Presanctified Liturgy: Wednesday in the 1st Week

St. Theodore the Studite

 

Tone 8:

While fasting with the body, brethren, let us also fast in spirit. /

Let us loose every bond iniquity; /

let us undo the knots of every contract made by violence; /

let us tear up all unjust agreements; /

let us give bread to the hungry /

and welcome to our house the poor who have no roof to cover them, //

that we may receive great mercy from Christ our God.    (Twice)

 

If there be any virtue and if there be any praise, /

rightly are these things ascribed to the saints. /

They bowed their necks beneath the sword, /

for Thy sake who hast bowed the heavens and come down. /

They shed their blood for Thee, /

who hast emptied Thyself and taken the form of a servant; /

they humbled themselves even unto death, /

following the example of Thy poverty. /

At their prayers have mercy upon us, O God, //

according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies.

 

Tone 2:

Jesus, the true spiritual Sun, /

sent you out as lightning into all the world, /

and by the brightness of your divine preaching. /

O ye apostles and eyewitnesses of God, /

He has dispersed the darkness of error /

and given light to those held fast in the evil gloom of ignorance. /

Entreat Him to send down upon us also //

His illumination and great mercy.

 

Elijah, glorified by fasting, /

rode in the divine chariot of the virtues /

and was carried up to the height of heaven. /

Eagerly follow his example, O my humble soul, /

and fast from every evil, /

from envy, strife and passing pleasure. /

So shalt thou escape the harsh and everlasting agony of Gehenna, /

crying out to Christ: //

Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

 

Tone 5:

Apostles of God, fervent intercessors for the world, /

defenders of the Orthodox, /

ye who have the power to draw near with boldness unto Christ our God: /

we beseech you, intercede on our behalf, /

that unhindered we may keep the holy season of the Fast /

and receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity. /

O great and glorious preachers, //

worthy of all reverence, pray for our souls.

 

Tone 2 (Special Melody: “When from the Tree…”):

As God our Benefactor, /

Christ hath given thee to the world as a rich gift, O Theodore, /

having received the gift of thy precious blood /

which was offered to Him, /

shed for His sake with the zeal of piety. /

Standing now before Him with pious boldness, O martyr, //

save thou all who have recourse to thee.       Twice.

 

Thou art a steadfast tower /

which withstandeth the assaults of the adversaries, /

an invincible champion for those who praise thee, /

a most speedy aid, a fervent advocate, /

quick deliverance, general assistance, /

most powerful intercessor, /

a ready deliverer of all who entreat thee with faith, //

O blessed Theodore.

 

Possessed of a torrent of sweetness /

and the water of remission, /

and being a most true witness to Christ the most merciful, /

deliver me from the torrent of my sins, /

calm thou the troubled waters for me, /

still the tempest of temptations /

and guide me to the calm haven on high, //

O right blessed Theodore.

 

Glory... Tone 6:

The gift of sanctification /

and the richness of divine life /

hast thou revealed to the world, O Theodore. /

For Christ hath glorified thy memory, O wise one, /

whereupon we, the faithful, rejoicing together, //

hymn the struggle of thy sufferings.

 

Now and ever... Same Tone:

The eye of my heart do I raise to thee, O Mistress; /

disdain not my feeble sigh. /

At the hour when thy Son shall judge the world, //

be thou my protection.

 

Prokimena and Old Testament Readings

 

Tone 5: Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us * from this generation, and forevermore.

 

Stichos: Save me, O Lord, for a righteous man there is no more.

 

Reading: Genesis 1:24-2:3

 

Tone 6: Look upon me, hear me, * O Lord my God.

 

Stichos: How long, O Lord, wilt Thou utterly forget me? How long wilt Thou turn Thy face away from me?

 

Reading: Proverbs 2:1-22

 

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