Presanctified Liturgy:
Friday in the 3rd Week
Forefeast of Annunciation
Tone
7:
Like
the Prodigal, /
I
have departed from Thy grace and wasted the riches of Thy love: /
but
now I run to Thee crying, O compassionate Lord: //
I
have sinned, O God, have mercy upon me. Twice
Tone
2:
Not
desiring earthly pleasure, /
the
victorious martyrs were granted heavenly blessings, /
and
they have become fellow-citizens with the angels. /
At
their prayers, O Lord, //
have
mercy on us and save us.
Because
the holy martyrs intercede for us /
and
sing in praise of Christ, /
all
error is destroyed //
and
mankind is saved by faith.
The
company of martyrs resisted tyrants, saying: /
“We
are soldiers of the ruler of the powers on high; /
though
ye give us up to fire and torture, //
we
shall not deny the power of the Trinity.”
Great
is the glory, O ye saints, /
that
ye have gained through your faith. /
For
by your sufferings ye were victorious over the enemy; /
and
after death, as physicians of body and soul, /
ye
drive out evil spirits and bring healing to the sick. /
Intercede
before the Lord, //
that
mercy may be given to our souls.
Tone
4 (Special Melody: “As one valiant…”):
The
Archangel Gabriel /
confirmeth
the mystery hidden and unknown even to the angels; /
and
he is now come to thee /
who
alone art incorrupt, /
the
comely turtledove, /
the
restoration of our race, /
and
crieth out to thee, O all-holy one: /
“Rejoice!
Be thou made ready by my words //
to
receive in thy womb God the Word!” Twice
A
splendid palace /
hath
been prepared for thee, O Master: /
the
pure womb of the divine Maiden! /
Come
Thou and enter therein, /
have
pity on thy creation /
which
in envy undertook to oppose Thee, /
is
held in thrall to the deceiver, /
hath
lost its primal beauty //
and
awaiteth Thy saving descent.
The
Archangel Gabriel /
manifestly
cometh to thee, O all-immaculate one, /
and
crieth out to thee: /
“Rejoice,
thou annulment of the curse, /
restoration
of the fallen! /
Rejoice,
thou who alone hast been chosen by God! /
Rejoice,
chariot of the Sun of glory! /
Receive
thou the Incorporeal One //
Who
desireth to make His abode within thy womb!
Glory… Tone 2:
Today
Gabriel announceth the glad tidings /
to
her who is full of grace, saying: /
"Rejoice,
O Mother unwedded, who knoweth not wedlock! /
Marvel
not at my strange appearance, /
neither
be thou afraid, for I am an archangel. /
The
serpent once deceived Eve, /
but
now I announce joy to thee: /
thou
shalt remain incorrupt //
and
shalt give birth to the Lord, O all-pure one!"
Both
now… Tone 2:
The
shadow of the law passed away when grace arrived; /
for,
as the bush wrapped in flame did not burn, /
so
did the Virgin give birth and yet remain a virgin. /
In
place of the pillar of fire, the Sun of righteousness hath shone forth. /
Instead
of Moses, Christ is come, //
the salvation of our souls.
Tone
4: Give us
help from affliction, for vain is the salvation of man.
Stichos:
O
God, Thou hast cast us off and hast destroyed us.
Lesson:
Genesis 8:4-21
Tone
6: Hearken O God, unto my supplication; attend unto my prayer.