Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Friday of the Fifth Week of the Great Fast

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

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

Departing from Your divine precepts as from Jerusalem,* and going down to the passions of Jericho,* travelling by way of the cares of this life* on the pathways of dishonour,* I fell prey to the thievery of thoughts;* they stripped me of my noble garment,* which You gave me by the grace of adoption.* I was left half-dead and covered with wounds;* a priest passed by and saw my misfortune, but he paid no attention;* a Levite felt nothing but disgust, and so he turned away from me;* but You, O Lord, who were born ineffably from the Virgin,* You poured as oil and wine,* the blood and water which flowed freely from Your life-giving side,* to dress and bind up my wounds.* In Your compassionate love, O Christ our God,* grant me a place in Your Kingdom.

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

Departing from Your divine precepts as from Jerusalem,* and going down to the passions of Jericho,* travelling by way of the cares of this life* on the pathways of dishonour,* I fell prey to the thievery of thoughts;* they stripped me of my noble garment,* which You gave me by the grace of adoption.* I was left half-dead and covered with wounds;* a priest passed by and saw my misfortune, but he paid no attention;* a Levite felt nothing but disgust, and so he turned away from me;* but You, O Lord, who were born ineffably from the Virgin,* You poured as oil and wine,* the blood and water which flowed freely from Your life-giving side,* to dress and bind up my wounds.* In Your compassionate love, O Christ our God,* grant me a place in Your Kingdom.

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

Your martyrs did not reject You,* nor did they renounce Your commandments.* Through their prayers, have mercy on us.

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

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,* and revealed the pre-eternal plan to you.* He greeted you and announced:* Rejoice, O earth that had not been sown!* Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!* Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!* Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;* O high ladder which Jacob saw!* Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!* Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!* The Lord is with you.

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

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,* and revealed the pre-eternal plan to you.* He greeted you and announced:* Rejoice, O earth that had not been sown!* Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!* Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!* Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;* O high ladder which Jacob saw!* Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!* Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!* The Lord is with you.

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

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,* and revealed the pre-eternal plan to you.* He greeted you and announced:* Rejoice, O earth that had not been sown!* Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!* Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!* Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;* O high ladder which Jacob saw!* Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!* Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!* The Lord is with you.

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

The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts:* You appear to me as a mortal,* and your words go beyond human thought.* You have said that God is with me,* and that He shall take up abode in my womb.* Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the infinite One,* the Lord who rides on the Cherubim?* Do not mislead me with deceit,* for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock.* Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?

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

The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts:* You appear to me as a mortal,* and your words go beyond human thought.* You have said that God is with me,* and that He shall take up abode in my womb.* Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the infinite One,* the Lord who rides on the Cherubim?* Do not mislead me with deceit,* for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock.* Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?

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

The Archangel then said to her:* Whenever God wills, the order of nature is overcome,* and that which is beyond human power is accomplished.* Therefore, O most pure and ever-holy One, believe my true words.* She then cried out, saying:* Let it now be done to me according to you word,* and I will give birth to the One who is without flesh.* He will take flesh from me,* so that by the union He may raise the human race to the original dignity,* for He alone is all-powerful.

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

The Archangel then said to her:* Whenever God wills, the order of nature is overcome,* and that which is beyond human power is accomplished.* Therefore, O most pure and ever-holy One, believe my true words.* She then cried out, saying:* Let it now be done to me according to you word,* and I will give birth to the One who is without flesh.* He will take flesh from me,* so that by the union He may raise the human race to the original dignity,* for He alone is all-powerful.

In Tone 2

Glory… Now…

That mystery which is from all eternity* is being revealed today.* The Son of God becomes the Son of Man.* He accepted the lowliest in order to give us the highest.* In times of old, Adam was deceived;* he desired to become like God and did not.* Now God becomes human that He may make Adam God.* Let all creation be happy:* let nature dance with joy* because the Archangel stands in awe before the Virgin and greets her.* He brings the greeting which changes our grief into joy.* Through the mercy of Your compassion, You became incarnate;* O our God, glory to You!

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

The Lord is compassion and love,* slow to anger and rich in mercy.

verse: My soul, give thanks to the Lord; all my being, bless His holy name.

Reading I

Genesis 22:1-18

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4

How great are Your works, O Lord;* You have made all things in wisdom.

verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are exceedingly great.

Reading II

Proverbs 17:17-18:5