March 19, 2014
Wednesday of the Third Week of the Great Fast

Venerable Fathers Martyred by the Saracens at the Monastery of St. Sabbas

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

10. Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,
and now I am in desolation.
I dwell in the land of the wicked.
In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,
stripped of all divine grace.
So I return and cry out to You:
O merciful and compassionate Father,
I have sinned, O God.
Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.

9. Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,
and now I am in desolation.
I dwell in the land of the wicked.
In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,
stripped of all divine grace.
So I return and cry out to You:
O merciful and compassionate Father,
I have sinned, O God.
Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.

8. O martyrs of the Lord,
you are living sacrifices and spiritual offerings
and perfect incense burnt to God.
You are sheep that know God and are known to Him,
and wolves cannot break into His fold.
Pray that we may be led with you
to pasture beside the still waters.

In Tone 6

7. O apostles who have seen God,
and who reflect the light of the spiritual Sun for us,
pray for the illumination of our souls
and deliver us from the gloomy darkness of suffering.
Intercede that we may behold the day of salvation.
Through your prayers and intercessions
cleanse our heart which the Evil One has wounded,
so that, saved by faith, we may ever honour you
who brought the world salvation through your all-wise preaching.

6. Into an evil land I have wandered,
prodigal that I am;
the wealth You gave to me, O compassionate Father,
I have squandered in a life filled with vice.
And now in hunger I long for the good I lost;
I am clothed with the shame of my transgression.
I have been stripped of righteous deeds and of divine grace.
Now I cry out that I have sinned.
But I know Your righteousness, O Christ;
in Your kindness receive me as Your hired servant,
through the prayers of Your apostles who love You.

5. Apostles of the Lord and bright lights of the universe,
you made us the recipients of salvation,
and like the heavens you proclaim the glory of God;
you are adorned with wonders and bright miracles.
Intercede for us unceasingly before the Lord,
that He may receive our prayers as a pleasing aroma,
and grant that with love we may contemplate and kiss His life-giving Cross.
In Your love for humankind,
grant mercy to us who bow low before Your Cross, O Saviour.

In Tone 4

4. Completely loving the highest of all desires,
you counted the beauties of life to be refuse, venerable Fathers.
Through vigil and prayer, through rain and burning heat,
you acquired those things which alone abide.
You lived together as one soul
and by grace were shown to be companions of the angels!

3. Completely loving the highest of all desires,
you counted the beauties of life to be refuse, venerable Fathers.
Through vigil and prayer, through rain and burning heat,
you acquired those things which alone abide.
You lived together as one soul
and by grace were shown to be companions of the angels!

2. You were beaten with clubs, stoned with rocks,
and cut down by swords.
Yet, martyrs, you did not break the unity of your mind
bound together by love and fraternal desire!
Together you were put to death and cut limb from limb.
You placed yourselves upon the altar of God
as unblemished sacrifices, passion-bearers!

1. Suffocated and consumed by fire,
you committed your souls into the hands of the King of all
as unblemished sacrifices, glorious martyrs!
You have joined yourselves to the choirs of the bodiless powers
and inherited the everlasting glory.
Ever pray that those who sing praises to you
may also share in that glory!

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

The Word of God, equal in honour to the Father and the Holy Spirit,
has shone forth from the Virgin in these latter days as a mighty sun,
illuminating heaven and earth from end to end.
He has sent you, O glorious apostles, as light
to illumine with the light of faith all nations living in the darkness of ignorance,
and by divine teachings to lead them to the true faith.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
I trust in the goodness of God* forever and ever.
verse: I will thank You forevermore; for this is Your doing.

Reading I
Genesis 7:6-9

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
When God delivers His people from bondage,* then Jacob will be glad and Israel rejoice.
verse: Fools have said in their hearts: There is no God above.

Reading II
Proverbs 9:12-18