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.
O praiseworthy Martyrs of Christ,
you considered attacks by persecutors and violent death to be as nothing.
Boldly you armed yourselves with courage for battle,
and robed yourselves in glorious victory.
You were numbered with all the just
with whom we bless you in constant praise.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O praiseworthy Martyrs of Christ,
you considered attacks by persecutors and violent death to be as nothing.
Boldly you armed yourselves with courage for battle,
and robed yourselves in glorious victory.
You were numbered with all the just
with whom we bless you in constant praise.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O most blessed Martyrs of Christ,
you gave yourselves up freely to be sacrificed.
With your blood you sanctified the earth,
you brightened the air by your departure from this life.
Now you live in heaven, in a never-setting light.
O Martyrs, who see God, always pray for us.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O invincible Martyrs of Christ,
with the dew of divine grace you pass through the pain of fire without harm.
You are considered worthy to live by the waters of peace, since you received a crown of victory.
With joy we celebrate your holy feast,
and we give glory to Christ.
In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
O Mother of Christ our God,
you who gave birth to the Maker of all,
deliver us from every danger,
so that we may cry out to you with one accord:
Rejoice, O only intercessor for our souls!
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 went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod opposite Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methu-shael begot Lamech. Then Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. So Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal. He is the one who invented the psaltery and harp. As for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, a smith and a manufacturer of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. Then Lamech said to his wives Adah and Zillah:
“Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech,
And listen carefully to my words,
Because I killed a man for wounding me
And a young man for hurting me.
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Again Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Seth, saying, “God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” As for Seth, to him also a son was born. He named him Enosh, and he hoped in the Lord God and called upon His 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 waters from your vessels
And from the fountains of your spring.
Do not let the waters from your fountain be spilled by you,
But let your waters pass through your wide places;
Let them be only for you,
And let no stranger partake with you;
Let the fountain of your water be for you alone,
And rejoice together with the wife of your youth.
Let your loving deer and graceful colt keep company with you,
And let her alone go before you and be with you at all times;
For in living with her love, you will be great.
Do not be intimate with a strange woman,
Neither cling to the embrace of a woman not your own;
For the ways of man are before the eyes of God,
And He keeps close watch on all his paths.
Lawless women ensnare a man,
But each man is bound by the chains of his own sins.
Such a man dies with the uninstructed
And is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance;
And he is destroyed by lack of discernment.
My son, if you assume the debt of your friend,
You will deliver your hand to an enemy;
For a man’s own lips become a strong snare to him,
And he is conquered by the utterances of his own mouth.
My son, do what I command you, and you will save yourself;
For you came into the hands of evil things through your friend.