St. Michael the Archangel

Orthodox Christian Community

Pickens, South Carolina

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Great Vespers

Arranged as a Reader’s Service

Saturday, the Twenty-sixth of September, 2026

Tone Eight

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Martyr Callistratus and his company, forty-nine Martyrs of Carthage (304)
Apostles Mark, Aristarchus and Zenas of the Seventy
Martyr Epicharis of Rome (3rd c.) · Ven. Ignatius, abbot, of Asia Minor (963–975)

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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 evil.

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 and fall down before God, our King!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Him!

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 walks not in the counsel of the wicked.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Salvation belongs to the Lord, Thy blessing be upon Thy people.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

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

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God. (twice)

V. Lord, I Cry (Psalms 140, 141, 129)

(Led by the First Cantor in the Eighth 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 Eighth Tone

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

We offer You, O Christ,
an evening hymn and spiritual worship;
because You were well-pleased to have mercy on us
through the Resurrection.

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

Lord, Lord, do not cast us away from Your presence;
but be well-pleased to have mercy on us through the Resurrection.

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

Hail holy Sion,
Mother of the Churches, dwelling-place of God;
for it was You who first received forgiveness of sins
through the Resurrection.

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

The Word begotten of God the Father before the ages,
but in the last times incarnate of Her who knew not wedlock,
willingly endured the crucifixion of death,
and mankind, slain of old,
He saved through His own Resurrection.

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

We glorify Your Resurrection from the dead, O Christ,
through which You freed Adam's race from the tyranny of Hades,
and as God granted the world eternal life and Your great mercy.

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.

Glory to You, Christ Saviour,
only-begotten Son of God,
nailed to the cross and risen from the tomb on the third day.

For the Holy Martyrs, in the Eighth Tone

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

O martyred athlete Callistratus, thy mind illumined by the light of piety, thou didst unwaveringly tread the path which leadeth to heavenly blessedness, having vanquished all the wiles of the adversary. Wherefore, we praise thee, honoring thy sacred memory, O most blessed one.

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 martyred athlete Callistratus, thy mind illumined by the light of piety, thou didst unwaveringly tread the path which leadeth to heavenly blessedness, having vanquished all the wiles of the adversary. Wherefore, we praise thee, honoring thy sacred memory, O most blessed one.

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

O divinely wise martyr Callistratus, enriched by the word of life, thou didst guide unto life those who before were dead in accursedness through ignorance; and, dying with zeal, O glorious one, for the resurrection of us all, they are most truly believed to dwell in Christ. With them remember us to the all-good Lord.

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

O sacred martyr Gymnasius, beheaded by the sword, thou didst truly drown the Pharaoh of falsehood in the torrent of thy blood; and now thou pourest forth healings upon all who have recourse to thy temple with faith, and therein praise thy struggles, and celebrate thine honored memory, O blessed one.

VII. Glory … Now and Ever

Doxastikon of the Martyrs, in the Fourth Tone

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

Before Thy precious Cross, death was terrifying to men; but after Thy glorious Passion, man was terrifying to death. Thus was the athlete able to abolish all the power of the enemy. Through his supplications save our souls, O Christ.

The Dogmatikon of the Eighth Tone

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

The King of heaven through love for mankind
appeared on earth and lived among men;
for taking flesh from a pure Virgin
and coming forth from Her with the addition,
He is one Son, double in nature, but not in person;
therefore proclaiming Him as truly perfect God and perfect man,
we confess Christ our God;
implore Him, Mother without bridegroom,
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 Father, heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ. Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For meet it is at all times to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God and giver of Life. Therefore all the 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. Preserve, O God, the Holy Orthodox Faith and Orthodox Christians, unto ages of ages.

XI. The Evening Prayer

(Can be plain-chanted antiphonally by the Lead and Second Cantors)

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name for ever. Amen.

Let Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on Thee.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

Blessed art Thou, O Master, make me to understand Thy commandments.

Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me with Thy precepts.

Thy mercy, O Lord, endures for ever; despise not the works of Thy hands.

To Thee belongeth worship, to Thee belongeth praise, to Thee belongeth glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto 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 Eighth Tone

O Jesus, who came down from heaven,
You ascended the Cross;
You, immortal Life, came to death;
the true Light, to those in darkness;
the Resurrection of all to those who had fallen.
Our illumination and our Saviour, glory to You.

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

Let us glorify Christ who rose from the dead:
for having taken a body and a soul,
He parted them from one another by the passion;
for His soul descended into Hades, whom He despoiled,
while the holy body of the Redeemer of our souls did not know corruption in the tomb.

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

We glorify Your Resurrection from the dead, O Christ, in psalms and hymns.
Through it You have freed us from the tyranny of Hades,
and as God granted us eternal life and Your great mercy.

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

You, Master of all things,
incomprehensible Maker of heaven and earth,
by suffering the Cross became for me the source of dispassion.
Accepting burial and rising in glory,
You raised Adam with You by Your all-powerful hand.
Glory to your Rising on the third day,
through which You have granted us eternal life and forgiveness of sins,
as You alone are compassionate.

XIV. Glory … Now and Ever

Theotokion of the Apostikha, in the Eighth Tone

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Virgin without bridegroom,
who ineffably conceived God,
accept the supplications of Your servants,
all-spotless Mother of God most high,
who grant to all cleansing from faults,
now receive our entreaties and beg that we may all be saved.

XV. The Canticle of St. Symeon

(St. Luke 2:29–32)

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people: a light to enlighten the gentiles, and the glory of Thy 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 evil.

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 Eighth Tone

All: You descended from on high, O Merciful One. You accepted the three-day burial to free us from our passions. Our Life and Resurrection; O Lord, Glory to You.

Troparion of the Martyrs, in the Fourth Tone

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

In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tyrants and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.

Resurrectional Theotokion, in the Eighth Tone

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

Virgin without bridegroom,
who ineffably conceived God,
accept the supplications of Your servants,
all-spotless Mother of God most high,
who grant to all cleansing from faults,
now receive our entreaties and beg that we may all be saved.

XVIII. The Dismissal

All: More hon’rable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to the Word. True Theotokos, 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.)