Presanctified Liturgy: Friday in the 2nd Week

St. Porphyrius, Archbishop of Gaza

 

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 8 (Special Melody: “O most glorious wonder…”):

O venerable father Porphyrius, /

taking the Cross of Christ upon thy shoulder /

thou didst abandon all /

and didst attain unto the desert, /

and armed with fasting and prayers didst do battle /

with the prince of this world.  /

Wherefore, as a temple of the Spirit of God, /

thou didst cast him down //

together with carnal mindedness.               Twice

 

As of old God saved the three youths /

from the fire by His Angel, /

so now by thee hath he saved three youths /

who had been dragged down into a pit; /

for when thy were borne as in a basket /

He overshadowed them with the light of a cloud /

which formed three crosses on their bodies /

unto the reproof of those //

who oppose thee, O Porphyrius.

 

Who can hymn thy temptations and pangs, /

thy misfortunes and tribulations, /

thy struggles for the faith as is meet, /

O Porphyrius?  /

For thou didst show the boldness /

which thou hast before God to be great. /

Wherefore, we entreat thee, /

for thou hast such boldness: //

Pray thou in our behalf to the Lord, that we be saved!

 

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!

 

Prokimena and Old Testament Readings

 

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.

Stichos:  Blessed is the man that hath understanding for the poor man and the pauper.

 

Lesson: Proverbs 6:20 - 7:1

 

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