Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,
we must speak no deceit with our tongues
nor place obstacles in the path of each other.
But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,
that with tears we may call out to Christ:
Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,
we must speak no deceit with our tongues
nor place obstacles in the path of each other.
But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,
that with tears we may call out to Christ:
Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O martyrs, worthy of praise,
though the earth may not have covered you, heaven received you,
opening to you the gates of Paradise, where you dwell,
delighting in the Tree of Life.
Beseech Christ to grant our souls peace and great mercy.
In Tone 3
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Through the prayers of the divine apostles, O righteous Lord,
grant that this time of the Fast may be well spent.
In Your kindness grant repentance to our hearts,
that we all may be saved and give glory to You.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Your coming will be great and fearful, O Lord,
when You shall sit in just judgment.
Do not pass sentence on me,
for I am already condemned;
but show Your divine favour toward me,
through the intercession of Your apostles.
In Tone 6
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O apostles of Christ who shine your light on all mortals,
you are the treasuries of the holy knowledge of God.
Through your prayers deliver from temptation those who praise you.
Guide us successfully through the course of this Fast;
direct our lives in peace,
so that with our eyes lifted up to the Passion of Christ,
we may with courage give praise to our God.
In Tone 8
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
What shall we name you, God-inspired one?
Head of the orthodox Church of Christ?
Eye of piety, clearly seeing hearts with spiritual understanding,
pouring out the word of life to all the ends of the earth?
Divinely inscribed scroll of the true faith?
Pray that our souls may be saved!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
What shall we name you, God-inspired one?
Head of the orthodox Church of Christ?
Eye of piety, clearly seeing hearts with spiritual understanding,
pouring out the word of life to all the ends of the earth?
Divinely inscribed scroll of the true faith?
Pray that our souls may be saved!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
What shall we now call you, wondrous one?
Preacher of the truth and firm foundation?
Senior among the honoured council?
Excellent rule of teachings, possessing the measure of correction?
The one who cut down the division of Nestorius and the confusion of Eutyches
with divinely-wrought revelations?
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
What shall we now call you, marvellous one?
Prince and ruler in spiritual splendour,
exercising mastery over the passions of the body?
Vessel of divine mercy; dwelling of perfect love?
Loving pastor, awaiting the repentance of sinners?
Pray that our souls may be saved!
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 8
Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,* exult, O you just!
verse: Blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted.
Reading I
Genesis 4:16-26
Cain then left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain had relations with his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. Cain also became the founder of a city, which he named after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael; Mehujael became the father of Methusael, and Methusael became the father of Lamech. Lamech took two wives; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal, the ancestor of all who dwell in tents and keep cattle. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all who play the lyre and the pipe. Zillah, on her part, gave birth to Tubalcain, the ancestor of all who forge instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; wives of Lamech, listen to my utterance: I have killed a man for wounding me, a boy for bruising me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. “God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said, “because Cain slew him.” To Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to invoke the Lord by name.
Prokeimenon II, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in You.
verse: Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Reading II
Proverbs 5:15-6:3
Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. How may your water sources be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let your fountain be yours alone, not one shared with strangers; And have joy of the wife of your youth, your lovely hind, your graceful doe. Her love will invigorate you always, through her love you will flourish continually, When you lie down she will watch over you, and when you wake, she will share your concerns; wherever you turn, she will guide you. Why then, my son, should you go astray for another’s wife and accept the embraces of an adulteress? For each man’s ways are plain to the Lord’s sight; all their paths he surveys; By his own iniquities the wicked man will be caught, in the meshes of his own sin he will be held fast; He will die from lack of discipline, through the greatness of his folly he will be lost. My son, if you have become surety to your neighbour, given your hand in pledge to another, You have been snared by the utterance of your lips, caught by the words of your mouth; So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbour’s power: Go, hurry, stir up your neighbour!