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Triodion

On Wednesday Before Palm Sunday at Vespers

Menaion - April 25

Memory of St. Mark the Evangelist

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THE DIVINE LITURGY OF PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

On Wednesday Before Palm Sunday

From the Triodion.

Sticheron Idiomelon. Mode pl. 1.

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

Rich am I in passions and clothed in the deceptive robe of hypocrisy, feasting in the evils of self-indulgence. I display immense lack of compassion, for I have neglected my spiritual mind, which lies at the gate of repentance, famished of anything good, and sick with inattention. But now I pray You, Lord, make me like Lazarus, to be poor in sins, lest I be denied when I pray that a finger cool my burning tongue, in unquenchable fire; and make me dwell in the bosom of Abraham, as You are benevolent. [SD]

Sticheron Idiomelon. Mode pl. 1.

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

For the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 1.

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

Refusing to deny Christ, O holy Martyrs, you endured the various painful tortures with an insatiable willingness of soul. You humbled the impudence of the tyrants, having kept your faith steadfast and invulnerable, and you were translated to heaven. Since you therefore have obtained confidence before the Lord, entreat Him that great mercy be granted to us. [SD]

Stichera Prosomia. By Joseph.

Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.

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

Jesus, across the Jordan you went; * as man You stayed there; * then you said to Your followers, * “Our friend Lazarus has fallen * asleep, in fact he has died, * and he has been buried and laid in a tomb. * My friends, I am glad for you, * for through this you will surely learn * that I have not ceased * being God knowing everything, * although visibly I appear to be just a man. * So let us go and bring him back * to life, so that in this way * death might experience fully * its own defeat and might clearly feel * the total destruction * which I shall effect, while granting great mercy to the world.” [SD]

Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.

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

Faithful, come let us imitate * Martha and Mary, * and dispatch as our messengers * to Christ godly deeds and actions, * so that He come now to us * and resurrect our minds, which * grievously lie dead, * inert as if in a tomb * of neglect and of carelessness, * wholly unfeeling, * with no sense of the fear of God, * and not having in them the life-giving energy. * Let us cry out to Him and say, * “Compassionate Lord, behold, * and as You once resurrected * of old Your friend, righteous Lazarus, * by Your awesome power, * so now vivify us, granting great mercy to us all.” [SD]

Another. By Theodore.

Mode pl. 2. (not metered)

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

Lazarus has now been in the tomb for two days. He sees the dead from the beginning of time. He gazes at strange and frightening sights, at a countless multitude being held prisoner in the bonds of Hades. Therefore do his sisters lament bitterly, as they look at his tomb. But Christ is coming to bring His friend back to life, so that with one voice everyone might say: “Blessed are You, O Savior! Have mercy on us.” [SD]

Stichera. For the Evangelist.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. N/M (O Martyrs, extolled.)

Πανεύφημοι μάρτυρες.

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

Most blessed Mark, ⁄ you drank from the fountain of delight; ⁄ you became a river of peace, flowing from Eden, ⁄ surrounding us as a sea of protection. ⁄ The proclamation of your Gospel waters the face of the earth. ⁄⁄ By your divinely-inspired teaching the Church is established! [OCA]

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

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

Most praised Apostle Mark, ⁄ Moses once drowned the Egyptians in the sea, ⁄ but you, wise one, have drawn them up from the depths of error! ⁄ You lived with them, and showed them power, ⁄⁄ destroying their idols with your strong right arm! [OCA]

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

Most holy Mark, ⁄ you lived in the light of the Spirit and were wholly transformed. ⁄ Now, most wealthy one, you are made god by adoption ⁄ and through many visions and blessed radiance, ⁄ you have reached the height of your mystery, ⁄⁄ the goal for which you longed. [OCA]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 1. O Martyrs, extolled.

Πανεύφημοι μάρτυρες.

I pray you to heal my wretched soul, * which is seriously ill with the most wicked of passions, O all-lauded Virgin pure, * as the one who gave birth * to the Savior of us all, to Christ God, the Healer, who cures every infirmity of ours, * and who wounded all the wickedness * of the devil, * and freed us from sin and death. [SD]

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 114 (115).

I shall be well pleasing before the Lord in the land of the living.

I have loved, because the Lord shall hear the voice of my supplication. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 43:26-31, 45:1-16

Thus when Joseph came home, they brought the present in their hand to him in the house, and bowed down before him to the earth. Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” So they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” Then he said, “Blessed be that man in God”; and they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves. Then Joseph lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother you said you would bring to me?” So he said, “May God grant you mercy, my son.” Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. Then he went into his inner chamber and wept there. He then washed his face and came out; and he composed himself. Now Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. Then he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph then said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were stunned in his presence. But Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now therefore, do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to save life. For this is the second year of famine in the land, and five years still remain in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. For God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth, and to sustain you as a great remnant. So now, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. “Hurry then and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, “God made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your sheep and oxen, and all you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all you have, come to poverty; for five years of famine still remain.’” And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see it is my mouth that speaks to you. Therefore, you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after this his brothers talked with him. Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 115 (116).

I shall pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.

I believed; therefore, I spoke; I was greatly humbled. [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 21:22-30, 22:1-4

He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from tribulation. A troublemaker is called rash, arrogant, and boastful, and he who bears malice is called lawless. Desires kill a slothful man, for his hands choose not to do anything. The ungodly man desires evil all day long, but the righteous man shows mercy and compassion unsparingly. The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord, for they offer them lawlessly. A false witness shall perish, but an obedient man will speak guardedly. An ungodly man resists shamelessly to the face, but the upright man himself understands his ways. There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel for the ungodly. The horse is prepared for the day of war, but help is from the Lord. A good name is to be chosen more than much wealth, and good grace more than silver and gold. The rich man and the poor man meet with one another, but the Lord made both. An astute man, seeing an evil man severely punished, is himself instructed, but those passing by without discernment suffer loss. The fear of the Lord and riches and glory and life are the offspring of wisdom. [SAAS]

PRIEST

Peace be with you.

(Go back to the Presanctified Liturgy booklet.)