LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

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

Behold, this is the acceptable time,* this is the day of salvation.* Visit my soul in the abundance of Your love,* and in Your unique goodness, lighten the load of my sins.

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

Behold, this is the acceptable time,* this is the day of salvation.* Visit my soul in the abundance of Your love,* and in Your unique goodness, lighten the load of my sins.

In Tone 5’

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

You were not concerned about all these earthly matters,* and you courageously braved the tortures.* You did not sin against hope,* having confidence in God’s love for humankind;* thus you were made heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven,* O most praise-worthy martyrs.* Ask for peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

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

Putting on the shield of faith* and fortifying themselves with the symbol of the Cross,* Your saints, O Lord, bravely went of their own accord to torture.* They defeated the craft and insolence of the devil.* By their supplications, O all-powerful God,* send peace to the world and great mercy to our souls

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

Intercede for us, O holy martyrs,* that we may be delivered from our iniquities;* for the grace to pray for us is given to you.

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

With your souls filled with unquenchable love,* 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.

In Tone 4

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

Most richly blessed one,* with pious thought, purity and holiness of mind,* by restraining the passions and observing the commands of Christ,* you strove to preserve the dignity of the image* that was fashioned in the beginning* according to the image and likeness of God!

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

Most richly blessed one,* with pious thought, purity and holiness of mind,* by restraining the passions and observing the commands of Christ,* you strove to preserve the dignity of the image* that was fashioned in the beginning* according to the image and likeness of God!

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

You undertook ascetic endeavour,* followed by suffering in a godly manner.* In both you were well-pleasing to the Creator* Who alone requires of us purity and nobility of soul.* Glorifying His incarnation,* you venerated the holy image of His divine Humanity!

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

You denounced, venerable one,* those who wickedly rejected the incarnation of the Word!* You perfected the truth, upholding it by enduring wounds* and all kinds of affliction in your bonds and imprisonment.* Therefore you became an heir to the kingdom of Christ:* To ineffable joy and everlasting radiance!

In Tone 5

Glory…

I recall the prophet crying out:* I am ashes and dust.* And again, I looked into the graves and saw bones laid bare and I said:* Which is king or soldier, rich or poor, righteous or sinner?* But, with the just, give rest, O Lord, to Your departed servants,* since You are the Lover of humankind.

Now…

A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O Immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man, have mercy on us!

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

Your merciful love and Your truth* will guard me forever.

verse: I waited, I waited for the Lord and He stooped down to me; He heard my cry.

Reading I

Genesis 5:32-6:8

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6

As for me, I said: Lord, have mercy on me;* heal my soul for I have sinned against You.

verse: Blessed are those who consider the poor and the weak. The Lord will save them in the evil day.

Reading II

Proverbs 6:20-7:1