Presanctified Liturgy: Friday in the 2nd Week
Martyrs at the Gate of Eugenius
Tone 4:
Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. /
In the multitude of Thy mercy visit my soul, /
and release me from the burden of my transgressions, //
for Thou alone lovest mankind. Twice
Tone 5:
Despising every earthly thing, /
bravely withstanding torture, /
ye attained the blessedness for which ye hoped, /
and were made heirs of the Kingdom of heaven, /
O martyrs worthy of all praise. /
Since ye have boldness before God who loves mankind, /
pray that peace be given to the world, //
and to our souls great mercy.
Taking up the shield of faith, /
strengthening themselves with the sign of the Cross, /
Thy saints, O Lord, went willingly and bravely to torture, /
and they overthrew the pride of and error of the devil. /
At their supplications, O almighty God, /
send down peace upon the world, /
and on our souls great mercy.
Intercede on our behalf, O holy martyrs, /
that we may be delivered from our sins: //
for to you is given grace to pray for us.
Your souls, O holy martyrs, were filled with an insatiable love; /
not denying Christ ye endured great sufferings and torment, /
and ye cast down the tyrants’ Pride. /
Ye kept the faith unaltered and unharmed, /
and now have gone to dwell in heaven. /
Since ye have boldness before Christ, //
pray that He may grant us His great mercy.
Tone 4 (Special Melody: “Called from on high …”):
Shedding the garments of mortality /
through diverse manners of torture, O glorious martyrs, /
ye clothed yourselves in the divine vesture of incorruption; /
and ye now dwell in the heavens, /
ever standing before the throne of the Divinity, /
O divinely blessed and all-radiant ones. /
Wherefore, we celebrate with faith your most splendid memory //
and we kiss the shrine of your relics with reverence. Twice.
Healing from illness is imparted by divine power unto men who approach. /
The meager dust of the bodies of the passion-bearers through grace /
poureth forth a wellspring of miracles. /
Draw nigh, O ye people, /
and let us draw forth health of soul and health of body, /
giving utterance unto cries of thanksgiving, and saying: /
O Savior of the world, Thou long-suffering One, /
for Whose sake the honored athletes suffered; //
by their prayers remove us from all harm.
O right-victorious martyrs, /
your relics for many years lying hidden in the earth, /
ye have now been revealed as a treasure of great value, /
enriching the Imperial City above all other cities, /
borne in the hands of a wise hierarch, /
brought with honor into the church of God, /
given unto those who ask for their health and benefit, /
for the enlightenment and help of those who accept you //
as faithful favorites of God.
Glory… Tone 5:
I called to mind the Prophet’s words, /
“I am dust and ashes.” /
I went also to the tombs, and saw the naked bones, /
and said: “Which now is the king or the soldier, /
the rich man or the beggar, /
the upright or the sinner?” /
But give rest, O Lord, unto Thy servants with the righteous, //
for Thou lovest mankind.
Both now… Tone 5:
Once, the image of the Bride who knoweth not wedlock /
was inscribed in the Red Sea. /
There Moses was the parter of the waters; /
and here Gabriel is the minister of a miracle. /
There Israel traversed the deep dryshod; /
and now the Virgin giveth birth unto Christ without seed. /
The sea remained impassible after Israel had crossed; /
and the immaculate one remaineth incorrupt after the birth of Emmanuel. /
O God Who hast appeared as a man, /
Who existest and hast existed from the beginning: //
Have mercy upon us!
Tone 4: Let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually help me.
Stichos: With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me.
Lesson: Genesis 5:32 - 6:8
Tone 6: I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul.