Uncreated and Divine Light to Your disciples, showing the image of Your glory. Desiring to be partakers of this Light, we cry out to You from the depths of our soul:
Jesus Christ, the True Light, may my soul live by good thoughts in all the days of my earthly pilgrimage.
Jesus, the King, the Eternal Light, may the extinguished lamp of my soul be rekindled until the day of my death.
Jesus, the Quiet Light, the Giver of Life, grant me light and life in the hour of my death.
Jesus, the Holy Light, shining and burning, deliver me from the fire that will not be quenched and from the darkness of the abyss.
Jesus, the Sweetest and Holiest Light, lead me through the dark struggles of the air to the light of Your heavenly throne.
Jesus, the Brightest Light of every sun, enlighten me in the brightness of Your saints in the day that will never end.
Jesus, O Most High God, may good always be ours under the shelter of Your grace.
Kondak 12
Grant unto me, O Jesus my God, Thy mercy, as Thou didst bestow upon Thy chosen disciples Peter, John, and James on the Mount of Transfiguration, and receive us, as them, that we, being clothed with Thy power from above and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, may ascend to the Mount of Transfiguration, rising from strength to strength, especially in fasting and prayer, and in chastity and purity, and there may we sing unto Thee:
All glory be to Thee.
Icos 12
Singing the glorious Transfiguration of Thy Body, we praise Thy divine Glory revealed on the Mount, we worship Thy eternal Power and Divinity, which Thou didst manifest at dawn, O Christ, and with Peter, we believe that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, come into the world to save sinners, and with him, from the depths of our soul, we cry out to Thee: it is good for us to be here with Thee. For this reason, do not put us to shame in Thee, O Righteous One, but cover us with the Light of Thy Holy Body, which we invoke Thee with love, saying thus:
Jesus, Unapproachable Sun, who ascended on the Mount, illuminate me with Thy divine radiance.
Jesus, Unfading Light revealed in the Transfiguration, warm me with the participation of Thy grace.
Jesus, Eternal Temple of the Heavenly Jerusalem, dwell in me, as in a tabernacle of God.
Jesus, Flower of the Blessed Paradise, fill me with the fragrance of heavenly sanctity and purity.
Jesus, Purifying Fire, who desirest to cleanse heaven and earth from all defilement, cleanse me from the defilement of flesh and spirit.
Jesus, Everlasting Rock, who dost illuminate Mount Zion with the beauty of Thy divinity, deliver me from the sight of other beauties, which are not greater than Thee.
Jesus, Eternal God, it is good for us to be always under the shelter of Thy grace.
Kondak 13
O, Sweet and Merciful Jesus, who didst shine forth on the Mount with divine glory! Accept this our humble prayer, and as Thou didst receive the worship of Thy disciples on the holy mountain, so enable us to worship Thy glorious Transfiguration, shining with the light of good deeds, that the darkness of sin may be enlightened in us by Thee, and that we may be worthy to be heirs of Thy eternal Kingdom in heaven, where Thou dost enable us, along with all the saints, to sing unto Thee:
All glory be to Thee. (Thrice).
[This kondak is repeated three times.] [We repeat the first ikos and kondak:]
Ikos 1
Thy, O Christ, Light-Giver, Godhead, inaccessible to angels and to men, was revealed on Mount Tabor to Thy first disciple, by unapproachable lightning and rays of Thy Eternal Light. The same disciples were transformed by the divine awe, shining with a bright cloud, and hearing the voice of the Father, they understood the mystery of Thy Incarnation, and crying out to Thee thus:
Jesus, Eternal Son of God, enlighten us with the light of Thy face, shining with glory.
Jesus, Almighty and Good God, stir us from the depths of the darkness of sin, that we may be awakened.
Jesus, living and unapproachable Light, lead us out of the darkness into the light.
Jesus, filling the whole world with Thy glory, lead us into the heavenly abode.
Jesus, Light of Peace, deliver us from the world of darkness, where we sit in the shadows.
Jesus, Sun of Truth, clothe us with power and righteousness, that we may be awakened from the sleep of death.
Jesus, Eternal God, grant that we may always dwell under the shelter of Thy grace.
Kondak 1
Raised as Commander and King of Glory, Thou, O Creator of heaven and earth, didst transform the mountain of Tabor with glory, and all creation was amazed, the heavens trembled, and all mortal men rejoiced. We, unworthy ones, offer grateful worship to Thy Transfiguration, and with Peter, from the heart, cry out to Thee:
Jesus, Eternal God, grant that we may always dwell under the shelter of Thy grace.
Prayer of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, living and unapproachable Light, Thou art the Radiance of the Glory of the Father and the Image of His Person! When the time of fulfillment came, Thou didst humble Thyself for the inexpressible mercy towards the fallen human race, taking on the form of a servant, submitting to death, even death on the cross. However, before the Cross and the voluntary passions, Thou didst transform Thyself on Mount Tabor in Thy divine glory before Thy holy disciples and apostles, hiding not the reception of the flesh, so that when they see Thee hanging on the cross and being handed over to death, they may understand Thy voluntary suffering and Thy divinity. Grant to us all, who celebrate Thy glorious Transfiguration, to ascend to Thy holy mountain with pure hearts and unblemished minds, to the dwellings of Thy holy glory, where the pure voice of the celebrants is heard, the voice of unspeakable joy, that we may see Thy glory face to face in the day of Thy kingdom, and with all the saints, who have been well-pleasing to Thee from eternity, we may glorify Thy holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.