In Phrygia, not far from the city of Hieropolis, in a place called Cheretopos, there was a church named for the Archangel Michael, built over a miraculous spring.
This church was built by a certain inhabitant of the city of Laodicia in gratitude to God for healing his mute daughter. The holy Chief Commander Michael appeared to this man in a dream and revealed to him that his daughter would receive the gift of speech after drinking from the water of the spring. The girl actually did receive healing and began to speak. After this miracle, the father and his daughter and all their family were baptized.
At this church of the holy Chief Commander Michael, a certain pious man by the name of Archippus served for sixty years as church custodian. By his preaching and by the example of his saintly life he brought many pagans to faith in Christ. With the general malice of that time towards Christians, and especially against Archippus, the pagans thought to destroy the church in order to prevent people from coming to that holy place of healing, and at the same time kill Archippus.
Toward this end they made a confluence of the Lykokaperos and Kufos Rivers and directed its combined flow against the church. Saint Archippus prayed fervently to the Chief Commander Michael to ward off the danger. Through his prayer the Archangel Michael appeared at the temple, and with a blow of his staff, opened a wide fissure in a rock and commanded the rushing torrents of water to flow into it. The temple remained unharmed. Seeing such an awesome miracle, the pagans fled in terror. Archippus and the Christians gathered in church glorified God and gave thanks to the holy Archangel Michael for the help. The place where the rivers plunged into the fissure received the name “Chonae”, which means “plunging.”
The Chudov (“of the Miracle”) monastery in Moscow is named for this Feast.
Ode I, Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
O supreme commander of the armies of heaven, ever illumined with divine splendors, enlighten my mind, that I may hymn thee, O thou who art the confirmation of those who have recourse unto thee.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
The all-unoriginate Mind showed thee, O most glorious supreme commander, to be the general of the supramundane ranks, a light unto those who are in darkness and a divine adornment of His Church.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Surpassing the heavenly intelligences in spirit, O most eminent Michael, thou wast given to them below as a wall of defense, confirmation, a weapon which slayeth and destroyeth the enemy.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-immaculate Virgin, thou splendor of the angels and aid of men, help me who sail the sea and ever venture into the tempest of sin and danger.
Ode III, Irmos: Neither in wisdom, nor in power, nor yet in riches do we boast, but in Thee, O Christ, the hypostatic Wisdom of the Father; for none is holy save Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
With divine might dost thou encircle all the earth, O most praised chief among the angels, rescuing us that call upon thy divine name from the cruel enemy.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
O supreme commander of God, of aspect most divine, thou hast been a divine herald, an undaunted intercessor for the faithful, a guide to those who are astray and an instructor.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast a most pure mirror of the splendor of God, radiantly reflecting the manifestation of the honored Spirit, O right wondrous Michael, first among the angels.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who by His own will wrought the immaterial intelligences made His abode within thy divine womb as was His desire, O all-immaculate one. The Unseeable is seen in the flesh.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having become, as is meet, the leader of the ranks of heaven and minister of the glory of God, by the command of thy Creator, thou art a saving mediator, watching over mortals with thine immaterial glory. Wherefore, we all praise thee as is meet, chanting the hymns of thy divine feast today, O supreme commander Michael. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins to those who lovingly hymn thy divine wonders.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Sessional Hymn, Tone I, Spec. Mel. “The choir of angels…”: The choir of angels, having the divine Michael as its supreme commander, doth with him offer unceasing hymnody unto the Holy Trinity, for the Creator of all by His word brought the fiery ranks out of nonexistence.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: O all-holy Virgin, hope of Christians, with the hosts on high do thou unceasingly entreat Him Whom thou didst bear in manner past understanding and recounting, that He grant remission of all our sins and correction of life unto those who with faith and love ever glorify thee.
Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion on Wednesday and Friday): The unblemished ewe-lamb, beholding her Lamb and Shepherd hanging dead upon the Tree, weeping, declared and maternally exclaimed: O my Son, my God most good, how canst Thou endure Thy descent and Thy voluntary sufferings?
Ode IV, Irmos: Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
Being Thyself the supreme Intelligence, by Thy will Thou didst create the divine intelligences, and in their midst didst set Michael as a leader illumined with most blessed fellowship and radiant with the noetic ordinances of God.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
O Michael most glorious, thou dost give utterance unto a holy hymn with the thrones, principalities, powers, authorities and sacred dominions, saving us who hymn thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We magnify the Creator and Lord of all Who, in His loving-kindness hath given us the luminous supreme commander Michael as a safeguard most great, an unassailable rampart and tower.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Of old the teacher of sacred truths noetically described the mystery of thy birthgiving, O Virgin, beholding thee most clearly in the Spirit as a mountain overshadowed, whence our holy God hath come forth incarnate.
Ode V, Irmos: The ungodly perceive not Thy glory, O Christ; but, waking at dawn out of the night, we hymn Thee, O Only-begotten One Who lovest mankind, Thou effulgence of the glory of the Father’s divinity.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
O bodiless Michael, supreme commander of the angels, thou didst appear leading Israel of old at the command of Him Who hath come forth out of Jacob and appeared unto men in the coarseness of a body.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
Ever deified by immaterial splendors by partaking of the divine, and wondrously amazed, thou dost bestow enlightening radiance upon us, O thou who art first among the angels.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy divine temple is adorned with grace, for, entering therein, thou didst show it forth as an abyss of healings and a destroyer of passions, O Michael, first among the angels.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God hath shown thee to be more exalted than the noetic angels, having made His abode in thy womb, O pure and all-immaculate one. Him do thou ever beseech, that He spare those who hymn thee.
Ode VI, Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the Prophet Jonah, praying within the sea monster, cried out: Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King of hosts!
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
The multitude of the faithful rejoiceth, praising thee, O Michael, and it doth glorify the all-holy Word Who in His goodness hath united men and angels.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
Thou didst save the armies of Israel, revealing thyself and transmitting the commands of God, O supreme commander; and thou didst cast down the enemy and didst utterly destroy them.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Seized with fear and reverence, Joshua, son of Nun, bowed down when he beheld thee, O chief of the angels, asking thine honored and holy name.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Blessed are the people who ever bless thee, O blessed one, who gavest birth unto the blessed God, Who, in His loving-kindness, hath deified mortal man by an ineffable union.
Kontakion, Tone II: O chief commander of God, minister of glory divine, captain of the angels and instructor of men: beg thou great mercy and that which is profitable for us, for thou art the supreme commander of the bodiless hosts.
Ikos: In Thy Scriptures, O immortal One Who lovest mankind, Thou didst say that a multitude of angels rejoiceth in heaven over one man who repenteth. Wherefore, O Sinless One, Who alone knowest the hearts of men, amid our transgressions we ever make bold to beseech Thee to have compassion and to send down compunction upon us, unworthy though we are, granting us forgiveness, O Master, in that Thou art compassionate; for the supreme commander of the bodiless hosts doth entreat Thee in behalf of us all.
Ode VII, Irmos: O all-hymned Lord God of our fathers, Who saved the children of Abraham in the fire, slaying the Chaldæans whom justice rightly overtook: blessed art Thou!
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
Beholding, Daniel saw thee, O blessed Gabriel of lightning-bright visage, standing together with Michael, the supreme commander, who commanded thee to cause him to understand the vision which he had seen by the banks of the Ulai.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
Beholding, Daniel saw thee, O blessed Gabriel of lightning-bright visage, standing together with Michael, the supreme commander, who commanded thee to cause him to understand the vision which he had seen by the banks of the Ulai.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
With faith let us shout the praises of the radiant Michael and Gabriel, chiefs among the angels that behold God, our good comforters, intercessors and protectors.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being comely, most splendid and of godly aspect, in manner surpassing understanding art thou the chief of the immaterial spirits, O most radiant Michael; with them, therefore, pray thou in our behalf.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Beholding the truly ever-existent Word of the great Mind making His abode within thee in a strange and ineffable manner, O Virgin, the Archangel Gabriel cried aloud: Rejoice, O blessed throne of the Most High!
Ode VIII, Irmos: O Almighty Deliverer of all, descending into the midst of the flame Thou didst bedew the pious youths and didst teach them to chant: Bless and hymn the Lord, all ye works!
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
O Michael, thou hast been shown to be a commander of the noetic and bodiless hosts, a saving intercessor for men, a divine servant of God, chanting unceasingly: Bless and hymn the Lord, ye works!
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
O archangels Gabriel and Michael, two beacons most radiant, enlightening creation with the splendor of the thrice-radiant Godhead: dispel ye the gloom of the wicked.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O archangels, as good pilots to the harbor of the divine will bring ye safely the ship of my soul which hath encountered a tempest of sins and is in distress.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Standing before thee, the archangel, as divine adorner of the bride, greeted thee: Rejoice, unwedded Bride of God, thou glory of the angels, salvation and defense of men!
Ode IX, Irmos: Eve, through weakness, abode under the curse of disobedience; but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, hast put forth blessing for the world through the Offspring of thy child-bearing. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
Behold, O archangel, the resplendent magnificence of thy divine temple which putteth forth lightning flashes of miracles through thy radiant presence, and it doth ever dispel the darkness of infirmities with divine grace.
Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for us.
As a comely and beauteous pair ye minister unto those who are on earth at the behest of the Master, O archangels, rescuing them from evil circumstances and sending down divine illumination upon all through the Spirit of God.
Today the bodiless and divine intelligences rejoice with us, beholding their great and splendid supreme commander hymned by all; and with us they lovingly keep festival, magnifying the Bestower of life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O archangels, divine and radiant pair, Michael most honorable and Gabriel all-glorious: interceding before the honored Trinity, deliver us who praise you from torment and the cause of transgression.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Joyously we offer thee the cry of the divine Gabriel, exclaiming: Rejoice, all-pure paradise which hath borne within thee the Tree of life, thou most glorious palace of the Word! Rejoice, O all-immaculate Virgin!
Troparion, Tone IV: 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.