LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

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

O faithful, while fasting bodily,* let us also fast in spirit.* Let us loosen every bond of injustice;* let us tear apart the strong chains of violence;* let us rip up all unjust assertions;* let us give bread to the hungry* and welcome the poor and homeless to our houses,* that we may receive from Christ our God, His great mercy.

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

O faithful, while fasting bodily,* let us also fast in spirit.* Let us loosen every bond of injustice;* let us tear apart the strong chains of violence;* let us rip up all unjust assertions;* let us give bread to the hungry* and welcome the poor and homeless to our houses,* that we may receive from Christ our God, His great mercy.

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

What honour and praise can fittingly be ascribed to the saints?* They bowed their necks under the sword for You,* the One who left the heavens and came down.* They shed their blood for You,* the One who took the form of a servant.* By emulating Your poverty* they humbled themselves unto death.* By their prayers, have mercy on us, O Lord,* according to Your compassion.

In Tone 2

7. Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Jesus, the true spiritual Sun,* sent you as lightning through all the world,* to overcome the darkness of error* by the brightness of your divine teachings;* O holy apostles, who have seen the Lord,* beseech Him to send His light and His mercy on us.

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

Elijah ascended in the divine chariot of his virtues,* and by his fasting he was carried to the heights of heaven in glory.* Strive, O my humble soul, as he did,* fast and shed all evil, malice, envy, and corrupting luxury* so that you may be delivered from all eternal pain of death* and cry out to Christ:* O Lord, glory be to You!

In Tone 5

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

O divine apostles,* fervent intercessors for the world and defenders of the faithful.* You received from Christ our God the boldness to intercede for us.* We beseech you that we may pass this solemn time of the Fast untroubled* and receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity.* O great and glorious preachers, pray for our souls.

[Four from the Menaion]

In Tone 8

4. 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!

3. 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!

2. 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?

1. 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 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 5

You, O Lord, will guard us, and will keep us,* from this generation, and forever!

verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man.

Reading I

Genesis 1:24-2:3

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6

Look at me and answer me* O Lord my God!

verse: How long, O Lord, will You forget me? How long will You hide Your face from me?

Reading II

Proverbs 2:1-22