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Triodion

On Wednesday of the First Week at Vespers

Menaion - March 6

Memory of the 42 Martyrs of Amorion

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THE DIVINE LITURGY OF PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

On Wednesday Evening of the First Week 2025

From the Triodion.

Sticheron Idiomelon. Mode pl. 4.

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord. [SAAS]

O brethren, as we are fasting physically, let us also fast spiritually. Let us loose every bond of wrongdoing, and untie the knots of violent dealings. Let us tear apart every unjust contract. Let us give bread to the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into our homes; so that from Christ God we may receive the great mercy. [SD]

Sticheron Idiomelon. Mode pl. 4.

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me. [SAAS]

O brethren, as we are fasting physically, let us also fast spiritually. Let us loose every bond of wrongdoing, and untie the knots of violent dealings. Let us tear apart every unjust contract. Let us give bread to the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into our homes; so that from Christ God we may receive the great mercy. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 4.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. [SAAS]

If there be virtue and if there be praise, it is fitting for the Martyrs; for they bowed their necks to the broadsword for You who bowed the heavens and descended. They spilled their blood for You who emptied yourself and took the form of a servant; and they let themselves be humbled, even unto death, in imitation of Your poverty. So, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, through their prayers, O God, have mercy on us. [SD]

Stichera Prosomia. By Joseph.

Mode 2. (not metered)

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. [SAAS]

O Apostles and eye-witnesses of God, you were sent into all the world as shining flashes of lightning, by Jesus, the noetic sun. He diminished the darkness of error, by the rays of your divine doctrines; and He enlightened those who were maliciously held as prisoners in the gloom of ignorance. We pray you to entreat Him to grant us illumination and the great mercy. [SD]

Mode 2. (not metered)

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]

By fasting, Elias was made to shine; and he boarded the divine chariot of the virtues and was carried up to the heavenly height. Emulate him, O my humble soul, and fast, and abstain from all manner of malice, and envy, and strife, and fleeting revelry and pleasure; so as to escape the everlasting torment of the fires of gehenna. And now cry aloud to Christ, “O Lord, glory to You!” [SD]

Another. By Theodore.

Mode pl. 1. Devout and God-bearing father.

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]

Divine Apostles, * you fervently intercede for the world, * you are the defenders of the Orthodox. * Since by your close access you are mighty * in your prayers to Christ our God, * we pray you who are praised by all: * Entreat the Lord on our behalf, * that He grant us easily * to accomplish the beneficial time of the lenten fast, * and that we may receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity. * O great and glorious preachers, * pray for the salvation of our souls. [SD]

Stichera. For the Martyrs.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. When you were called.

Ὁ ἐξ ὑψίστου κληθείς.

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]

In latter times, O triumphant holy Martyrs, * you appeared as never-setting stars in the divine * celestial firmament of the Church * of Christ the Savior, * and with the splendor of your martyric feats * you enlightened all the earth, and also you dispersed * delusion’s darkness, all-lauded Saints. * Hence you were transferred * to the divine and eternal radiance. * Since we have now obtained you as our own * good protectors, we faithfully celebrate * the light-bearing and sacred * commemoration of your martyrdom. [SD]

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]

In latter times, O triumphant holy Martyrs, * you appeared as never-setting stars in the divine * celestial firmament of the Church * of Christ the Savior, * and with the splendor of your martyric feats * you enlightened all the earth, and also you dispersed * delusion’s darkness, all-lauded Saints. * Hence you were transferred * to the divine and eternal radiance. * Since we have now obtained you as our own * good protectors, we faithfully celebrate * the light-bearing and sacred * commemoration of your martyrdom. [SD]

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]

Martyrs for Christ, you were forcibly led captive * and you were imprisoned in a dungeon for the length * of seven years, where you proved to be * divine and loyal * keepers and guardians of the Christian faith. * Since you were unwilling to submit to the demands * of that notorious animal * who held you captive, * he was enraged and he executed you. * And now with great joy you have all obtained * your rewards and enjoy your inheritance * in the kingdom of heaven, * O all-lauded holy Forty-two. [SD]

For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]

Come let us all sing aloud in admiration * of Kallistos, and Bassoes, and of Constantine, * also Theophilos, Theodore, * and the entire * distinguished company of the Martyr Saints. * They preferred and chose to die for Christ the Life of all. * As they were slaughtered they all rejoiced. * They now enjoy rest * in the divine city of the living God; * and they entreat Him as they pray for us * to receive the forgiveness of all our sins * and complete absolution * when He comes again on Judgment Day. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. When you were called.

Through my indifference and laziness, O Lady, * sadly I hit bottom in a multitude of sins, * and I the wretch now am overcome * by indecision * and desperation, and I am miserable. * O all-stainless Virgin, will you be a help for me, * the expiation of all my sins, * and my salvation, * and grant divine consolation to my soul. * I come with faith and I entreat and pray * and implore and cry out to you: Leave me not * to end up as the object * of the enemy’s malignant joy. [SD]

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise.

READER

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You.

The Readings

DEACON

The evening…

From Triodion - - -

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 1.

Psalm 11 (12).

You shall guard us, O Lord; You shall preserve us.

Save me, O Lord, for the holy man has ceased. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 1:24 – 31, 2:1 – 3

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: the quadrupeds, the creeping things, and the wild animals of the earth according to their kind.” It was so. So God made the wild animals of the earth according to their kind, the cattle according to their kind, and all the creeping things on earth according to their kind. God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that moves on the earth.” So God made man; in the image of God He made him; male and female He made them. Then God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing herb that sows seed on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. I also give every green plant as food for all the wild animals of the earth, for all the birds of heaven, and for everything that creeps on the earth in which is the breath of life.” It was so. Then God saw everything He had made, and indeed, it was very good. So evening and morning were the sixth day. Thus heaven and earth and all their adornment were finished. And on the seventh day God finished the works He made, and He rested on the seventh day from all the works He made. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His works God began to make. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

Psalm 12 (13).

Look upon me and hear me, O Lord my God.

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me to the end? [SAAS]

READER (sung)

Command!

The Priest holds a lit candle in his right hand with the censer hanging below it, stands before the holy Table, gestures crosswise and says:

PRIEST

Wisdom. Arise.

Then he turns to face the people, blesses them crosswise with the candle, and says:

The light of Christ shines on all.

Then he hands the candle and the censer to the acolyte.

READER

The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Pr 2:1 – 23

My son, if you receive the words of my commandment and hide them within yourself, your ear will be obedient to wisdom, and you will incline your heart to understanding; you will entrust it to your son as an admonition. For if he calls upon wisdom, and you utter your voice for understanding; if you seek perception with a strong voice, if you seek her as silver and search for her as treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His face come knowledge and understanding; and He stores up salvation for the upright; He will protect their journey, that He might guard the ways of His ordinances; and He will carefully guard the way of those who reverence Him. Then you will understand righteousness and judgment, and accomplish successfully every good path for yourself. For if wisdom comes into your mind, and the perception in your soul seems to be good, then good counsel will guard you, and holy thinking will keep you; that it might rescue you from an evil way and from a man who speaks nothing trustworthy. Woe to those who forsake the paths of uprightness so they may walk in the ways of darkness, who delight in evils and rejoice in evil perversion, whose ways are crooked and their paths devious, so they may cause you to be far from the straight way and a stranger to righteous judgment. My son, do not lay hold of evil counsel, nor forsake the teaching of your youth and forget the divine covenant; for it establishes its house with death, and its paths beside Hades with the dead; all who journey there do not return, nor do they lay hold of straight paths; for they do not comprehend the years of life. For if they walked in good paths, they would find the smooth paths of righteousness. The inhabitants of the land will be good, and the simple will be left in it; for the upright will dwell in the land, and the holy will be left in it. The ways of the ungodly shall perish from the land, and the lawless shall be banished from it. [SAAS]

PRIEST

Peace be with you.

(Go back to the Presanctified Liturgy booklet.)