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 8
4. Unfading and divine radiance,
light-bearing brilliance of the commandments of God,
ever-memorable athlete,
most excellent of martyrs!
You have dispelled the gloom of darkness like a brilliant star!
You are a good offering, blessed one;
an unblemished sacrifice.
therefore, ever entreat Christ that He may save our souls!
3. Unfading and divine radiance,
light-bearing brilliance of the commandments of God,
ever-memorable athlete,
most excellent of martyrs!
You have dispelled the gloom of darkness like a brilliant star!
You are a good offering, blessed one;
an unblemished sacrifice.
therefore, ever entreat Christ that He may save our souls!
2. Proclaimer of the truth:
You revealed yourself to be a sword-wielding enemy of ungodliness.
You cut off the head of the enemy with your suffering, all-wise one.
You clearly proclaimed the commandment of God,
saying good things to the untaught people.
Co-dweller with the martyrs, Conon,
entreat the Saviour that He may deliver from the passions
Your servants who honour You with hymns!
1. What a good change the Lord of our fathers made in you
by the right hand of the Most High!
Most glorious athlete,
you were revealed to be a fruit blossoming from the root of unbelief.
Most blessed and all-praised Conon,
you had Christ as your most excellent Commander,
as you mightily overthrew the hordes of demons!
In Tone 5, Glory… Now…
Come, all faithful, and rejoice in the Holy Scriptures!
Rejoice in the preaching of the apostles!
Rejoice in the Virgin who gave birth to God!
She is the Queen of Heaven.
In her we exult with hymns and songs,
for she is our fervent intercessor before God
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
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood waters came upon the earth. Together with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, Noah went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. Of the clean animals and the unclean, of the birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, (two by two) male and female entered the ark with Noah, just as the Lord had commanded him
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
If you are wise, it is to your own advantage; and if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it. The woman Folly is fickle, she is inane, and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house upon a seat on the city heights, Calling to passers-by as they go on their straight way: “Let whoever is simple turn in here, or who lacks understanding; for to him I say, Stolen water is sweet, and bread gotten secretly is pleasing!” Little he knows that the shades are there, that in the depths of the nether world are her guests!