LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
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.
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.
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.
Tone 2
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.
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!
Tone 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.
Tone 4
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Noble and victorious martyrs,* you were revealed in the final times* as unwaning stars in the Church’s honoured firmament.* You illumined all beneath the sun, all-praised ones,* with the splendour of your sufferings,* destroying the darkness of deception!* Therefore we celebrate your radiant and sacred suffering in faith,* enriched by your intercession.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Noble and victorious martyrs,* you were revealed in the final times* as unwaning stars in the Church’s honoured firmament.* You illumined all beneath the sun, all-praised ones,* with the splendour of your sufferings,* destroying the darkness of deception!* Therefore we celebrate your radiant and sacred suffering in faith,* enriched by your intercession.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Martyrs of Christ,* you were bound after a summary arrest* and shut up in prison for a lengthy time.* You were divine preservers of the faith,* who refused to submit to his evil commands.* Therefore the infamous beast was enraged and slew you with the sword.* Now you have joyfully inherited higher things,* joining yourselves to the Kingdom,* all-glorious two and forty!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Let us shout the praise of Constantine,* Basoes and Callistus,* Theodore and Theophilus,* and the rest of the divine company of athletes,* for they sacrificed themselves with joy, * electing to die for the Life of all.* Now they rest in the city of the living God,* entreating that on the day of judgment,* we may find remission of sins and complete deliverance.
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