Presanctified Liturgy:
Friday in the 5th Week
Saturday of the Akathist
Tone
6: Departing
from Thy divine commandments as from Jerusalem, /
and
going down to the passions of Jericho, /
I
was led astray by the false glory of the cares of this life. /
I
fell among the thieves of my own thoughts; /
they
stripped me of the robe of sonship that was mine by grace, /
and
now I lie wounded, as though without the breath of life. /
The
priest drew near and saw my body, but he took no heed; /
the
Levite looked at it with loathing and passed by on the other side. /
But
Thou, O Lord who ineffably hast taken flesh from the Virgin, /
Thou
hast of Thine own will poured out blood and water /
from
Thy side for my salvation /
and
as with oil Thou hast anointed me, O Christ my God, /
bind
up my wounds with linen, //
and
in Thy compassion bring me to Thy heavenly Kingdom. Twice.
Thy
martyrs, O Lord, /
denied
Thee not and forsook not Thy commandments: /
at
their intercessions //
have
mercy upon us.
Tone
6 [Spec. Mel.: Having set all your hope on the things of heaven]:
Revealing
the pre-eternal counsel, /
Gabriel
appeared to thee, O Maiden, /
and
greeting thee, he said: /
“Rejoice,
earth that hath not been sown; /
rejoice,
burning bush that remains unconsumed; /
rejoice,
depth unsearchable; /
rejoice,
bridge that leads to heaven /
and
ladder raised on high that Jacob saw; /
rejoice,
divine vessel of manna; /
rejoice,
deliverance from the curse; /
rejoice,
restoration of Adam, //
the
Lord is with thee! Thrice.
“Thou
dost appear to me in the form of a man,” /
said
the undefiled Maiden to the leader of the heavenly hosts; /
“how
then dost thou speak to me of things that pass man’s power? /
For
thou hast said that God shall be with me, /
and
shall take up His dwelling in my womb; /
and
how, tell me, shall I become the spacious habitation /
and
the holy place of Him that rides upon the cherubim? /
Beguile
me not with deceit: /
for
I have no experience of sensual pleasure, /
I
have not entered into wedlock. //
How
then shall I bear child?” Twice.
“When
God so wishes,” said the bodiless angel, /
“the
order of nature is overcome, /
and
things beyond man’s power come to pass. /
Believe
that my words are true, /
all-holy
Lady, utterly without spot,” /
And
she cried aloud, /
“Let
it now be unto me according to thy word: /
and
I shall bear Him that is without flesh, /
who
shall borrow flesh from me, /
that
through this union of natures /
He may
lead man up unto his ancient glory, //
for
He alone has power so to do.” Twice.
Glory...
Both now... Tone 2:
Today
is revealed the mystery that is from all eternity. /
The
son of God becomes the Son of Man, /
that,
sharing in what is worse, /
He
may make me share in what is better. /
Of
old Adam was deceived: /
he
sought to become God, but failed in his purpose. /
Now
God becomes man, that He may make Adam god. /
Let
the creation rejoice, let nature exult: /
for
the Archangel stands in fear before the Virgin, /
and
with his salutation “Rejoice!” /
he
brings the joyful greeting whereby our sorrow is assuaged. /
O
God, who in Thy merciful compassion wast made man, //
glory
to Thee.
Prokimena
and Old Testament
Tone
4: Compassionate
and merciful is the Lord, * long-suffering and plenteous in mercy.
Stichos: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me bless His holy
name.
Tone
4: How
magnified are Thy works, O Lord! * In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Stichos: Bless the Lord, O my soul;
O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly.