St. Michael the Archangel

Orthodox Christian Community

Pickens, South Carolina

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Great Vespers

Arranged as a Reader’s Service

Saturday, the Fifth of September, 2026

Tone Five

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Commemoration of the Miracle of the Holy Archangel Michael
at Colossae, called Chonae

Patron of this Community
Martyrs Eudoxius, Zeno and Macarius (311)
Martyrs Romulus and those with him (2nd c.)
Hieromartyr Cyril, bishop of Gortyna (3rd–4th c.)

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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 Fifth 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 Fifth Tone

Verse 10. Bring my soul out of prison, / that I may give thanks to Your Name!

By your precious Cross, O Christ,
You have shamed the devil,
and by your Resurrection You have blunted the goad of sin,
and You have saved us from the gates of death:
we glorify You, O Only-begotten.

Verse 9. The righteous will surround me, / for You will deal bountifully with me.

He who gives the Resurrection to the human race,
was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
all the princes of Hell trembled before Him
and the gates of pain were lifted up;
for Christ the King of glory had come in,
saying to those in bondage: Come forth!
and to those in darkness:
Reveal yourselves!

Verse 8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord! / Lord, hear my voice!

O great marvel!
Having suffered in the flesh through love for mankind,
the Creator of things invisible,
the immortal has risen.
Come families of nations, let us worship Him;
for delivered from error by His compassion,
we have learned to hymn one God in three Persons.

Verse 7. Let Your ears be attentive / to the voice of my supplications!

We offer You our evening worship,
O Light that knows no evening,
who at the end of the ages, as in a glass,
shone through the flesh on the world,
and descended as far as Hell,
abolished the darkness there
and showed the nations the light of the Resurrection;
O Lord, Giver of light, glory to You!

Verse 6. If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? / But there is forgiveness with You.

Let us glorify Christ the author of our salvation;
for by His rising from the dead, the world has been saved from error;
the choir of Angels rejoices,
the error of demons flees,
fallen Adam arises,
the devil has been overthrown.

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.

The members of the guard were instructed by the Lawless:
Conceal Christ's Resurrection
and take money and say that while we were asleep the corpse was stolen from the grave.
Who ever saw, who ever heard of a stolen corpse?
Especially one anointed and naked,
and even leaving its grave-clothes in the tomb?
Do not be deceived, O Jews,
learn the sayings of the Prophets,
and know that He is truly the Redeemer of the world
and All-powerful.

For the Holy Archangel Michael

Verse 4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, / let Israel hope on the Lord!

As Commander-in-chief you stand by the Godhead and triple Sun,
O Archangel Michael, most brilliant minister.
And with the heavenly hosts on high
rejoicing you cry aloud:
You are holy, O Father;
You are holy, O equally unoriginate
Word; and holy are You, O Holy Spirit, single glory, rule and nature
and single Power and Divinity.

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:) As Commander-in-chief you stand by the Godhead and triple Sun,
O Archangel Michael, most brilliant minister.
And with the heavenly hosts on high
rejoicing you cry aloud:
You are holy, O Father;
You are holy, O equally unoriginate
Word; and holy are You, O Holy Spirit, single glory, rule and nature
and single Power and Divinity.

Verse 2. Praise the Lord, all nations! / Praise Him, all peoples!

Wholly fiery is your form
and your beauty is wonderful.
You are known to all as one mighty in your strength.
And in your bodiless nature you, O Archangel Michael, go
everywhere throughout the world,
executing the orders of
God who made all things.
And the church that was honored with your holy name you made into a well-spring
of cures and healings for everyone.

Verse 1. For His mercy is confirmed on us, / and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

You, O Lord, make Your messengers spirits, even as Scripture says,
and you make Your ministers be a fiery flame.
And You have made Michael who is Chief-commander to be supreme
in Your archangelic ranks.
He obediently submits unto Your commands.
And with fear does he cry out in a loud voice the thrice-holy hymn, O Master,
unto Your glory, O Word of God.

VII. Glory … Now and Ever

Doxastikon of the Archangel, in the Sixth Tone

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice with us, all ye angelic legions, for the great supreme commander, your superior and our intercessor, appearing most wondrously this day in his honored temple, doth sanctify it. Wherefore, chanting as is meet, let us cry aloud to him: Cover us with the shelter of thy wings, O Michael, thou greatest of the archangels!

The Dogmatikon of the Fifth Tone

Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In the Red Sea
was once depicted an image of the Bride who knew not wedlock.
There Moses the parter of the water,
here Gabriel the servant of the marvel;
then Israel marched dry shod through the deep,
but now the Virgin has given birth to Christ without seed;
the sea after Israel's passage remained untrodden;
the Blameless one after bearing Emmanuel remained incorrupt.
O God, who exists and pre-exists, and appeared as man,
have mercy on us.

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 Fifth Tone

With sounds of song we magnify You, O Christ,
the Saviour incarnate,
yet not parted from heaven,
for You accepted cross and death for the sake of our race,
for You are the Lord who loves mankind.
When You had despoiled the gates of Hades,
You rose on the third day and saved our souls.

Verse 1. The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty!

When Your side was pierced, O Giver of life,
You poured out streams of forgiveness,
of life and salvation for all;
You accepted death in the flesh, so giving us immortality;
by dwelling in a grave You freed us,
raising us with Yourself as God in glory;
and so we cry out to You:
O Lord, Lover of mankind,
glory to You!

Verse 2. For He has established the world, / so that it shall never be moved.

Strange Your crucifixion and Your descent into Hades,
O Lover of mankind;
for having despoiled it and raised with Yourself as God in glory those who were prisoners, You opened Paradise
and bade it welcome them;
so give us too, who glorify Your Rising on the third day, forgiveness of sins,
granting us to be inhabitants of Paradise,
as You alone are compassionate.

Verse 3. Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, / forevermore!

O Lover of mankind,
who for our sakes accepted the passion in the flesh,
and rose from the dead on the third day,
heal the passions of our flesh,
raise us from grievous offences,
and save us.

XIV. Glory … Now and Ever

Doxastikon of the Archangel, in the Eighth Tone

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

O supreme commander, as general, champion and chief of the angels, from all want and grief, from afflictions and grievous sins do thou free those who hymn and beseech thee with faith, O glorious one, for thou art manifestly immaterial, beholding the Immaterial One, illumined with the unapproachable light of the Master’s glory. For in His love for mankind He took flesh of the Virgin for our sake, wishing to save the human race.

Theotokion of the Apostikha, in the Fifth Tone

Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

You are temple and gate,
palace and throne of the King,
All-honoured Virgin;
through You Christ the Lord, my redeemer,
appeared to those who sat in darkness,
for He is the Sun of justice,
who wishes to enlighten those whom He fashioned in His own image with His own hand.
Therefore All-praised one, as You have a mother's boldness towards Him,
intercede unceasingly that our souls be saved.

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 Fifth Tone

All: Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation of the Virgin. For in His good will He was lifted up on the Cross in the flesh to suffer death and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

Troparion of the Holy Archangel Michael, in the Fourth Tone

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Supreme commander of the armies of Heaven, we, the unworthy, do ever entreat thee, that by thy prayers thou dost ever surround us with the protection of the wings of thine immaterial glory, preserving us who earnestly fall down before thee and cry aloud: Deliver us from misfortunes, in that thou art the leader of the hosts on high.

Resurrectional Dismissal Theotokion, in the Fourth Tone

Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The mystery hidden from before the ages / and unknown even to the angels, / through thee, O Theotokos, hath been revealed to those on earth: / God incarnate in unconfused union, / Who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake / and thereby raising up the first-formed man, // hath saved our souls from death.

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.)