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Triodion

On Wednesday of the Fifth Week at Vespers

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THE DIVINE LITURGY OF PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

On Wednesday Evening of the Fifth Week 2024

From the Triodion.

Sticheron Idiomelon. Mode pl. 4.

Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.

I fell among the robbers of my thoughts, and my mind was stripped, wretch that I am. I was badly beaten, and every part of my soul is wounded. Here I lie half dead, on the highway of life, naked of any virtues. A Priest saw me, bruised and hurting; and thinking me incurable, he overlooked me and did not take care of me. A Levite could not stand my soul-destroying suffering, and he looked down and passed by on the other side. But You, O Christ God, who were well-pleased, not to come from Samaria, but to be incarnate of Mary, in Your benevolence, grant me healing, and pour on me the oil of Your great mercy. [SD]

I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.

I fell among the robbers of my thoughts, and my mind was stripped, wretch that I am. I was badly beaten, and every part of my soul is wounded. Here I lie half dead, on the highway of life, naked of any virtues. A Priest saw me, bruised and hurting; and thinking me incurable, he overlooked me and did not take care of me. A Levite could not stand my soul-destroying suffering, and he looked down and passed by on the other side. But You, O Christ God, who were well-pleased, not to come from Samaria, but to be incarnate of Mary, in Your benevolence, grant me healing, and pour on me the oil of Your great mercy. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 4.

I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.

If there be virtue and if there be praise, it is fitting for the Martyrs; for they bowed their necks to the broadsword for You who bowed the heavens and descended. They spilled their blood for You who emptied yourself and took the form of a servant; and they let themselves be humbled, even unto death, in imitation of Your poverty. So, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, through their prayers, O God, have mercy on us. [SD]

Stichera Prosomia. By Joseph.

Mode pl. 4. Lord, even though.

When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.

Lord, Your Apostles and most sacred disciples * were shown to be rational heavens. * Hearing their divine intercessions, * free me from the evils of the earth. * I pray You now exalt my thoughts * each day through lenten abstinence, * to understanding of Your Passion, * O merciful and benevolent God. [SD]

For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.

Let us all have the time of Lent and of fasting * cooperate with our godly deeds. * Let us cry aloud to our Savior, * praying fervently and shedding tears: * “O very merciful Lord, * through Your disciples’ prayers for us, * save us who reverently honor * Your immeasurable benevolence.” [SD]

Another. By Theodore.

Mode pl. 4. (not metered)

I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.

Apostles, extolled by all, intercessors for the world, physicians of the sick and the guardians of health: preserve us in soul and body, as we gallop through the time of Lent; keep us at peace with one another, as our God commands; and preserve our minds untroubled by the passions, so that we may all sing a hymn of praise to Christ, the victor who rose from the dead. [SD]

Additional Prosomoia, in alphabetical order.

By Symeon Metaphrastes.

Mode 4. How I intended.

Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.

All of my life has been spent with harlots * and is wasted keeping company with the publicans. * But in old age will I find the power * to live in repentance for all my grievous sins? * So now I cry out, my Maker, * to you who heal those in sickness: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

I cried to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.”

Being oppressed and gripped by indifference, * I allowed myself to wallow in every kind of filth. * And since the Devil’s arrows have pierced me, * God’s own image in me has therefore been defiled. * You who correct the indifferent, * and who redeem the defeated: * save me before I utterly perish, O Lord, my God! [AGH]

Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.

Clay is the substance you used to form me, * and clay I remain, becoming a stumbling block for men. * Lord, I was married to your commandments, * but I have transgressed them and have defiled my bed. * With clay you make and you fashion; * do not despise your creation. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord, my God! [AGH]

Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Death is the sentence I gave my own soul, * but I have provided everything that my flesh could want. * I was appointed to mock the demons, * but I am enslaved by absurdities and lust. * In your compassion, please, spare me, * you who drive off hordes of demons! * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord, my God! [AGH]

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord. [SAAS]

Excess in sin beyond other people * by my own free choice has led me to be abandoned now. * I have become my soul’s worst opponent * and am in the dark, with my mind set on the flesh. * O light of those in the darkness, * and guide to those who have wandered: * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me. [SAAS]

Famously, David the prophet said once, * “Lord, my soul shall live” and, furthermore, “it shall praise you,” too. * Come, search for me, for I am a lost sheep, * and let me be numbered among your chosen flock. * May I have time for repentance, * so that to you I might cry out: * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. [SAAS]

God, I have sinned, I have sinned against you! * O my Christ, I disobeyed your commandments carelessly. * O Benefactor, show me your mercy, * so that I might gain vision with my inner eyes, * and thus depart from the darkness, * trembling in fear as I cry out: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. [SAAS]

Horrid, wild creatures have me surrounded; * Master come and snatch me out from the midst of their attack. * You wish salvation for all your people, * and for them to come to the knowledge of the truth; * Lord, as our common Creator, * I pray let me be saved with them. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]

In your great mercy, O Benefactor, * my Redeemer and my Savior, become my healing now. * Look at me, lying in my transgressions, * and, with your abundance of power, raise me up * so I can make a confession * of all my actions and cry out: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]

Just like that famously foolish servant, * I have also gone and buried the talent given me. * And so I also am judged as worthless, * and no longer dare to approach you with my pleas. * But, pity me with your patience, * so that once more I can cry out: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]

Knowing the hem of your garment dried up * that poor woman’s bloody issue when she touched it in faith, * I likewise know that if I approach you * with a faith unshaken, you will forgive my sins. * As you received her, receive me, * and bring relief to my anguish. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]

Lord, you will soon take the throne for judgment, * you who by your Word created the heavens and the earth, * and soon we all shall stand in your presence * and the time will come for us to announce our sins. * Before that Day is upon us, * accept me in my repentance. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]

My only Savior, look with compassion * on your servant and be moved to be merciful to me. * Pour out the streams of your gracious healing * over my pathetic and wretched little soul. * Wipe off the filth of my actions * so that in song I might cry out: * “Save me before I perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]

Now that the devil’s sword has been sharpened, * he will waste no time to hunt down and trap my humble soul. * Merciful Lord, he made me a stranger * to the light of knowledge of your bright countenance. * You who are mighty in power, * save me from all his devices. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us.

Oh, how the passions have all enslaved me! * I abandoned all the laws and the scriptures of my God. * O Benefactor, heal me completely; * Good One, it was you who became like me for me. * Now bring me back in your mercy, * for you destroy all the passions; * save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant.

Pouring her tears out in great abundance, * that famed harlot washed and dried off your pure and precious feet, * urging all people to come and draw near * so as to receive the forgiveness of their sins. * Grant me her faith, O my Savior, * so that with haste I might cry out: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Quickly attend to my soul and cleanse it, * you who for my sake became poor by being born of flesh. * And you send forth your showers of mercy * on those who are weakened and broken, O my Christ; * now wash away what is filthy, * and heal the one who is hurting. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Ready and strengthen my soul, O Master, * so that it will always run to you, and serve you in faith. * You are my guardian and protection; * you are my defender and are my help as well. * Enable me to be worthy, * O God and Word, to cry boldly: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Savior, my Jesus, our God of mercy: * be for us a wall and rampart that never will be breached. * Facing deceitful methods and actions, * yes, we have succumbed, falling down, but raise us up, * for you will help your creation, * and reconcile with compassion. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Taking the Prodigal’s path, I scattered * all my wealth, and now am wasting away from lack of food. * So I am fleeing to you for refuge * and for your protection; Good Father, take me in. * Grant me a place at your table, * so that made worthy I might say: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Using the trick of envy, the devil * cast the first-made man from Paradise quite successfully, * but then that day on the cross, the Robber, * entered Paradise with his words: “Remember me!” * So, being fearful and faithful, * I cry “Remember me!” like him; * save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Venture your hand to grasp mine like Peter’s, * and to draw me up, O God, from the perils of the deep. * Grant me the gift of your grace and mercy, * at the intercessions of the all-spotless Maid * who without seed gave birth to you, * and of your saints from all ages. * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

With every day that comes I am chanting: * “Lord, you are the Lamb of God, who takes all my sins away.” * Into your hands I commit my being, * yes, my soul and body entirely are yours. * Throughout the night and the daytime, * as it is fitting, I cry out: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Excellent, past all means of expression, * is your great compassion, Lord, who have patience and to spare. * O you who have no sin, but great mercy, * I plead: do not cast me out from before your face, * so that with joy and thanksgiving * I may break forth into chanting: * “Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God!” [AGH]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

You, God and Maker, have condescended * to become incarnate through novel childbirth. * How did a Virgin conceive and bear You? * This is so amazing. Oh, how ineffable * is Your sublime condescension, * O our divine Benefactor! * Save me before I utterly perish, O Lord my God! [AGH]

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise.

READER

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You.

The Readings

DEACON

The evening…

From Triodion - - -

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 93 (94).

The Lord is the God of vengeance; the God of vengeance.

Be exalted, O You who judge the earth. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 17:1-9

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am your God; be pleasing before Me and blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be your God and the God of your seed after you. Also I will give you and your seed after you the land you are occupying as a sojourner, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

Psalm 95 (96).

Oh, sing a new song to the Lord.

Sing to the Lord; bless His name. [SAAS]

READER (sung)

Command!

The Priest holds a lit candle in his right hand with the censer hanging below it, stands before the holy Table, gestures crosswise and says:

PRIEST

Wisdom. Arise.

Then he turns to face the people, blesses them crosswise with the candle, and says:

The light of Christ shines on all.

Then he hands the candle and the censer to the acolyte.

READER

The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Pr 15:22-33, 36-38; 16:1-5; 15:34-35

A wise son gladdens a father, but a son without discernment treats his mother with contempt. The paths of one without understanding are in need of discernment, but a man with discernment walks uprightly. Those not honoring councils defer their deliberations, but counsel remains in the hearts of those who resolve to do it. The evil man will not obey counsel, nor will he speak anything appropriate, even something for the common good. The thoughts of a wise man are his ways of life, that he might turn aside and be saved from Hades. The Lord will destroy the houses of the arrogant, but He will strengthen the boundary of a widow. The thinking of the unrighteous man is an abomination to the Lord, but the words of the holy are sacred. He who receives bribes utterly destroys himself, but he who hates the receiving of bribes saves himself. Sins are cleansed by almsgiving and faithfulness, and by the fear of the Lord everyone turns aside from evil. The hearts of the righteous care about faithfulness, but the mouth of the ungodly answers evil things. The ways of righteous men are acceptable before the Lord, and through them even enemies become friends. God is far from the ungodly, but He hears the prayers of the righteous. The eye that beholds good things gladdens the heart, but a good report enriches the bones. He who rejects instruction hates himself, but he who gives heed to reproofs loves his soul. The fear of God is instruction and wisdom, and the beginning of glory will respond to it. All the works of the humble are evident before the Lord, but the ungodly will be destroyed in the evil day. Every high-hearted man is unclean before the Lord, and he who joins hands with the unrighteous will not go unpunished. The beginning of a good way is to do righteous things, and this is more acceptable to God than to offer sacrifices. He who seeks the Lord will find knowledge with righteousness, and those who seek Him rightly will find peace. All the works of the Lord are with righteousness, but the ungodly man is kept for an evil day. Better is a small yield with the righteous than abundant fruits with the unrighteous. Let the heart of a man think righteous things that he may make his steps straight under God. [SAAS]

PRIEST

Peace be with you.

(Go back to the Presanctified Liturgy booklet.)