St. Michael the Archangel
Orthodox Christian Community
Pickens, South Carolina
Great Vespers
Arranged as a Reader’s Service
Saturday, the Eighteenth of July, 2026
Tone Six
The Sunday of the Holy Fathers
of the First Six Councils
Venerable Macrina, sister of St. Basil the Great (380)
Venerable Dius, abbot, of Antioch (430)
Venerable Paisius of the Kyiv Caves (14th c.)
The candles outside the altar have been lit. The Holy Doors remain closed. When all is ready, the designated layperson crosses himself three times with bows and begins:
I. The Opening
Lead Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
(Plain chant)
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Lead Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ Our God have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen. Lord have mercy. (twelve times)
Glory to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
II. Psalm 103
(Can be chanted antiphonally between the Lead & Second Cantors)
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty. You cover Yourself with light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a curtain and lay the beams of Your chambers in the waters. You make the clouds for your ascent and You walk on the wings of the wind. You make Your angels spirits, Your ministers a blazing fire.
You laid the foundation of the earth that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke, they fled; at the voice of Your thunder, they hurried away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place that You established for them. You have set a boundary that they may not pass, that they never again flood the earth.
He sends the springs into valleys that run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst; by them live the birds of the air; from among the rocks, they pipe their calls. He waters the hills from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His labor.
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle and green plants for our nourishment, that we may grow food from the earth, wine that gladdens our hearts, oil to make our faces shine and bread that strengthens our bodies. The trees of the plain are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He planted; there the sparrows make their nests; there the heron has made its abode. The high mountains are a refuge for the deer and the rocks for the badgers.
You made the moon to mark the seasons: the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God. The sun rises; they gather themselves together and lay down in their dens. Mankind goes off to work and to labor until the evening.
Lord, how great are Your works. In wisdom, You have made them all: the earth is full of Your creatures. So is this great and wide sea, in which there are creeping things without number, creatures, both small and great. There go the ships; there is that sea beast, which You made to sport therein. All these wait upon You, that You may give them their food in due season. They gather what You give them; when You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
When You turn away your face, they are troubled. You take away their breath, they shall cease, and to their dust, shall they return. You send out Your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord, endure through the ages; the Lord shall rejoice in His works. He looks on the earth and it trembles; He touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord throughout my life; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord. Let the sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, my soul.
The sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness and it is night. Lord, how manifold are your works. In wisdom, You have made them all.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, our God. (thrice)
III. In Place of the Great Litany
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen.
IV. The First Kathisma
(Chanted antiphonally, the First Cantor taking the verses and the Second Cantor the alleluias)
Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 1:1)
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the godless will perish.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 1:6)
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 2:11)
Blessed are all who trust in Him.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 2:13)
Arise, Lord; save me, my God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 3:8)
Salvation is the Lord's and Your blessing is upon Your people!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 3:9)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, our God. (Thrice)
V. Lord, I Cry (Psalms 140, 141, 129)
(Led by the First Cantor in the Sixth Tone)
Lord, I call upon You, hear me!
Hear me, O Lord!
Lord, I call upon You, hear me!
Receive the voice of my prayer,
when I call upon You! //
Hear me, O Lord!
Let my prayer arise
in Your sight as incense,
and let the lifting up of my hands
be an evening sacrifice! //
Hear me, O Lord!
(Chanted antiphonally by the First and Second Cantors)
Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a door of enclosure round about my lips. Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuses for my sins. With men that work iniquity; and I will not join with their chosen. The righteous man will chasten me with mercy and reprove me; as for the oil of the sinner, let it not anoint my head. For yet more is my prayer in the presence of their pleasures; swallowed up near by the rock have their judges been. They shall hear my words, for they be sweetened; as a clod of earth is broken upon the earth, so have their bones been scattered nigh unto Hades.
For unto You, O Lord, O Lord, are mine eyes, in You have I hoped; take not my soul away. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling-blocks of them that work iniquity. The sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone until I pass by. With my voice unto the Lord have I cried, with my voice unto the Lord have I made supplication. I will pour out before Him my supplication, mine affliction before Him will I declare. When my spirit was fainting within me, then You knew my paths. In this way wherein I have walked they hid for me a snare. I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, and there was none that did know me. Flight has failed me, and there is none that watch out for my soul. I have cried unto You, O Lord; I said: You are my hope, You are my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my supplication, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from them that persecute me, for they are stronger than I.
VI. The Stichera on Ten
For the Resurrection, in the Sixth Tone
Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, / that I may give thanks to Your Name.
Possessing victory over hell, O Christ,
since You are free among the dead,
You ascended the Cross
raising with Yourself those who sat in the shades of death.
Drawing life from Your light, O almighty Savior, have mercy on us!
Verse 9. The righteous will surround me, / for You will deal bountifully with me.
Today Christ tramples on death,
for He is risen as He said!
Let us all sing this song,
for He has granted joy to the world:
O Light unapproachable, O Fountain of life!
O Savior almighty, have mercy on us!
Verse 8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord! / Lord, hear my voice!
Where shall we sinners flee from You, Who are in all creation?
In heaven You dwell!
In hell You trampled on death!
In the depths of the sea?
Even there is Your hand, O Master!
To You we flee, and falling before You, we pray:
O You Who rose from the dead, have mercy on us!
Verse 7. Let Your ears be attentive / to the voice of my supplications!
(Resurrection sticheron by Anatolius)
In Your Cross, we glory, O Christ.
We sing and glorify Your Resurrection,
for You are our God,
and we know no other than You.
For the Holy Fathers, in the Sixth Tone — Despairing for her life
Verse 6. If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? / But there is forgiveness with You.
You were begotten from the Father before the Morning Star,
but Arius taught wrongfully that You were created:
in his ignorance he designated You as a creature,
yet the Fathers of the Council proclaimed You as Son of God,
co-enthroned with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Verse 5. For Your Name's sake I wait for You, O Lord. My soul has waited for Your word; / my soul has hoped on the Lord.
(Repeat:) You were begotten from the Father before the Morning Star,
but Arius taught wrongfully that You were created:
in his ignorance he designated You as a creature,
yet the Fathers of the Council proclaimed You as Son of God,
co-enthroned with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, / let Israel hope on the Lord!
O honored Fathers,
you skillfully stitched together the garment of Christ,
which had been divided and torn apart by barking dogs.
You found it unbearable to see His nakedness,
as of old Shem and Japheth could not bear to see the nakedness of their father.
You put to shame the wretchedness of Arius and those who agreed with him,
and who professed the madness that bears his name.
Verse 3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, / and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
(Repeat:) O honored Fathers,
you skillfully stitched together the garment of Christ,
which had been divided and torn apart by barking dogs.
You found it unbearable to see His nakedness,
as of old Shem and Japheth could not bear to see the nakedness of their father.
You put to shame the wretchedness of Arius and those who agreed with him,
and who professed the madness that bears his name.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all nations! / Praise Him, all peoples!
The Macedónians and Nestórians, the Eutýchians and Dióscorenes,
the Appolinárians, Sabéllians, and Séverans,
who were revealed as oppressive wolves in sheep's skins,
you, as true shepherds, drove far away from the Savior's flock,
having stripped the thrice-wretched ones of their sheep's skins.
Therefore, we call you blessed, O holy Fathers.
Verse 1. For His mercy is confirmed on us, / and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
(Repeat:) The Macedónians and Nestórians, the Eutýchians and Dióscorenes,
the Appolinárians, Sabéllians, and Séverans,
who were revealed as oppressive wolves in sheep's skins,
you, as true shepherds, drove far away from the Savior's flock,
having stripped the thrice-wretched ones of their sheep's skins.
Therefore, we call you blessed, O holy Fathers.
VII. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Holy Fathers, in the Sixth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Today let us praise the mystical trumpets of the Spirit,
the God-bearing Fathers,
who stand in the midst of the Church, singing true theology,
praising the changeless Trinity!
They laid low the errors of Arius
and upheld the Orthodox Faith.
They always entreat the Lord to have mercy on our souls.
The Dogmatikon of the Sixth Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Who will not bless you, O most holy Virgin?
Who will not sing of your most pure childbearing?
The only-begotten Son shone timelessly from the Father,
but from you He was ineffably incarnate.
God by nature, yet Man for our sake,
not two persons, but one known in two natures.
Entreat Him, O pure and all-blessed Lady,
to have mercy on our souls!
VIII. O Gladsome Light
There is no entrance with the censer.
All: O gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy and blessed Father: O Jesus Christ. Lo now that we have come to the setting of the sun, as we behold the evening light, we hymn Thee: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be magnified by joyous voices, O Son of God and Giver of life. Wherefore the whole world doth glorify Thee.
IX. The Evening Prokimen
(Psalm 92:1,5)
Lead Cantor (plain-chanting, not singing; from the middle of the nave): The Prokimen in the Sixth Tone. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Lead Cantor: The Lord has clothed and girded himself with strength.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Lead Cantor: For He has established the world and it shall not be moved.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
Lead Cantor: Holiness befits Your house, Lord, for length of days.
Second Cantor: The Lord is King…
Lead Cantor: … He is robed in majesty.
X. The Old Testament Readings
The First Reading — Genesis 14:14–20
And Abram having heard that Lot his nephew had been taken captive, numbered his own home-born servants three hundred and eighteen, and pursued after them to Dan. And he came upon them by night, he and his servants, and he smote them and pursued them as far as Choba, which is on the left of Damascus. And he recovered all the cavalry of Sodom, and he recovered Lot his nephew, and all his possessions, and the women and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after he returned from the slaughter of Chodollogomor, and the kings with him, to the valley of Saby; this was the plain of the kings. And Melchisedec king of Salem brought forth loaves and wine, and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed Abram, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, who made heaven and earth, and blessed be the most high God who delivered thine enemies into thy power. And Abram gave him the tithe of all.
The Second Reading — Deuteronomy 1:8–11, 15–17
Behold, God has delivered the land before you; go in and inherit the land, which I sware to your fathers, Abraam, and Isaac, and Jacob, to give it to them and to their seed after them. And I spoke to you at that time, saying, I shall not be able by myself to bear you. The Lord your God has multiplied you, and, behold, ye are to-day as the stars of heaven for multitude. The Lord God of your fathers add to you a thousand-fold more than you are, and bless you as he has spoken to you.
So I took of you wise and understanding and prudent men, and I set them to rule over you as rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, and officers to your judges. And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear causes between your brethren, and judge rightly between a man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Thou shalt not have respect to persons in judgment, thou shalt judge small and great equally; thou shalt not shrink from before the person of a man, for the judgment is God's; and whatsoever matter shall be too hard for you, ye shall bring it to me, and I will hear it.
The Third Reading — Deuteronomy 10:14–21
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord thy God, the earth and all things that are in it. Only the Lord chose your fathers to love them, and he chose out their seed after them, even you, beyond all nations, as at this day. Therefore ye shall circumcise the hardness of your heart, and ye shall not harden your neck. For the Lord your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great, and strong, and terrible God, who does not accept persons, nor will he by any means accept a bribe: executing judgment for the stranger and orphan and widow, and he loves the stranger to give him food and raiment. And ye shall love the stranger; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt cleave to him, and shalt swear by his name. He is thy boast, and he is thy God, who has wrought in the midst of thee these great and glorious things, which thine eyes have seen.
XI. In Place of the Augmented Litany
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen. God, preserve the Holy Orthodox Faith and Orthodox Christians, to the ages of ages.
XII. The Evening Prayer
(Can be plain-chanted antiphonally by the Lead and Second Cantors)
Count us worthy, Lord, of passing this evening without sin.
Blessed are You, Lord God of our Fathers; may Your Name be praised and glorified unto the ages. Amen.
Let Your mercy be upon us, Lord, for we have placed our hope in You.
Blessed are You, Lord, teach me your commandments.
Blessed are You, Master, grant me understanding of Your statutes.
Blessed are You, Holy one, enlighten me by Your precepts.
Lord, Your mercy endures to the ages; despise not the work of Your Hands.
Indeed, it is fitting to praise You and sing hymns to You. It is fitting to glorify You: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
XIII. In Place of the Litany of Supplication
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen.
XIV. The Apostikha
For the Resurrection, in the Sixth Tone
Your Resurrection, O Christ our Savior,
the Angels in heaven sing!
Enable us on earth
to glorify You in purity of heart!
Verse 1. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty!
Destroying the gates of hell,
breaking the chains of death,
You resurrected the fallen human race as almighty God!
O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You!
Verse 2. For He has established the world, / so that it shall never be moved.
Desiring to return us to Paradise,
Christ was nailed to the Cross and placed in a tomb.
The Myrrhbearing Women sought Him with tears, crying,
“Woe to us, O Savior!
How do You deign to descend to death?
What place can hold Your life-bearing body?
Come to us as You promised!
Take away our wailing and tears!”
Then the Angel appeared to them:
“Stop your lamentations!
Go, proclaim to the Apostles:
‘The Lord is risen,
granting us purification and great mercy!’”
Verse 3. Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, / forevermore!
Having been crucified as You willed,
by Your burial You captured death, O Christ,
rising on the third day as God in glory,
granting the world unending life and great mercy!
XV. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Holy Fathers, in the Fourth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Come, all Orthodox Churches,
let us celebrate today in faith and true worship
the yearly commemoration of the divinely-arrayed Fathers
who gathered at Nicea from throughout the world!
There they refuted the godless teaching of Arius,
banishing him from the catholic Church by a decree of the council.
They taught all to confess openly the Son of God,
consubstantial and co-eternal with the Father,
proclaiming this with precision and true worship in the Symbol of Faith.
Therefore, as we faithfully follow their divine doctrines,
let us worship the Father, the Son, and the most Holy Spirit,
the consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead!
Theotokion, in the Fourth Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Look on the entreaties of your servants, O Blameless One!
Stop all the terrible attacks against us,
freeing us from every affliction,
for we have only you as our sure and firm anchor!
Do not let us be put to shame, O Lady,
for we call on you for our intercession!
Hasten to pray for those who call in faith:
“Rejoice, O Lady, Help of all:
the Joy and Shelter and Salvation of our souls!”
XVI. The Canticle of St. Symeon
(St. Luke 2:29–32) — Tone Six
Lord now let Your servant depart in peace, / according to Your word: / for my eyes have seen Your salvation / which You have prepared in the presence of all people, / a light of revelation to the Gentiles // and for glory to Your people Israel.
XVII. The Trisagion Prayers
Second Cantor: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us! (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Lead Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ Our God have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen.
XVIII. The Troparia
Resurrection Troparion, in the Sixth Tone
All: The Angelic Powers were at Your tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Your grave, seeking Your most pure body. You captured hell, not being tempted by it. You came to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You.
Troparion of the Holy Fathers, in the Eighth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
You are most glorious, O Christ our God!
You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth.
Through them You have guided us to the true Faith.
O greatly compassionate One, glory to You!
Resurrectional Dismissal Theotokion, in the Eighth Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
For our sake You were born of the Virgin
and endured crucifixion, O Good One, destroying death by death.
Revealing the Resurrection as God, do not despise the work of Your hand!
Reveal Your love for man, O Merciful One, and accept the Theotokos praying for us,
and save the despairing people, O our Savior!
XIX. The Dismissal
All: More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, in virginity you gave birth to God the Word. True Birth-giver of God, we magnify you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. O Lord, bless.
First Cantor: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Second Cantor: Amen.
(All come forward and venerate the icons.)