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Event Information:

  • Fri
    29
    Mar
    2019

    Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Friday of the Fourth Week of Great Lent

    LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

    At Psalm 140

    In Tone 7

    1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

    I have enslaved the dignity of my soul to the passions,
    and have become like the beasts;
    I can no longer raise my eyes to You, O God most high.
    But, like the Publican I bow to the earth,
    and I cry to You in supplication:
    Forgive me, O Lord, and save me.

    1. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

    I have enslaved the dignity of my soul to the passions,
    and have become like the beasts;
    I can no longer raise my eyes to You, O God most high.
    But, like the Publican I bow to the earth,
    and I cry to You in supplication:
    Forgive me, O Lord, and save me.

    In Tone 3

    1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

    Great is the power of Your martyrs, O Christ.
    For, lying in their tombs, they drive out evil spirits
    and fight in defence of godliness;
    they subdued the power of the enemy by faith in the Trinity.

    1. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

    The prophets, apostles, and the martyrs of Christ
    taught us to sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity.
    They enlighten the nations that had gone astray,
    and made us companions of the angels.

    1. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

    Your martyrs, O Lord, have been confirmed by faith
    and strengthened by hope.
    By the love of Your Cross they have been spiritually fortified,
    and so have overcome the anguish of suffering.
    They have obtained the crowns,
    and, together with the angels, they pray for our souls.

    1. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

    Great is the power of Your Cross, O Lord,
    for though it was set in one place, it acts throughout the world.
    It made apostles of fishermen,
    and martyrs of Gentiles.
    We beg them to intercede for our souls.

    In Tone 8

    1. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

    Venerable Father John,
    you ever bore the high praises of God in your mouth.
    You pondered, most wise one,
    upon active, divinely inspired words,
    and were enriched by the grace that flows forth from them.
    Blessed one, thus you overthrew the intents of the wicked.

    1. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

    Venerable Father John,
    you ever bore the high praises of God in your mouth.
    You pondered, most wise one,
    upon active, divinely inspired words,
    and were enriched by the grace that flows forth from them.
    Blessed one, thus you overthrew the intents of the wicked.

    1. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

    All-glorious Father John,
    you cleansed your soul with fountains of tears,
    moving God to mercy as you stood in all-night vigils.
    You took wings and flew to His love and beauty, blessed one,
    where you now rightly delight,
    ever rejoicing with your companions in struggle,
    divinely wise and venerable one!

    1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

    Venerable Father John,
    by faith you gave your mind wings to fly to God!
    You abhorred the instability and confusion of the world;
    taking up the Cross, you followed after Him Who beholds all things.
    Through labours of fasting you bound your intractable body to your mind
    by the power of the divine Spirit!

    In Tone 3, Glory…

    All human things are vain.
    They do not remain after death.
    Neither riches endure nor does glory survive;
    for with the coming of death all these are destroyed.
    Let us exclaim to Christ, the Immortal:
    Grant rest to the departed servants
    in the abode of those who rejoice in You.

    Now…

    O Lady most honourable,
    how could we but be rapt in wonder at your giving birth
    to the incarnate God who without a mother was born of a Father before all ages.
    You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,
    without a man’s instrumentality.
    He is God and man whose two natures are intact, neither one losing any of its properties.
    Therefore, O Virgin Mother, intercede with Him to save the souls
    of those who believe and profess in true faith that you are the Mother of God.

    Prokeimenon I, Tone 6
    O Shepherd of Israel, hear us,* You who lead Joseph’s flock.
    verse: Shine forth from Your Cherubim throne.

    Reading I
    Genesis 12:1-7

    Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
    Ring out your joy to God, our strength,* shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
    verse: Raise a song and sound the timbrel, the sweet-sounding harp and lute.

    Reading II
    Proverbs 14:15-26