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.
The fast, which kills passions
promises to heal us who have been struck with sin.
Let us honor it as a God-given help
written by God on tablets which Moses received.
Let us not prefer the intemperance of the Hebrews;
let us not imitate those whose bodies fell in the wilderness!
Instead, let us be enlightened, as befits the Church.
Let us not be hypocritical like the Pharisees,
but let us be joyful, as the Gospel proclaims
by rejoicing in the Cross of Christ the Redeemer of our souls!
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
The fast, which kills passions
promises to heal us who have been struck with sin.
Let us honor it as a God-given help
written by God on tablets which Moses received.
Let us not prefer the intemperance of the Hebrews;
let us not imitate those whose bodies fell in the wilderness!
Instead, let us be enlightened, as befits the Church.
Let us not be hypocritical like the Pharisees,
but let us be joyful, as the Gospel proclaims
by rejoicing in the Cross of Christ the Redeemer of our souls!
In Tone 4
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Your side was pierced when You hung upon the wood,
pouring life out upon me!
I was deadened by the guile of the serpent
by eating from the tree!
Therefore I glorify You, Christ, and entreat Your compassion:
Grant me to complete the fast with compunction,
that I may venerate Your Passion and Resurrection!
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Your side was pierced when You hung upon the wood,
pouring life out upon me!
I was deadened by the guile of the serpent
by eating from the tree!
Therefore I glorify You, Christ, and entreat Your compassion:
Grant me to complete the fast with compunction,
that I may venerate Your Passion and Resurrection!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The fruit of the tree brought sorrow to Adam,
for You banished him from Paradise,
but when You were crucified as Man upon the tree
You led him back, Savior!
Therefore I cry to you, Redeemer:
Having purified me through tears, repentance, and fasting,
now rescue me from my sorrow,
most gracious Jesus, the Savior of our souls!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The fruit of the tree brought sorrow to Adam,
for You banished him from Paradise,
but when You were crucified as Man upon the tree
You led him back, Savior!
Therefore I cry to you, Redeemer:
Having purified me through tears, repentance, and fasting,
now rescue me from my sorrow,
most gracious Jesus, the Savior of our souls!
In Tone 5
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Word, we sing of Your life-creating Cross:
It has blossomed life in the world by slaying death!
Now we offer it to You in intercession.
Strengthen us as we fast in these holy days.
grant us strength to battle passions
and a peaceful victory,
according to the greatness of Your mercy, Lover of mankind!
In Tone 1
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Let us in faith raise a magnificent song as is fitting
to the all-praised Codratus and the great Cyprian,
with the two named Dionysius and Anectus,
together with Crescens and the glorious Paul!
They are divinely crowned athletes of the Lord
and our most fervent intercessors!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Today another choir of holy martyrs appears: victorious and triumphant!
A brilliant assembly of divine passion-bearers,
a steadfast regiment, a chosen army!
Codratus is its captain.
He is revealed as an all-glorious conqueror!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
All-praised Codratus, with your cutting words
you slashed through the twisted webs of the philosophers’ wisdom like fog!
You taught in faith and suffered in patience for Christ.
Well-adorned in both teaching and suffering,
you have been crowned with the passion bearers!
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
O how glorious is the miracle!
How did you enclose in your womb the God of All?
How did you carry the Creator of All as an infant?
Truly the mind and thought are confused;
your carrying of such a Child is beyond words.
O all-blessed and pure Theotokos,
pray to Him always to have mercy on our souls.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Your mercy, Lord, extends to the heavens;* Your truth, to the clouds!
verse: Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like the great deep!
Reading I
Genesis 5:1-24
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
Wait for the Lord,* and keep to His way!
verse: Fret not yourself because of the wicked; be not envious of evildoers!
Reading II
Proverbs 6:3-20
Epistle
Hebrews 12:1-10
Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16