Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Wednesday of the First Week of the Great Fast
Published on: March 1, 2022

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts for Wednesday of the First Week of the Great Fast

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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

  1. 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.

  1. 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

  1. 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.

In Tone 1

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

Martyrs, three in number, you contended mightily* against those who cruelly condemned you!* You endured many cruel pains with faith* and received the kingdom on high.* Therefore, pray that God will grant our souls peace and great mercy!

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

Martyrs, three in number, you contended mightily* against those who cruelly condemned you!* You endured many cruel pains with faith* and received the kingdom on high.* Therefore, pray that God will grant our souls peace and great mercy!

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

Let us praise Eutropius with spiritual songs,* together with the steadfast Cleonicus and Basiliscus!* By the grace of piety, they utterly consumed the tinder of ungodliness with fire.* Now they illumine the ends of the earth* like brilliant beacons with divine and fiery radiance,* casting all delusion into darkness.

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

When your heads were cut off, courageous athletes,* you crushed the head of the enemy beneath your beautiful feet.* You are unwavering stars and living sacrifices,* treasures of the temple of heaven.* Glorious Eutropius, Basiliscus and Cleonicus,* entreat for peace for us all!

In Tone 7

Glory… Now…

O Lady, we acknowledge you to be a virgin after birth-giving,* for without knowing a man you brought forth the Saviour.* Intercede with Him for the salvation of 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