March 04: Wednesday of the Third Week of the Great Fast – Presanctified

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At Psalm 140

Tone 4—from the Triodion

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

Like the prodigal, I squandered my paternal inheritance,* and now I am in desolation.* I dwell in the land of the wicked.* In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,* stripped of all divine grace.* So I return and cry out to You:* O merciful and compassionate Father,* I have sinned, O God.* Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.

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

Repeat: Like the prodigal…

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

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.

Tone 6

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

O apostles who have seen God,* and who reflect the light of the spiritual Sun for us,* pray for the illumination of our souls* and deliver us from the gloomy darkness of suffering.* Intercede that we may behold the day of salvation.* Through your prayers and intercessions* cleanse our heart which the evil one has wounded,* so that, saved by faith, we may ever honour you* who brought the world salvation through your all-wise preaching.

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

Into an evil land I have wandered,* prodigal that I am;* the wealth You gave to me, O compassionate Father,* I have squandered in a life filled with vice.* And now in hunger I long for the good I lost;* I am clothed with the shame of my transgression.* I have been stripped of righteous deeds and of divine grace.* Now I cry out that I have sinned.* But I know Your righteousness, O Christ;* in Your kindness receive me as Your hired servant,* through the prayers of Your apostles who love You.

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

Apostles of the Lord and bright lights of the universe,* you made us the recipients of salvation,* and like the heavens you proclaim the glory of God;* you are adorned with wonders and bright miracles.* Intercede for us unceasingly before the Lord,* that He may receive our prayers as a pleasing aroma,* and grant that with love we may contemplate and kiss His life-giving Cross.* In Your love for mankind,* grant mercy to us who bow low before Your Cross, O Saviour.

Tone 8—from the Menaion

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

O unwaning, divine ray, luminous radiance of the commandments of God,* ever-memorable athlete, most excellent of martyrs!* You have dispelled the gloom of darkness* like a brilliant star, O blessed Conon!* O good offering and unblemished sacrifice!* Therefore, unceasingly entreat Christ to save 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.

Repeat: O unwaning, divine ray…

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

O proclaimer of the truth,* showing yourself to be a sword-wielding opponent of ungodliness,* in wisdom, you felled the enemy with the suffering of your head* and clearly proclaimed the command of God,* saying good things to the unlearned people.* O Conon, dweller with the martyrs:* entreat the Deliverer, that He deliver from the passions* your servants who hymn you.

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

O good change which the Lord of our fathers wrought upon you* by the right hand of the Most High, O most glorious athlete!* You were shown to be a fruit blossoming forth from the root of unbelief, O most blessed and all-praised Conon,* and, having Christ as your most excellent Leader,* you mightily overthrew the hordes of the demons.

Tone 8

Glory… Now…

Attend to the groaning of my broken heart, O bride of God.* Accept the lifting up of my hands.* Do not reject me, O Mary, spotless Virgin, full of love,* so that I may praise and magnify Him* who in you magnified the human race.

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

I trust in the goodness of God* forever and ever.

verse: I will thank You forevermore; for this is Your doing.

Reading I: Genesis 7:6–9

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4

When God delivers His people from bondage,* then Jacob will be glad and Israel rejoice.

verse: Fools have said in their hearts: There is no God above.

Reading II: Proverbs 9:12–18