Song of ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Glory..., Now & ever... Alleluia... Thrice .
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—
Both canons from the Octoechos, without the martyria; and that of the hieromartyr, with 6 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn thee, the vigilant shepherd, O martyr”, in Tone IV—
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the saint, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…, the resurrectional theotokion in the same tone.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is without beginning…”—
O holy hierarch Michael, thou wast the vessel chosen to bring the name of Christ before unbelieving people; wherefore, thou wast sent to the Russian land, and illumining it with holy baptism, thou didst guide it to the knowledge of God by thy teachings. Do thou thereby guide us also to the path of the commandments of the Lord, we beseech thee, O all-blessed favorite of God.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
Canon of supplication to the Theotokos [The Paraclysis], with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the holy hierarch, with 8 stichera, in Tone VI—
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Inclining upon His breast…”—
Rejoice, O all-pure Virgin, thou golden cup wherein the wine of our salvation was mingled by the Holy Spirit, wherewith He hath gladdened our souls! For thou art the cup which draweth forth everlasting joy for us!
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is without beginning was brought into the land of Russia by thee, O holy hierarch; and thou didst unwaveringly preach Him with thy mouth, denouncing the arrogance of the idols, and didst lead to the Lord new people and a new inheritance. Standing with them as an initiate of the sacred mysteries and a servant of God, pray thou continually for the souls of those who hymn thine honored repose, O father.
As the true Mother of the Word Who is equally without beginning, intercede for us who would give answer at the hour of judgment, and beseech thy Son with fervent entreaties; for we know that thy maternal supplications are able to accomplish much, and for their sake we hope to find mercy on the day of the dread trial.
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Michael, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ God in our behalf.
Selected Psalm verses—
A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]
B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]
A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]
B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]
A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]
B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]
A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]
B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]
A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]
B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]
A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]
B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]
A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]
B Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]
O all-blessed and holy hierarch Michael, we offer unto thee the firstfruits of hymnody, as to the leader of our hierarchs, the planter of the Faith of Christ in Russia, the destroyer of the arrogance of the idolatry, the shepherd of the newly elect people, celebrating thy memory today and crying out to thee with love. Standing before the throne of the Most High, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who piously bow down before thy precious image.
In that thou art the true consolation of all who sorrow and the right instruction of those who have strayed from the path of truth, O all-pure Theotokos, do thou quickly intercede for us and deliver the grievously oppressed from peril. For thou art able to accomplish all things soever thou desirest, in that thou dost possess boldness before thy Son and God. Intercede before Him with thy maternal supplications, that He grant forgiveness of offenses unto those who with piety of mind honor thy nativity.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to John, § 36 [Jn. 10: 9-16]
The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
When the divine Spirit desired to choose new people for Himself, He first brought to divine knowledge Vladimir, great among princes; and when he was enlightened with noetic radiance by grace from on high in the holy font, he accepted thee as his pastor through a revelation from on high, and brought thee to Russia, to sheep who had gone astray through unbelief. And having cleansed them by thy teaching and through baptism in water, thou didst bring them into the fold as the sheep of Christ. Standing now with them before the throne of the Master, do thou watch over those who today celebrate thy memory, O Michael, first-enthroned hierarch of Russia.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.