Feb 27: Friday of the Second Week of the Great Fast – Presanctified

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

Tone 4—from the Triodion

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

Behold, now is the acceptable time,* now is the day of salvation.* Visit my soul in the abundance of Your love,* and in Your unique goodness, lighten the load of my sins.

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

Repeat: Behold, now is the acceptable time…

Same tone—from the Octoechos, of the Martyrs

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

You are glorified in the memory of your saints, O Christ God.* Through their intercessions,* send upon us Your great mercy.

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

O God, who have accepted the long-suffering of the holy martyrs,* accept our song, O Lover of man,* and through their prayers grant us Your great mercy.

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

O saints, who have boldness to approach the Saviour,* pray without ceasing for us sinners,* asking remission for our transgressions,* and great mercy 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.

O martyrs of the Lord,* you are living sacrifices and spiritual offerings* and perfect incense burnt to God.* You are sheep that know God and are known to Him,* and wolves cannot break into His fold.* Pray that we may be led with you* to pasture beside the still waters.

Same tone—from the Menaion

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

Desiring a blessedness which is past understanding,* you reckoned abstinence to be food, poverty to be wealth,* lack of acquisitiveness to be abundant possessions,* and humility to be glory, O wondrous Basil.* Therefore, you also received your desire in accordance with your understanding,* abiding in the tabernacles of the saints.

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

Repeat: Desiring a blessedness…

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

You completed the immutable course of abstinence and kept the Faith.* Therefore, you have been adorned with a crown of righteousness, O father Basil,* which Christ has prepared for you,* awarding you recompense in accordance with your merits,* and bestowing upon you honours and rewards for your pangs.* O saint inspired by God, beseech Him to save our souls.

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

You cast off all love of pleasure which enslaved your body, O Basil, wise in God,* harrowing your senses with the pangs of abstinence,* with terrible living conditions, the endurance of temptations,* and the withstanding of evil circumstances.* Thus you have received never-ending delight,* everlasting sweetness, and ineffable joy.

Same tone, Glory to the Father… from the Octoechos, for the departed

Where is the attachment to the world?* Where is the allurement of all that is temporal?* Where the silver and gold?* Where the multitude of servants and anxieties?* All is dust, all is ashes, all is shadow.* Come, let us cry out to the immortal King.* O Lord, deem worthy of Your eternal blessings those who have departed from us,* granting them rest in Your ageless bliss.

Same tone, Now and ever… Dogmaticon

O Mother of God,* because of you David the prophet became an ancestor of God;* he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise* and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:* “The Queen stood at Your right hand.”* God revealed you as a life-giving Mother, when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.* He renewed in man His image which the passions had corrupted.* He found the lost sheep in the mountains,* carried it on His shoulders, offered it to the Father,* generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,* and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

Your merciful love and Your truth* will guard me forever.

verse: I waited patiently for the Lord and He stooped down to me and heard my cry.

Reading I: Genesis 5:32–6:8

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6

As for me, I said: Lord, have mercy on me;* heal my soul for I have sinned against You.

verse: Blessed are those who consider the poor and the weak. The Lord will save them in the evil day.

Reading II: Proverbs 6:20–7:1