Among all the genres of church chants, akathists should be especially noted. The fact is that this is one of the most solemn and significant types of anthem. This is even indicated by the fact that you cannot sit while performing it. However, the word "akathist" has not one, but two meanings.
Firstly, this is the name of the solemn Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, which is performed on the fifth Saturday of Great Lent. The second meaning is a special genre of church hymns in which the Lord and the archangels are sung. Among such works is the Akathist to the Archangel Michael. Let's take a closer look at this genre.
Akathist to the Archangel Michael: evolution of laudatory hymns
At the end of V-VI Art. n. e. a new genre of gymnastics appeared - kontakion. This is a multi-stanza hymn that contains 18-30 ikos (or stanzas) that are very similar in rhythm and number of verses.
Looking at the Akathist to the Archangel Michael, at the very beginning you can see the introductory stanza - kukuliy. It differs in the melody of the text, but is similar to the ikos refrain. In the last stanza there is a prayer appeal to the one to whom the akathist is intended. So, the akathist to the Archangel Michael containsthe chanting of the latter is just in the final stanza. The whole work is built in such a way that the soloist sang the stanzas and kukuli, and the rest - the people or the chorus of singers.
Why and why is the akathist to Archangel Michael performed?
The text of the work speaks for itself. Since Michael is the supreme archangel of the heavenly host, he is also the patron of all warriors and soldiers. This akathist is recommended to be performed by the mothers of those who are in the service. Also, the archangel can be asked for any kind of protection. The only limitation is that you must be pure in soul, do the right thing and not go against the divine providence. Only in this case, the great commander of the angelic host will help you.
But the akathist to Archangel Michael is far from the only way to communicate with the great divine essence. Since Michael was exactly the archangel who overthrew Lucifer to Hell, by default he stands on the side of all those unjustly offended, deceived and abandoned, and besides, he can and should be contacted in extreme stressful and dangerous situations. To do this, it is enough just to mentally call on the archangel with all faith and ask for help in your own words. Of course, it can be said that cases of miraculous deliverance from problems are a mere coincidence. But, as you know, there are no atheists in the trenches and in the falling plane. Therefore, the akathist to the Archangel Michael can be performed before important events.
Archangel Michael: an alternative view
According to the theory of the universal Hierarchy, Archangel Michael is responsible for the first ray of Will andpower, personifying the sign of the zodiac "Aries", a fierce battle and perseverance in achieving the goal. Again, this view does not contradict the generally accepted one, since even in this - alternative - version, the archangel acts as a protector and fighter for justice. Therefore, even if the second, non-Christian version is closer to you, it is possible and necessary to perform an akathist to Michael. In any case, it is up to you to decide when and how to praise or ask for the help of the archangel.
