The Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel

After the usual beginning, we say:

Kontakia and Oikoi

Kontakion 1:

Let us all, lovers of feasts, praise the commanders of the angels of the Trinity, Michael and Gabriel, who are covered by the wings of both and are delivered from various needs; saying to one: Rejoice, servant of the Law, and to the other: Rejoice, angel of grace!

Oikos 1:

Archangel Michael, chief of the bodiless angelic host, you were created by God, the Creator of all; therefore we bring you praises of this kind with joy:

Rejoice, creation of the Mind that made the world;
Rejoice, outpouring of the light that is before light;
Rejoice, you who are like fire, standing near the Godhead;
Rejoice, unwearied servant of the Trinity;
Rejoice, fiery and immaterial spirit after the likeness of God;
Rejoice, immortal being, praising God;
Rejoice, fiery defender of heaven;
Rejoice, commander of the immaterial army;
Rejoice, enlightener of the grateful hosts;
Rejoice, burner of the ungrateful spirit;
Rejoice, through whom the nature of the angels was strengthened;
Rejoice, through whom Satan was cast down;
Rejoice, Michael, servant of the Law!

Kontakion 2:

Seeing the ungrateful angels become proud and fall from the fiery heaven, O divine Michael, standing as a grateful servant, you cried out: "Let us stand well and let us attend," singing to the Holy Trinity: Alleluia!

Oikos 2:

Gabriel, you have shown yourself a partaker of hidden minds and of the mysteries of the Most High, making known beforehand what was to come and proclaiming joyful good tidings to men. For this, I hasten with desire to sing to you:

Rejoice, seer of the unknown light;
Rejoice, partaker of the mysteries of God;
Rejoice, revealer of the hidden things of the will;
Rejoice, proclaimer of the inexpressible things of God;
Rejoice, for you shine with mind in hidden knowledge;
Rejoice, for in this knowledge you openly teach men;
Rejoice, servant of divine good tidings;
Rejoice, herald of joyful things;
Rejoice, manifestation of many ignorance;
Rejoice, for you knew beforehand what was to come;
Rejoice, through whom joy was brought into the world;
Rejoice, through whom sorrow was cast out;
Rejoice, Gabriel, angel of grace!

Kontakion 3:

To the prophet Daniel, more than all prophets, you showed the strange mystery of the fearful coming of Christ and of the dispensation, O great Gabriel; and you made him wise to sing with joy to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 3:

Having received the name of power from God, Michael, with divine mind you have always shown yourself mighty in battles; and you strengthened Jacob in battle to conquer foreign nations; therefore we magnify your power, saying:

Rejoice, you who are mightier than fire;
Rejoice, you who are sharper than flame;
Rejoice, you who drowned the armies of the Egyptians;
Rejoice, you who conquered the hosts of the Canaanites;
Rejoice, for you strengthened Moses and Aaron;
Rejoice, for you made Joshua the son of Nun bold;
Rejoice, you who suddenly cut down the army of the Assyrians;
Rejoice, you who struck Sihon the Amorite;
Rejoice, destruction of Og, king of Bashan;
Rejoice, guard of the great Moses;
Rejoice, through whom the unfaithful perish;
Rejoice, through whom the faithful are exalted;
Rejoice, Michael, servant of the Law!

Kontakion 4:

Michael, commander of the angels, with your intercessions pray to God for us who honor your most praised feast with love, that we may spend our days in good deeds, and make us worthy, having obtained the better life, to sing to God together with you: Alleluia!

Oikos 4:

You came from the Most High, Gabriel, divine mind, bringing to Anna and Joachim joyful good tidings of the loosing of their barrenness; for which, rejoicing, we say to you with faith:

Rejoice, bringer of beautiful news;
Rejoice, you who bring joy to those desiring children;
Rejoice, you who are fruitfulness given by God to the barren;
Rejoice, pleasing birth from God for the childless;
Rejoice, for you brought a glorious birth to the blessed forefather;
Rejoice, for you gave fruit of the womb to the blessed foremother;
Rejoice, you who loose the bonds of childbearing;
Rejoice, you who guide the gift of those who are born;
Rejoice, praise of many fathers;
Rejoice, comfort of good mothers;
Rejoice, through whom the human race increases;
Rejoice, through whom birth is proclaimed beforehand;
Rejoice, Gabriel, angel of grace!

Kontakion 5:

When Mary, the Mother of God and Lady of the world, came to the temple of the Lord, you were sent, O Gabriel, to bring her heavenly food with care, and you always awakened her to sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5:

You saved the ancient forefathers, who prayed to God, from many evils, O Michael, and you were always a guide for the chosen people; therefore we speak to you in this way:

Rejoice, you who saved Isaac from slaughter;
Rejoice, you who filled Abraham with joy;
Rejoice, you who refreshed the thirsty Ishmael;
Rejoice, strange comfort of Hagar who wept;
Rejoice, the pillar of fire that led Israel;
Rejoice, the gilded cloud that covered Israel on the way;
Rejoice, for you protected the firstborn of the Hebrews;
Rejoice, for you killed the firstborn of the Egyptians;
Rejoice, bright praise of the Hebrews;
Rejoice, strong enclosure of the Law;
Rejoice, for you led the people out of Egypt;
Rejoice, for you brought them to the good land;
Rejoice, Michael, servant of the Law!

Kontakion 6:

When the Great God descended on Mount Sinai, wanting to give the Law to the Hebrews, through your service and mediation, O great Michael, you revealed it to Moses and taught him to sing: Alleluia!

Oikos 6:

To the sanctified Zechariah, who once in the house of God sought deliverance and salvation for the people, you proclaimed, O Gabriel, the birth of the divine Forerunner. Therefore, amazed at your good tidings, we say these things to you:

Rejoice, you who proclaimed most wonderful things to humanity;
Rejoice, you who showed the angel of the Father;
Rejoice, joyful speech to Zechariah;
Rejoice, sweet hearing for Elizabeth;
Rejoice, for you announced the Baptist of Christ;
Rejoice, for you proclaimed him as a second Elijah beforehand;
Rejoice, you who foretold the preacher of repentance;
Rejoice, loud-sounding trumpet of the lamp of light;
Rejoice, herald of the beginning of Grace;
Rejoice, proclamation of the dawn of the day;
Rejoice, sign of the salvation of men;
Rejoice, foundation of the kingdom of heaven;
Rejoice, Gabriel, angel of grace!

Kontakion 7:

God the Word, wanting to become incarnate for us, entrusted this mystery only to you, O Gabriel, and chose you as its servant; and you, pondering this wonder within yourself, sang thus: Alleluia!

Oikos 7:

You saved the three youths of old from the flame of the furnace, O Archangel Michael, appearing gloriously and radiantly in the form and likeness of God, so that the tyrant was terrified by this wonder; therefore we say to you:

Rejoice, quenching of the unquenchable fire;
Rejoice, kindling of the ever-living flame;
Rejoice, deliverance of the chaste youths;
Rejoice, preservation of undefiled bodies;
Rejoice, for by your appearance you greatly terrified the tyrant;
Rejoice, for you strengthened the prophet Daniel;
Rejoice, you who snatched up the prophet Habakkuk;
Rejoice, for you quickly brought him to Babylon;
Rejoice, strong victory of Gideon;
Rejoice, brilliant defeat of Midian;
Rejoice, through whom the faithful are strengthened;
Rejoice, through whom tyrants are terrified;
Rejoice, Michael, servant of the Law!

Kontakion 8:

Seeing you as a strange wonder, the soothsayer Balaam, and later the prophet David, both fell down quickly to you, O blessed Michael: one freezing with fear, the other saying to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8:

Like a lightning-bearer, all-radiant and all-cheerful, you came to the full of grace, Gabriel, bringing her joyful good tidings. For this, we also, rejoicing, bless you, singing to you:

Rejoice, herald of unending joy;
Rejoice, loosing of the ancient curse;
Rejoice, raising of the fallen Adam;
Rejoice, comfort of the sorrowful Eve;
Rejoice, high explainer of the incarnation of the Word;
Rejoice, glorious knower of the descent of God;
Rejoice, you who, rejoicing, said to the full of grace: "Rejoice";
Rejoice, you who loosed all sorrow with "Rejoice";
Rejoice, star that heralded the Sun;
Rejoice, light-bearer who showed us the unapproachable light;
Rejoice, through whom the world was enlightened;
Rejoice, through whom darkness was abolished;
Rejoice, Gabriel, angel of grace!

Kontakion 9:

You proclaimed the birth of the Savior with joy to the watching shepherds, Gabriel, rejoicing; and at His worship you led the Magi like a bright star, and made all wise to sing to the newborn thus: Alleluia!

Oikos 9:

You have shown yourself a zealous and mighty defender of the new Thessalonica, O Michael, light-bearer and great helper you are always to Christian peoples, delivering them from many needs and urging them to sing to you:

Rejoice, city of the new people;
Rejoice, strength of Christian nations;
Rejoice, you who often strengthened the apostles;
Rejoice, you who made the martyrs strong;
Rejoice, for you freed Peter from chains and prison;
Rejoice, for you immediately killed Herod;
Rejoice, invincible guardian of the Church;
Rejoice, you who are a double-edged axe against heretics;
Rejoice, strong strengthening of the venerable;
Rejoice, bright support of the hierarchs;
Rejoice, through whom faith spreads;
Rejoice, through whom error diminishes;
Rejoice, Michael, servant of the Law!

Kontakion 10:

When the end of all the world shall come, Michael, you will sound the last trumpet, after which the dead, rising from the earth, will stand with fear before the impartial judge, singing together with you the song: Alleluia!

Oikos 10:

Always your name, O Gabriel, light-bearer, brightly shows the height of your rank, for, according to the call of God, you have shown yourself a worthy servant of the Word, the God-Man; therefore we bless you with praises, saying:

Rejoice, through whom the betrothed was taught in secret;
Rejoice, through whom the Virgin was taken by him;
Rejoice, you who spoke the name of Jesus beforehand;
Rejoice, you who proclaimed the salvation of the world;
Rejoice, for you revealed the mystery to Joseph the betrothed;
Rejoice, for you saved Jesus in Egypt;
Rejoice, you who called Christ back from Egypt;
Rejoice, you who proclaimed that He would dwell in the city of Nazareth;
Rejoice, you who taught the faithful Magi the mystery;
Rejoice, for you saved them from Herod;
Rejoice, through whom Jesus was protected;
Rejoice, through whom Herod was mocked;
Rejoice, Gabriel, angel of grace!

Kontakion 11:

Sitting upon the stone of the life-receiving tomb, clothed in white and shining like lightning, Gabriel, you proclaimed the resurrection of Christ to the women, saying to them "Do not weep!" and singing the song: Alleluia!

Oikos 11:

You are a lamp to the world, O Archangel Michael, shining upon the minds of the faithful and guiding them toward divine knowledge and salvation, enlightening and delivering from deceiving evils all who say:

Rejoice, defender of all the faithful;
Rejoice, worker of various miracles;
Rejoice, unceasing healing of the sick;
Rejoice, swift deliverance of those in captivity;
Rejoice, you who protected the Monastery of Dochiariou;
Rejoice, for you delivered it from the invasion of the Saracens;
Rejoice, deliverance of the youth who was drowned;
Rejoice, revelation of the hidden gold;
Rejoice, you who made a spring of holy water flow;
Rejoice, you who work wonders on water;
Rejoice, beautifier of the Christian Church;
Rejoice, helper of this Church;
Rejoice, Michael, servant of the Law!

Kontakion 12:

Grant divine grace to those who celebrate with love the day of your remembrance, O Michael, and show yourself a helper to those who call upon you at their departure from life, and above all protect us who sing in your church: Alleluia!

Oikos 12:

Learning from you, O angel of grace, to sing in psalms praises of joy for the divine incarnation, we sing to you thanks with desire, and as a good herald, magnifying you, we thus say:

Rejoice, joy of the sorrowful;
Rejoice, guardian of the oppressed;
Rejoice, unfading wealth of the poor;
Rejoice, haven of salvation for those who sail;
Rejoice, most mighty weapon of the faithful;
Rejoice, most glorious praise of devout priests;
Rejoice, strengthener of monasteries;
Rejoice, wonderful caretaker of this church;
Rejoice, defender of those who magnify you;
Rejoice, most good bringer of joy to souls;
Rejoice, divine blessing of the faithful;
Rejoice, good guidance of monks;
Rejoice, Gabriel, angel of grace!

Kontakion 13:

(this kontakion is said three times) O divine commanders of the angels, Michael and Gabriel, who stand near the throne of God, receiving these our praises like the widow's mite, deliver us from Gehenna, that together with you we may sing: Alleluia!

Then is said again the First Oikos