LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON FRIDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 5—from the Triodion
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, O faithful, let us fulfil the works of God in the light;* and let us walk with dignity as in the light of day;* let us tear up every unjust contract,* and let us cast aside every object of scandal for our neighbour.* Let us turn away from the pleasures of the flesh,* so that we may grow in our spiritual gifts.* Let us give food to the poor;* let us draw near to Christ, and in repentance, let us say:* O our God, have mercy on us.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Come, O faithful, let us fulfil the works of God in the light;* and let us walk with dignity as in the light of day;* let us tear up every unjust contract,* and let us cast aside every object of scandal for our neighbour.* Let us turn away from the pleasures of the flesh,* so that we may grow in our spiritual gifts.* Let us give food to the poor;* let us draw near to Christ, and in repentance, let us say:* O our God, have mercy on us.
Tone 3
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Great is the power of Your martyrs, O Christ.* For, lying in their tombs, they drive out evil spirits* and fight in defence of godliness;* they subdued the power of the enemy by faith in the Trinity.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
The prophets, apostles, and the martyrs of Christ* taught us to sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity.* They enlighten the nations that had gone astray,* and made us companions of the angels.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Your martyrs, O Lord, have been confirmed by faith* and strengthened by hope.* By the love of Your Cross they have been spiritually fortified,* and so have overcome the anguish of suffering.* They have obtained the crowns,* and, together with the angels, they pray for our souls.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Great is the power of Your Cross, O Lord,* for though it was set in one place, it acts throughout the world.* It made apostles of fishermen,* and martyrs of Gentiles.* We beg them to intercede for our souls.
Tone 8—from the Menaion
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Come, all you friends of the martyrs,* let us celebrate this feast in the joy of the Spirit;* for, on this day, the holy martyr Theodore prepares a spiritual banquet for us,* the lovers of the feast;* he brings joy to our hearts,* and we cry out to him:* Rejoice, invincible warrior, who has vanquished powerful tyrants;* and for the love of Christ our God,* you have given over your body of flesh to torments.* Rejoice, for in the midst of dangers,* you showed yourself to be a valiant soldier of the heavenly army.* Therefore, we pray to you, O glory of martyrs,* intercede for the salvation of our souls.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O holy martyr Theodore,* you generously grant the God-given grace of your miracles* to all the faithful who hasten to you.* We rejoice in this, and we sing:* You are the liberator of captives and healer of the sick,* the wealth of the poor and salvation of those who sail the seas,* the defender of those who cherish your holy memory;* now, for all of us who praise you,* beseech Christ for His great mercy.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O holy martyr Theodore,* you are truly the “gift of God,”* for, being alive even after your death,* you are attentive to the requests of those who come to you.* A son was once seized from his mother* and made a prisoner in the pagan army;* the widow bathed your sanctuary with her tears;* and you were moved with compassion.* You mounted a white horse and mysteriously returned her child;* and even now, you do not cease to work miracles.* Beseech Christ our God to save our souls.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O Theodore, thrice-blessed,* with your name, I praise the gift of God;* you are a shining torch of the divine brightness.* By your deeds you have illuminated the universe.* You have shown yourself to be stronger than fire,* and you crushed the head of the treacherous dragon.* Therefore, Christ has placed on your head the crown of victory.* And now that you enjoy the divine favour,* O holy and great martyr,* beseech God for the salvation of our souls.
Tone 6
Glory…
The enemy used the apostate emperor as his servant* against the Christian people who were purified by the Fast;* he tried to defile them with food polluted by the blood of sacrifices.* But, you more wisely foiled his plan,* by appearing in a dream to the bishop of that time* and warning him of the danger.* We also offer you our sacrifices of thanksgiving,* and we honour you with the title of protector* as we celebrate the annual memory of this event.* We beseech you to preserve us from the evil designs of the enemy* by interceding with God for us,* O holy martyr Theodore.
Tone 3—Dogmaticon
Now…
O Lady most honourable,* how could we but be rapt in wonder at your giving birth* to the incarnate God who without a mother was born of a Father before all ages.* You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,* without a man’s instrumentality.* He is God and man whose two natures are intact, neither one losing any of its properties.* Therefore, O Virgin Mother, intercede with Him to save the souls* of those who believe and profess in true faith that you are the Mother of God.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 5
May the Lord answer in time of trial;* may the name of Jacob’s God protect you!
verse: May He send you help from His shrine and give you support from Sion!
Reading I: Genesis 2:20-3:20
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
O Lord, arise in Your strength;* we shall sing and praise Your power.
verse: O Lord, Your strength gives joy to the king; how Your saving help makes him glad!
Reading II: Proverbs 3:19-34