St. Michael the Archangel
Orthodox Christian Community
Pickens, South Carolina
Great Vespers
Arranged as a Reader’s Service
Saturday, the Twenty-ninth of August, 2026
Tone Four
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Afterfeast of the Beheading of the Forerunner
Sts. Alexander (340), John (595) and Paul the New (784),
patriarchs of Constantinople
Venerable Christopher of Palestine (6th c.)
Venerable Fantinus of Calabria (9th 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 — the Lead taking the flush lines, the Second those indented.)
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 Fourth 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 — the First taking the flush lines, the Second those indented.)
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 Fourth Tone
Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, / that I may give thanks to Your Name!
As we worship without ceasing
your life-giving Cross, Christ God,
we glorify Your Resurrection on the third day,
for through it, O All-powerful,
You renewed corrupted human nature
and showed us the way up to heaven,
as You alone are good and love mankind.
Verse 9. The righteous will surround me, / for You will deal bountifully with me.
By being willingly nailed to the tree of the Cross, O Saviour,
You abolished the penalty of the tree of disobedience;
and by descending into Hades, O Powerful one,
You tore apart the bonds of death as God;
therefore we worship Your Resurrection from the dead,
as we cry out with joy:
all-powerful Lord, glory to You!
Verse 8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord! / Lord, hear my voice!
You smashed the gates of Hell, Lord,
and by Your death You destroyed the palace of death;
while You freed humanity from corruption,
granting the world life and incorruption,
and Your great mercy.
Verse 7. Let Your ears be attentive / to the voice of my supplications!
Come You peoples,
let us hymn the Saviour's Rising on the third day,
through which we were redeemed from unbreakable bonds of Hell
and all received incorruption and life, as we cry:
You, who were crucified and buried and rose again,
save us by Your Resurrection,
only Lover of mankind.
For the Afterfeast of the Beheading of the Forerunner, in the Fourth Tone
Verse 6. If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? / But there is forgiveness with You.
O thou who art the divine mediator between the old and the new testaments, the prophet and forerunner, an angel in the flesh, the denouncer of lawlessness, the offspring of the womb of a barren woman, a fire-breathing mouth: thou didst upbraid Herod, who committed iniquity. And, unable to endure thy denunciation, he commanded that thy head be cut off; and it was brought in on a platter like food of abstinence, divine delight, continually denouncing the adulterer.
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.
Incited by her iniquitous mother, the iniquitous daughter asked for thine all-glorious head which is cherished by the angels; for she was unable to endure thy denunciation. Wherefore, bearing it on a platter, and dancing as she carried it, she turned the joy of those at the banquet into lamentation. Yet thou dost continually denounce the abomination of fornication, O blessed one. Entreat Christ, that our souls be saved.
Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, / let Israel hope on the Lord!
Rendered foolish by drunkenness, Herod was carried away by adultery and voices entwined in song, and in fulfillment of his unrighteous oath he caused the murder of thee, the righteous prophet, O glorious one. But thy death manifestly announced immortality to those who had died before; for thou becamest for those in hades a preacher and herald, proclaiming the saving advent of Christ our God. Him do thou entreat, that He save and enlighten our souls.
For the Holy Patriarchs Alexander, John and Paul, in the First Tone
Verse 3. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, / and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
O most blessed Alexander, thou wast a shepherd of the Church and a champion of Orthodoxy, having wisely cast down the heresy of Arius, and thou didst pray with supplications, O all-wise and glorious one, that his soul be cast, in its wickedness, into vile places. Wherefore, we honor thee together.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all nations! / Praise Him, all peoples!
O honorable John, thou didst disdain the corruption of the flesh, and in thine abstinence and faith, thy vigilance and confession, thou wast found to be an earthly angel and a heavenly man. Entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls great mercy.
Verse 1. For His mercy is confirmed on us, / and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
O wise one, thou didst truly submit to the divine teachings of Paul, and didst hasten to the heights of the virtues as to the third heaven, O glorious one, and didst hear the ineffable and divine words of the Spirit. O blessed Paul, thou immovable foundation of the Orthodox, by thy supplications render the Savior merciful to us.
VII. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Forerunner, in the Sixth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Again doth Herodias rage insanely, again is she vexed. O what deceitful dancing, what a feast of deception! The Baptist is beheaded, and Herod is troubled. Through the supplications of Thy forerunner, O Lord, grant peace to our souls.
The Dogmatikon of the Fourth Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Prophet David,
through You the ancestor of God,
spoke of You in song beforehand
to Him who has done great things for You:
the Queen stood at your right hand.
For He, the God who was well pleased without father
to become man from You,
declared You to be Mother, source of life,
that He might refashion His own image, corrupted by passions,
and, having found the lost sheep wandering on the mountain
and laid it on His shoulders,
He might bring it to his Father;
and by His own will unite it to the heavenly Powers
and save the world,
O Mother of God,
Christ who has great and rich mercy.
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. 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.
XI. 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.
XII. In Place of the Litany of Supplication
First Cantor: Lord have mercy. (Twelve times). Glory … now and ever…
Second Cantor: Amen.
XIII. The Apostikha
For the Resurrection, in the Fourth Tone
Lord, by ascending the Cross
You wiped out our ancestral curse,
and by descending into Hades
You freed those enchained from every age,
granting incorruption to the human race;
therefore with hymns we glorify Your life-giving and saving Rising.
Verse 1. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty!
Hanged upon a tree, O only Mighty One,
You shook creation;
laid in a tomb You raised those who dwelt in tombs,
granting the human race incorruption and life;
therefore with hymns we glorify Your Rising on the third day.
Verse 2. For He has established the world, / so that it shall never be moved.
A lawless people, O Christ,
delivered You to Pilate,
and condemned You to be crucified,
showing themselves unfeeling to their benefactor,
but of your own will You endured burial,
rose on the third by Your own power,
as God granting us unending life
and Your great mercy.
Verse 3. Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, / forevermore!
Reaching your grave in tears
the women looked for You;
and when they did not find You they cried aloud with grief and lamentation:
Alas, our Saviour, King of all,
how were You stolen?
What sort of place holds your life-bearing body?
But an Angel answered them and said:
Do not weep, but go, proclaim that the Lord has risen, granting us joy,
as He alone is compassionate.
XIV. Glory … Now and Ever
Doxastikon of the Forerunner, in the Fourth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Herod celebrated an unseemly birthday and an utterly shameless feast; for captivated by lust for a woman and excited by a woman’s wantonness, he had the head of the forerunner cut off; but he did not cut out the tongue of the prophet, who denounced his foolishness. Shedding innocent blood, he wished to conceal his iniquitous sin; but he could in no wise stop the voice which calleth all to repentance. And though he made merry amid murder, we lovingly celebrate the blessed slaying of John the Baptist; for he preceded Life into hades, to proclaim Christ our God, the Orient from on high, the only greatly Merciful One, unto those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death.
Theotokion of the Apostikha, in the Fourth Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Look upon the supplication of Your servants,
O All-unblemished,
bringing to an end the dread assaults that beset us
and calming all our distress;
for we have only You as safe and sure anchor,
and we have obtained Your protection.
Sovereign Lady, may we who entreat You not be put to shame;
make haste to hear the supplication of us who cry to You with faith:
Hail, Sovereign Lady, help, joy and protection of all,
and salvation of our souls.
XV. The Canticle of St. Symeon
(St. Luke 2:29–32)
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.
XVI. 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.
XVII. The Troparia
Resurrection Troparion, in the Fourth Tone
All: When the women Disciples of the Lord learned from the Angel the joyous message of Your Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and with gladness told the Apostles: “Death is overthrown. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.”
Troparion of the Holy Patriarchs, in the Fourth Tone
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O God of our fathers, deal with us ever according to Thy meekness; take not Thy mercy away from us, but through the supplications of these saints direct our life in peace.
Troparion of the Forerunner, in the Second Tone
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s witness is sufficient for thee, O forerunner. Thou wast truly shown to be more honorable than the prophets, in that thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the streams Him Whom thou didst proclaim. Wherefore, having suffered, rejoicing, for the truth, even unto those in hades thou didst proclaim God, Who had manifested Himself in the flesh, Who taketh away the sin of the world and granteth us great mercy.
XVIII. 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.)