Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
At Psalm 140
In Tone 5
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
I am rich in all sorts of passions,* and I am clothed in a garment of hypocrisy,* as I revel in the intemperance of sin.* My lack of mercy is beyond measure,* and I disregard my spirit lying before the gates of repentance.* Starved of every good thing, I suffer from illness.* But You, O Lord, make me like Lazarus who was poor in sin,* so that I will not have to beg for a drop of water* for my tongue suffering from thirst in the eternal fire.* Make me dwell in the bosom of the patriarch Abraham, O Lover of mankind.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
I am rich in all sorts of passions,* and I am clothed in a garment of hypocrisy,* as I revel in the intemperance of sin.* My lack of mercy is beyond measure,* and I disregard my spirit lying before the gates of repentance.* Starved of every good thing, I suffer from illness.* But You, O Lord, make me like Lazarus who was poor in sin,* so that I will not have to beg for a drop of water* for my tongue suffering from thirst in the eternal fire.* Make me dwell in the bosom of the patriarch Abraham, O Lover of mankind.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
With your souls filled with unquenchable love, O holy martyrs,* you endured the most terrible sufferings without ever denying Christ;* and you laid low the impudence of the torturers.* You kept the faith unwavering and unharmed* and have gone to dwell in heaven.* Therefore, having the boldness to approach the Lord,* beg Him to grant us His great mercy.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
As You walked in the flesh, O Jesus,* in the land beyond the Jordan,* You said to those who were with You:* Our friend Lazarus has died and has been placed in the tomb.* But I rejoice for you, my friends,* for you will learn that I know all things,* and that with God, I am one,* even though by nature I appear in human form.* Therefore, let us go and give life to Lazarus* so that Death may recognize this victory,* and the perfect consummation I shall bring about* by granting great mercy to the world.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O faithful, let us imitate Martha and Mary,* and offer virtuous deeds as ambassadors before the Lord,* that when He comes, He may uplift our minds full of misery which now lie dead in the tomb.* Without life, they have no sense of what they are neglecting,* and they are unaware of the awesomeness of God.* Behold, O Lord, now give life to all and grant us Your great mercy,* as once You had pity on Your friend Lazarus,* and by Your awesome power, You raised him from the dead.
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.
Now Lazarus has been in the tomb for two days,* and he sees all generations of the dead.* He beholds such strange and awesome things* and a countless number held within the power of death.* His relatives weep bitterly before his tomb;* but Christ is on His way to give life to His friend,* that He may stir up the same joy in the hearts of all.* Blessed are You, O Saviour; have mercy on us.
In Tone 8
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Titus, our divinely wise father,* you took up your Cross and followed Christ.* You made all the passions subject to your soul!* Therefore you received grace from on high* to heal the sufferings and put down the afflictions* of those who turn to you* and to cast out evil spirits.* Therefore we celebrate and bless 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.
Titus, our divinely wise father,* you took up your Cross and followed Christ.* You made all the passions subject to your soul!* Therefore you received grace from on high* to heal the sufferings and put down the afflictions* of those who turn to you* and to cast out evil spirits.* Therefore we celebrate and bless your memory!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Titus, our most blessed father,* you learned holy things by living in an ascetic way.* You enlightened your mind by divine communion.* You truly received the most holy anointing of the priesthood* like an angel, you well served God, your Master, upon the earth!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Venerable and divinely inspired Titus,* you enlightened your soul with the light of the orthodox faith!* You diminished the gloomy darkness of heresy.* Shining like a most splendid star,* you ever enlighten the ends of the world with your brilliant miracles!* Therefore we keep the feast and celebrate your memory!
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 4
I walk in the presence of the Lord* in the land of the living.
verse: I love the Lord, for He has heard the cry of my appeal.
Reading I
Genesis 43:26-31 and 45:1-16
Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
I will pay my vows to the Lord,* in the presence of all His people.
verse: I trusted, even when I said: I am sorely afflicted.
Reading II
Proverbs 21:23-22:4