LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON FRIDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 7—from the Triodion
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Like the prodigal, I have turned away from Your grace;* I have wasted the riches of Your goodness, O Lord.* I now run to You and cry out:* I have sinned! O Lord, have mercy on me.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Repeat: Like the prodigal…
Tone 5—from the Octoechos, of the Martyrs
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
You were not concerned about earthly matters,* and you courageously braved the tortures.* You did not sin against hope,* having confidence in God’s love for man;* thus you were made heirs to the kingdom of heaven,* O most praise-worthy martyrs.* Ask for peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Putting on the shield of faith* and fortifying themselves with the sign of the Cross,* Your saints, O Lord, bravely went of their own accord to torture.* They defeated the craft and insolence of the devil.* By their supplications, all-powerful God,* send peace to the world and great mercy to our souls
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Intercede for us, O holy martyrs,* that we may be delivered from our iniquities;* for the grace to pray for us is given to you.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
With your souls filled with unquenchable love,* you endured the most terrible sufferings without ever denying Christ;* and you laid low the impudence of the torturers.* You kept the faith unwavering and unharmed,* and have gone to dwell in heaven.* Therefore, having the boldness to approach the Lord,* beg Him to grant us His great mercy.
Tone 4—from the Menaion
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O fathers of heavenly mind, you were invincible martyrs,* most laudable hierarchs and beacons of the universe,* immovable pillars of the Church of God and a base for the dogmas,* instructors of the pious and destroyers of falsehood,* light-bearing guides for our souls,* fellow citizens with the angels* and champions of the Trinity.
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 fathers of heavenly mind…
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
With divine discourses let the glorious Ephraim be blessed,* together with Basil, wise in God, and the great Capiton,* the godly Agathadorus, Elpidius and Etherius,* and the glorious Eugene;* for, having lived venerably and suffered in sacred manner,* they were shown to be citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Slaying carnal knowledge with ascetic feats,* the glorious Basil raised a man from the dead by invoking the name of God;* and the most sacred shepherd Capito,* rejoicing while standing amidst the flame,* was seen to be unconsumed.* By their supplications, O Lover of man,* grant us the means of atonement and Your great mercy.
Tone 5, Glory… —from the Octoechos, for the departed
I recall the prophet crying out:* I am ashes and dust.* And again, I looked into the graves and saw bones laid bare and I said:* Which is king or soldier, rich or poor, righteous or sinner?* But, with the just, give rest, O Lord, to Your departed servants,* since You are the Lover of man.
Now… —Dogmaticon
A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here the Immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O Immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man, have mercy on us!
Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Give us Your help against the foe,* for vain is the help of man.
verse: O God, You have rejected us and broken us. You have been angry, but have taken pity on us.
Reading I: Genesis 8:4–21
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
O God, hear my cry!* Listen to my prayer!
verse: So I will always praise Your name; day after day I will fulfil my vows.
Reading II: Proverbs 10:31–11:12