Near Hierapolis, in Phrygia, there was a place called Chonae, which means “of the plunging”, and in that place there was a spring of miraculous water. When Apostle John the Theologian, accompanied by Philip, preached the Gospel in Hierapolis, he looked upon that place and prophesied that a spring of miraculous water would open up there, from which many would receive healing, and that the great Archangel of God Michael would visit that place/

Soon afterward, this prophecy was fulfilled: a spring of water burst forth and became widely known for its miraculous power. A pagan in Laodicea had a daughter who was mute, which caused him great sorrow. Archangel Michael appeared to him in a dream, and told him to take his daughter to the spring, where she would be cured.

The father immediately obeyed, brought his daughter to the spring, and found many people there seeking deliverance from various infirmities. These people were all Christians. The man asked how he should seek healing and a Christian told him, “You must pray to the Archangel Michael, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The man prayed in this way, gave his daughter a drink of this water, and the girl began to speak. The pagan, his daughter and his whole household were baptized. He also built a church occur the spring dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

Later a young man named Archippus settled there and lived a life of austerity, in fasting and prayer. The pagans did many malicious things to Archippus, for they did not like the fact that this Christian holy place emanated such spiritual power and attracted so many people to it.

The pagans, in their wickedness, rerouted the nearest river in order to flood the church and the spring. By the prayers of Archippus, the holy Archangel Michael opened a fissure in the rock beside the church, and the river’s water plunged into it. This is how that place was save and why it is called Chonae, or “of the plunging” for the river’s water that plunged into the open fissure. St. Archippus laboured in asceticism there until the age of seventy, and peacefully reposed in the Lord.

Troparion & Kontakion

Troparion — Tone 4

Michael, commander of the heavenly hosts, / we who are unworthy beseech you, / by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, / and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry out to you: / “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commander of the powers on high!”

Troparion — Tone 5

(Podoben: “ Come, let us worship the Word…”)
O Chief Commander Michael, / you were seen overshadowing your church like a cloud raining waters of immortality. / You preserved it like another ark, / and turned aside the flow of the rivers with your staff, / for the glory of the Faith, and to the delight of our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Michael, commander of God’s armies / and minister of the divine glory, / prince of the bodiless angels / and guide of mankind, / ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy, / as supreme commander of the Bodiless Hosts.