Presanctified Liturgy:
Wednesday in the 2nd Week
The First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist
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
5:
Rejoice,
O sacred and light-bearing head, /
venerated
by the angels, /
which
of old was severed by a sword /
and
cut down the shame of impurity with sharp reproofs, /
wellspring
of miracles which giveth drink unto the faithful, /
and
which proclaimeth the saving advent of the Savior /
and
of old perceived the coming of the Spirit, /
which
took up His abode in thee /
who
didst stand between the grace of the Old and New Covenants. //
Entreat
Christ God to grant our souls great mercy! Twice.
The
head of the Forerunner, /
which
once was concealed in an earthen vessel, /
hath
appeared, manifestly given up from the bosom of the earth /
and
pouring forth streams of healing; /
for
in the waters did he wash the head of Him /
Who
even now covereth the chambers of the firmament with waters /
and
raineth down divine remission upon men. /
Wherefore,
let us bless it as truly most glorious, /
and
in its discovery let us joyously keep festival, //
entreating
Christ to grant our souls great mercy.
The
head which proclaimed the Lamb of God /
Who
hath appeared in the flesh, /
which
with divine commands /
hath declared to all the ways of saving
repentance, /
which
of old denounced the iniquity of Herod /
and
was therefore severed from its body /
and
endured concealment for a time, /
hath
shone forth upon us like a radiant sun, crying out: /
Repent
ye, and in compunction of soul submit now to Christ //
Who
granteth the world great mercy!
Glory...
Tone 6:
The divinely preserved head, /
a treasury of divine gifts, O Forerunner, /
hath shone forth from the bosom of the earth; /
and we, faithfully receiving and bowing down before
it, O glorious one, /
are enriched by thee with most glorious miracles /
and the forgiveness of our offenses, //
O Baptist of Christ!
Both now… Tone 6:
Who doth not call thee blessed,
O all-holy Virgin? /
Who will not hymn thine
all-pure birthgiving? /
For the only-begotten Son /
Who shone forth timelessly
from the Father, /
came forth, ineffably
incarnate, from thee, the pure one; /
and being God by nature, /
He became man by nature for
our sake, /
not divided into two Persons,
/
but known in two natures
without confusion. /
Him do thou beseech, O pure
and most blessed one, //
that our souls find mercy!
Tone 6: Be glad in the Lord and
rejoice, ye righteous.
Stichos:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven.
Reading:
Genesis 4:16-26
Tone
1: Let Thy
mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee.
Stichos:
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: praise is meet for the upright.
Reading: Proverbs 5:15 - 6:3
And the Three Readings of the
Forerunner.