March 20, 2019; Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Wednesday of the Third Week of Great Lent
LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,
and now I am in desolation.
I dwell in the land of the wicked.
In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,
stripped of all divine grace.
So I return and cry out to You:
O merciful and compassionate Father,
I have sinned, O God.
Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,
and now I am in desolation.
I dwell in the land of the wicked.
In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,
stripped of all divine grace.
So I return and cry out to You:
O merciful and compassionate Father,
I have sinned, O God.
Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O martyrs of the Lord,
you are living sacrifices and spiritual offerings
and perfect incense burnt to God.
You are sheep that know God and are known to Him,
and wolves cannot break into His fold.
Pray that we may be led with you
to pasture beside the still waters.
In Tone 6
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O apostles who have seen God,
and who reflect the light of the spiritual Sun for us,
pray for the illumination of our souls
and deliver us from the gloomy darkness of suffering.
Intercede that we may behold the day of salvation.
Through your prayers and intercessions
cleanse our heart which the Evil One has wounded,
so that, saved by faith, we may ever honour you
who brought the world salvation through your all-wise preaching.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Into an evil land I have wandered,
prodigal that I am;
the wealth You gave to me, O compassionate Father,
I have squandered in a life filled with vice.
And now in hunger I long for the good I lost;
I am clothed with the shame of my transgression.
I have been stripped of righteous deeds and of divine grace.
Now I cry out that I have sinned.
But I know Your righteousness, O Christ;
in Your kindness receive me as Your hired servant,
through the prayers of Your apostles who love You.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Apostles of the Lord and bright lights of the universe,
you made us the recipients of salvation,
and like the heavens you proclaim the glory of God;
you are adorned with wonders and bright miracles.
Intercede for us unceasingly before the Lord,
that He may receive our prayers as a pleasing aroma,
and grant that with love we may contemplate and kiss His life-giving Cross.
In Your love for humankind,
grant mercy to us who bow low before Your Cross, O Saviour.
In Tone 4
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You desired the glory which is eternal and does not pass away,
scorning the glory that is transitory and perishing.
You took up your Cross and followed after the crucified One,
subjecting your flesh to ascetic struggles.
therefore, James, we celebrate your memory!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You desired the glory which is eternal and does not pass away,
scorning the glory that is transitory and perishing.
You took up your Cross and followed after the crucified One,
subjecting your flesh to ascetic struggles.
therefore, James, we celebrate your memory!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You were crucified to the world and to the passions,
preserving your soul undefiled and pure,
untainted by low things, Father James.
Thus you soared to the heavens with mystical visions.
there you set forth your life as a true friend of Christ,
ever-memorable one, and a most faithful saint.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Ever-memorable one,
you were revealed to be innocent, guileless, and merciful,
filled with brotherly love, humility, meekness and charity.
You were adorned with compassion,
gifted with patience, faith and hope.
You were enriched with prayer.
In holiness, you were illumined by the brightness of God!
In Tone 3, Glory… Now…
By your great power, O pure one,
deliver us from sorrows and save us from death!
Protect us from every attack of the devil;
free us from every affliction.
Pray without ceasing to your Son,
that He may deliver us from every oppression.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
I trust in the goodness of God* forever and ever.
verse: I will thank You forevermore; for this is Your doing.
Reading I
Genesis 7:6-9
Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
When God delivers His people from bondage,* then Jacob will be glad and Israel rejoice.
verse: Fools have said in their hearts: There is no God above.
Reading II
Proverbs 9:12-18
March 22, 2019; Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Friday of the Third Week of Great Lent
LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 7
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Like the prodigal, I have turned away from Your grace;
I have wasted the riches of Your goodness, O Lord.
I now run to You and cry out:
I have sinned , O Lord, have mercy on me.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Like the prodigal, I have turned away from Your grace;
I have wasted the riches of Your goodness, O Lord.
I now run to You and cry out:
I have sinned , O Lord, have mercy on me.
In Tone 2
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Since You did not love earthly delights, O martyrs,
you were worthy of the blessings of heaven,
and now you abide with the angels.
O Lord, through their prayers, have mercy on us and save us.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Through the prayers of the holy martyrs
and their songs of praise to Christ,
all error has come to an end,
and all people are saved by faith.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
As they withstood the tortures,
the company of martyrs said:
We serve in the forces of the King.
Though you deliver us to fire and torment,
we shall not deny the power of the Trinity.
- 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 glory you obtained by faith, O saints;
for not only did you triumph over the Enemy in your sufferings,
but after death you healed the infirm and drove out evil spirits,
O physicians of souls and bodies.
Intercede before the Lord,
entreating Him to have mercy on our souls.
In Tone 4
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Using abstinence as a bridle, you curbed the pleasures of the body
and the disobedience of the flesh, blessed one.
Courageous, you vanquished the full armor of the enemy
by the power of the Spirit.
Therefore, you were a leader of monastics
who ever followed your most wise and divine preaching, Nikon.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Using abstinence as a bridle, you curbed the pleasures of the body
and the disobedience of the flesh, blessed one.
Courageous, you vanquished the full armor of the enemy
by the power of the Spirit.
Therefore, you were a leader of monastics
who ever followed your most wise and divine preaching, Nikon.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You shone forth from the east like the sun,
most glorious one,
bringing light to the whole world with the radiance of miracles,
guiding the choir of your brilliant disciples like a star!
Together with them you suffered in might.
You were beheaded by the sword,
placing your souls in the hands of the King and Master of all.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Neither hunger nor tribulation, truly wondrous ones,
nor nakedness nor wounds
nor the necessity of a violent death
were able to separate you from the love of God!
Crown-bearing athletes,
following the Shepherd like sheep led to the slaughter,
from the sunset you reached the unending rest of the heavenly Kingdom!
In Tone 2, Glory…
O what an ordeal must the soul endure
when it parts from the body!
O how profusely that soul weeps,
and there is no one to show it pity.
It turns its eyes to the angels and its prayer is in vain.
It extends its hands to people and finds no one to help.
Therefore, O beloved faithful,
considering the brevity of our life,
let us beseech from Christ mercy for our souls.
Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the law passed away
with the realization of grace.
For as the bush had burned without being consumed,
so you gave birth while a virgin
and you remained a virgin.
Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice;
instead of Moses Christ God came forth,
the Saviour of our souls.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Give us Your help against the foe,* for human help is vain.
verse: O God, You have rejected us and broken us. You have been angry; come back to us.
Reading I
Genesis 8:4-21
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
O God, hear my cry!* Listen to my prayer!
verse: So I will always praise Your name; day after day I will fulfil my vows.
Reading II
Proverbs 10:31-11:12