LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At Psalm 140

In Tone 5

10. 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 humankind.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 6

5. 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 eternal plan to you.* He greeted you and announced:* Rejoice, O earth that has 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.

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

Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,* and revealed the eternal plan to you.* He greeted you and announced:* Rejoice, O earth that has 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.

3. 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?

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

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. 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 everlasting One, believe my true words.* She then cried out, saying:* Let it now be done to according to your 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.

Glory… Now…

The archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven* to bring to the Virgin glad tidings of her conception.* When he came to Nazareth,* he marvelled at the miracle and thought to himself:* How is it that He Whom the heavens cannot comprehend* is now being born of a virgin?* The One Who has heaven for a throne and earth for a footstool* is being enclosed within a virgin’s womb.* He, upon whom the six-winged Seraphim and the many-eyed Cherubim cannot gaze,* wills to become incarnate of her by a single word.* The Word of God is at hand.* Then why do I stand by and not say to the Virgin:* Rejoice, O Full of Grace; the Lord is with you!* Rejoice, O pure Virgin and Maiden Bride!* Rejoice, O Mother of the Life!* Blessed is the fruit of your womb.

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

Readings for the Annunciation

Genesis 28:10-17

Ezekiel 43:27-44:4

Proverbs 9:1-11

 

VESPERS WITH DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

There is no reading of the psalms tonight.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

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

Two of the sacred apostles,* knowing You, O Christ, as one of the Trinity,* now are sent by You to bring the ass* in fulfillment of the prophecy.* Humbling yourself, You will sit on it, compassionate One;* You prepare a throne in the highest for those who love You!* And those who in their folly submitted to unreasoning passions, Word,* You made cry out to You: Hosanna!

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

Two of the sacred apostles,* knowing You, O Christ, as one of the Trinity,* now are sent by You to bring the ass* in fulfilment of the prophecy.* Humbling yourself, You will sit on it, compassionate One;* You prepare a throne in the highest for those who love You!* And those who in their folly submitted to unreasoning passions, Word,* You made cry out to You: Hosanna!

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

Zion, receive your King!* For behold, now He comes to You in meekness,* to raise up Lazarus and to destroy the bitter kingdom of death.* Summoned by God, let all monastics and faithful assemble* to welcome Christ with palms and cry:* Blessed is He Who comes to save mortals through the passion of the Cross,* and in His love, to grant freedom from passions to all.

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

Zion, receive your King!* For behold, now He comes to You in meekness,* to raise up Lazarus and to destroy the bitter kingdom of death.* Summoned by God, let all monastics and faithful assemble* to welcome Christ with palms and cry:* Blessed is He Who comes to save mortals through the passion of the Cross,* and in His love, to grant freedom from passions to all.

In Tone 8

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

Upborne on the seraphim in the highest, Christ,* as the God and Maker of all,* You go to mount an ass on earth, as our Brother in the flesh.* Bethany is glad, Savior, receiving You!* Jerusalem rejoices, expecting You!* Death is slain, foretasting Lazarus’s resurrection from the dead!* We, fulfilling the greeting with palms, in joy,* extol the majesty of your love, Lord!

In Tone 4 

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

In the sixth month, the archangel was sent to the pure Virgin.* Telling her to rejoice, he announced the good tidings* that the Saviour would be born of her.* Having accepted his greeting, she conceived the eternal God* who ineffably deigned to become incarnate* for the salvation of our souls.

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

The Mother of God, upon hearing, did not understand* the message of the archangel* because he was speaking the words of glad tidings to her.* She accepted his greeting with faith* and conceived You, the eternal God.* Therefore, we joyfully sing to You:* O God, You became incarnate, without change, from her;* and You grant peace and great mercy to the world.

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

Behold, the promised One now manifests himself to us.* It is beyond comprehension that God unites himself to the human race.* At the word of the archangel, deceit is cast out* because the Virgin receives the Joy.* The things of the earth become like heaven;* the world is freed of the original curse.* Let creation rejoice,* and may voices cry out:* O our Creator and Deliverer,* O Lord, glory to You!

In Tone 1 

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

The archangel Gabriel, the spirit who sees God face to face,* gazes upon the brilliant, saving, and gleaming Light.* He sings heavenly and awesome hymns with the ranks on high.* He implores God to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

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

The great mystery, previously unknown to the angels and hidden from eternity,* is made known to you alone, O Gabriel.* When you came to Nazareth, you told it to the pure One.* Together with her, implore God to grant peace* and great mercy to our souls.

You made the winds your messengers, and flaming fire your ministers.

O prince of angels, all-perfect Gabriel,* you are filled with the divine brightness.* You fulfill the wishes and commands of the Almighty.* Save those who lovingly venerate you.* Always ask God to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

In Tone 6

Glory… Now…

The archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven* to bring to the Virgin glad tidings of her conception.* When he came to Nazareth,* he marveled at the miracle and thought to himself:* How is it that He whom the heavens cannot comprehend* is now being born of a virgin?* The One who has heaven for a throne and earth for a footstool* is being enclosed within a virgin’s womb.* He, upon whom the six-winged Seraphim and the many-eyed Cherubim cannot gaze,* wills to become incarnate of her by a single word.* The Word of God is at hand.* Then why do I stand by and not say to the Virgin:* Rejoice, O Full of Grace; the Lord is with you!* Rejoice, O pure Virgin and maiden bride!* Rejoice, O Mother of the Life!* Blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Prokeimenon I, Tone 6

In my distress I cried to the Lord,* and He heard me.

verse: Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue!

Reading I

Genesis 46:1-7

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6

The Lord will keep you from all evil;* the Lord will keep your life.

verse: I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where my help will come!

Reading II

Proverbs 23:15-24:5

Small Ektenia

Trisagion Hymn

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

Proclaim from day to day* the good tidings of our God’s salvation.

verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 95:2,1)

Epistle

Hebrews 2:11-18

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: He will descend like rain on a fleece, and like drops dripping on the earth.

verse: Let His name be blessed through the ages; His name exists before the sun. (Psalm 71:6, 17)

Gospel

Luke 1:24-38

Hymn to the Mother of God

O earth, announce good news of great joy; praise God’s glory, O heavens.

and the Irmos: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark,* but instead let the lips of those who are believers* sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel,* crying out with great joy to the Mother of God:* Hail, O Full of Grace! The Lord is with you.

Communion Hymn

For the Lord has chosen Sion;* He has chosen it for His dwelling. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (Psalm 131:13)