Liturgy of the Presanctifed Gifts
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O faithful, while fasting bodily,
let us also fast in spirit.
Let us loosen every bond of injustice;
let us tear apart the strong chains of violence;
let us rip up all unjust assertions;
let us give bread to the hungry
and welcome the poor and homeless to our houses,
that we may receive from Christ our God, His great mercy.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O faithful, while fasting bodily,
let us also fast in spirit.
Let us loosen every bond of injustice;
let us tear apart the strong chains of violence;
let us rip up all unjust assertions;
let us give bread to the hungry
and welcome the poor and homeless to our houses,
that we may receive from Christ our God, His great mercy.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
What honour and praise can fittingly be ascribed to the saints?
They bowed their necks under the sword for You,
the One who left the heavens and came down.
They shed their blood for You,
the One who took the form of a servant.
By emulating Your poverty
they humbled themselves unto death.
By their prayers, have mercy on us, O Lord,
according to Your compassion.
In Tone 2
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Jesus, the true spiritual Sun,
sent you as lightning through all the world,
to overcome the darkness of error
by the brightness of your divine teachings;
O holy apostles, who have seen the Lord,
beseech Him to send His light and His mercy on us.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Elijah ascended in the divine chariot of his virtues,
and by his fasting he was carried to the heights of heaven in glory.
Strive, O my humble soul, as he did,
fast and shed all evil, malice, envy, and corrupting luxury
so that you may be delivered from all eternal pain of death
and cry out to Christ:
O Lord, glory be to You!
In Tone 5
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O divine apostles,
fervent intercessors for the world and defenders of the faithful.
You received from Christ our God the boldness to intercede for us.
We beseech you that we may pass this solemn time of the Fast untroubled
and receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity.
O great and glorious preachers, pray for our souls.
In Tone 4
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You revealed yourself, most glorious one,
to be a most holy priest,
the foundation of the Church, an unshakeable pillar,
a most true and God-given wonderworker!
You became a most radiant lamp,
having acquired the life-giver Jesus
like the tree of life in the middle of Paradise,
bishop and martyr Theodotus!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You revealed yourself, most glorious one,
to be a most holy priest,
the foundation of the Church, an unshakeable pillar,
a most true and God-given wonderworker!
You became a most radiant lamp,
having acquired the life-giver Jesus
like the tree of life in the middle of Paradise,
bishop and martyr Theodotus!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Although you were stretched out on a tree
and cruelly beaten with thongs of leather,
shut up in prison, your feet inhumanly pierced with nails
and placed on a fiery bier,
you revealed yourself, wondrous one, to be unchanged:
Glorifying Him Who strengthened you in all things,/
bishop and martyr Theodotus!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You strangled the enemy with the thongs of your struggle,
and overthrew his power!
You took courage, most brilliant one
and now wearing the crown of victory,
you live in the kingdom of heaven.
You have been counted worthy of enlightenment
and the beauty of those who feast!
You pray that those who honour you may be saved,
Theodotus, glory of martyrs!
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Attend to the groaning of my broken heart, O bride of God.
Accept the lifting up of my hands.
Do not reject me, O Mary, spotless Virgin, full of love,
so that I may praise and magnify
Him, who in you magnified the human race.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us, and will keep us,* from this generation, and forever!
verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man.
Reading I
Genesis 1:24-2:3
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
Look at me and answer me* O Lord my God!
verse: How long, O Lord, will You forget me? How long will You hide Your face from me?
Reading II
Proverbs 2:1-22