Third Saturday of Lent, Forefeast of the Annunciation

Friday evening Vespers with the Presanctified Liturgy: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 7, on 10: Idiomelon in the Triodion, x2 (Like the Prodigal); Martyrs 4 (Not desiring earthly pleasure – from Friday evening vespers in the Octoechos, Tone 2, and LTS, p. 315); Forefeast 4 (The Archangel Gabriel confirmeth); G: Forefeast (Today Gabriel maketh announcement); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 2 (The shadow of the law).

Entry with the censer; O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: Give us help from affliction, for vain is the salvation of man. Reading: Genesis 8:4-21. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Hearken, O God, unto my supplication; attend unto my prayer. Reading: Proverbs 10:31-11:12.

Let my prayer arise; and the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

Vespers, If the Presanctified Liturgy is not served: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 4, on 6: Forefeast 6 (The Archangel Gabriel confirmeth); G: Forefeast (Today Gabriel maketh announcement); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 2 (The shadow of the law).

There is no entrance; Reader: O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: Give us help from affliction, for vain is the salvation of man. Reading: Genesis 8:4-21. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Hearken, O God, unto my supplication; attend unto my prayer. Reading: Proverbs 10:31-11:12. Vouchsafe, O Lord; Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer.

Aposticha: Idiomelon of the Triodion (which is the first verse at Lord I have cried, in the Triodion – Like the Prodigal) x2; The Martyricon from the Octoechos, Tone 7 (The martyrs dispelled the darkness – the first verse at Lord, I have cried, from the Octoechos, Friday evening, Tone 7) x1; G/N: Forefeast (Today is the mystery hidden from before time began revealed).*

Troparion: Forefeast (Today the first-fruits of universal joy).

Litany: Have mercy on us, O God. Prayer of St. Ephraim, with 3 prostrations. The prayer: O All-Holy Trinity, the Consubstantial Dominion. Blessed be the name of the Lord x3. G/N: Psalm 33 is read. Priest: Wisdom! Choir: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless and Mother of our God. Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us. Choir: More honorable. Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to Thee. Choir: G/N: Lord, have mercy x3. Father (Master) bless! Dismissal.

* The Jordanville Calendar calls for the Theotokion from the Octoechos: (O thou who alone didst receive the uncontainable Word of God – from the Octoechos Aposticha, Friday evening, Tone 7), but this is incorrect.

Great Compline: Without prostrations. After the first Trisagion, the Troparion: Forefeast (Today the first-fruits of universal joy). After the second Trisagion, we sing Have mercy on us, O Lord… as usual. Canon of the departed from the Octoechos, from the canon at Matins, Tone 2. After It is truly meet, Trisagion, Kontakion Forefeast (Thou art the beginning of the salvation of all).

Lesser Dismissal.

Matins: God is the Lord, Tone 4; Troparion of Forefeast (Today the first-fruits of universal joy) x3.

Kathismas: 16 & 17 (The Evlogitaria of the departed are not sung). Sessional Hymns of the Octoechos.

Psalm 50.

Canon (Odes 1 -5):

Forefeast 6 O Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Irmos (Twice) & Katavasia of the Forefeast: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea.

After Ode 3: Sessional hymn of the Forefeast (With the descent of the all-holy Spirit); G/N: Theotokion (Today all creation rejoiceth).

Canon (Odes 6, 7, 8 and 9):*

Forefeast 6 O Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Four-Canticled Canon 8 O holy martyrs, pray to God for us.

Irmos of the Forefeast (twice).

Katavasia: Irmos of the second three-canticled canon (Held fast by many sins).

After Ode 6: Kontakion (Thou art the beginning of the salvation of all) and Ikos of the Forefeast.

At Ode 9: More honorable. We do not sing It is truly meet.

Exapostilarion of the Forefeast (Flying down from on high); G/N: Forefeast (Flying down from on high).

The Praises are read. Small Doxology is read; Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Martyrs (From the Octoechos, Tone 2, written at the Praises, with the usual refrains from the Horologion; G/N: Forefeast (The Theotokos heard a tongue which she knew not). It is good to give praise x1; Trisagion prayers; Troparion of the Forefeast. Litany: Have mercy on us, O God. Priest: Wisdom! Choir: Father (Master), bless. Priest: He that is is blessed. Choir: Amen. Establish, O God, and immediately the First Hour, and the Dismissal.

* When the Forefeast falls on Saturday, the 6th and 7th Biblical Odes are chanted at Friday Matins (the day prior), as on Friday during the First Week of Lent.

Hours: Troparion: Forefeast; Kontakion: Forefeast.

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Beatitudes, on 8: from the Canon of the Forefeast: 4, from Ode 3; and 4, from Ode 6.

After the entrance: In Temple of the Lord: Troparion of the Temple; Troparion of the Forefeast; G: Kontakion of the Temple; N: Kontakion of the Forefeast.

In a Temple of the Theotokos or of a Saint: Troparion of the Forefeast; G/N: Kontakion of the Forefeast.

Prokimenon Tone 8, Be glad in the Lord.

Epistle: Heb. 10:32-38 (§325).

Alleluia, Tone 4.

Gospel: Mark 2:14-17 (§8).

Communion Hymn: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.