Presanctified Liturgy: Wednesday in the 2nd Week

The Hieromartyrs of Cherson

 

 

Tone 1:

Keeping a spiritual fast, O brethren, /

let us speak no lies with our tongue, /

not giving our brother cause for scandal; /

but through repentance /

let us make the lamp of our soul burn brightly, /

and let us cry with tears to Christ: //

Forgive us our trespasses in Thy love for mankind.    (Twice)

 

O Martyrs worthy of all praise, /

your bodies were not buried in the earth, /

yet heaven has received you; /

the gates of Paradise were opened to you, /

and entering within ye have eaten from the Tree of Life. //

Pray to Christ that He may grant peace and mercy to our souls.

 

Tone 3:

At the prayers of Thy divine apostles, /

grant in Thy love, O merciful Lord, /

that we may spend the time of the Fast with truly contrite minds; //

so may we all be saved and glorify Thee.

 

Mighty and terrible shall be Thy coming, O Lord, /

when Thou shalt sit in righteous judgment. /

Though I deserve punishment, condemn me not,  //

But accept the prayers of Thine apostles and spare me, O God.

 

Tone 6:

O apostles of Christ, /

shining lights to mortal men, /

treasuries of the wise knowledge of our God, /

filling the world with riches: /

through your holy prayers /

deliver us from temptation as we sing your praises, /

and guide us through the season of the Fast, /

watchfully guarding our lives in peace. /

So shall our prayers be acceptable to Christ /

as we celebrate His Passion,  //

and with boldness we shall offer glory to our God.

 

Tone 4 (Special Melody: “Thou hast given a sign…”):

O fathers of heavenly mind, ye were invincible martyrs, /

most laudable hierarchs /

and beacons of the universe, /

immovable pillars of the Church of God /

and foundation for the dogmas, /

instructors of the pious  /

and destroyers of falsehood, /

luminous guides for our souls, /

fellow citizens with the angels //

and champions of the Trinity.                                       (Twice)

 

With divine discourses /

let the glorious Ephraim be blessed, /

together with the divinely wise Basil, /

the great Capito, /

the godly Agathadorus, /

Elpidius and Aetherius, /

and  the glorious Eugene; /

for, having lived venerably /

and suffered in sacred manner, /

they were shown to be residents of the kingdom of heaven.

 

Having slain carnal knowledge with feats of asceticism, /

the glorious Basil raised a dead man from the dead /

by invoking the name of God; /

and the most sacred shepherd Capito, /

rejoicing while standing in the midst of the flame, /

wast seen to be unconsumed. /

By their supplications, O Thou Who lovest mankind, /

grant us the means of atonement //

and Thy great mercy.

 

Glory... Now and ever...: Theotokion, in the same tone and melody:

Take away the defilement of my passionate heart, /

O most hymned Theotokos, /

cleanse thou all the wounds and befoulment thereof /

which cometh from sin, O pure one, /

and halt the wavering of my mind; /

that I, thy wretched and unprofitable servant, /

may magnify thy power //

and they great assistance.

 

Prokimenon (Tone 6):

 

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous: And be joyful, al ye that are upright of heart.

Stichos: Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven.

 

Reading: Genesis 4:16-26

 

Prokimenon (Tone 1):

 

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have set our hope in Thee.

Stichos: Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous: It is fitting for the just to give praise.

 

Reading: Proverbs 5:15 - 6:3