Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

1Liturgy of the Catechumens. At the lamp-lighting, after the readings and the 'Let your direction be' and the 'Lord have mercy,' the prayer of the catechumens for those preceding is made. O God, our God, the Creator and Maker of all things, who desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, look upon your servants, the catechumens, and deliver them from ancient error and the schemes of the adversary, and call them into eternal life, illuminating their souls and their bodies and counting them among your logical flock, upon which your holy name is invoked. Let it be so, that they too, along with us, may glorify you, being prepared for the approach to the holy light. Appear, O Lord, your face upon those who are preparing for the holy light and who long to cast off the stain of sin. Calm their minds; confirm them in faith; strengthen them in hope; perfect them in love; reveal to them the precious members of your Christ, who gives himself as a ransom for our souls. Let them proclaim: For you are our light, and to you we return the glory.

Liturgy of the Faithful. Prayer of the Faithful I. O God, the great and praiseworthy, who through the life-giving death of your Christ has transferred us from corruption into incorruption: free all our senses from the death of passion, having known the good inward thought. Let the eye be a stranger to every evil gaze, let the hearing be unapproachable by idle words, and let the tongue be purified from improper speech. And sanctify our lips that praise you, Lord, and make our hands to abstain from evil deeds and to work only what is pleasing to you, securing all our members and our mind by your grace. Let them proclaim: For all glory, honor, and worship is due to you.

Prayer of the Faithful II. Holy Lord, supremely good, we implore you, the one rich in mercy, to be gracious to us sinners and to make us worthy of receiving your only-begotten Son and God, our King of Glory. For behold, his immaculate body and life-giving blood are entering at this very hour, and are about to be set forth at this mystical table, guarded by a multitude of an invisible heavenly host; of whom grant us an unblemished participation, so that, being dazzled by them, the eye of our mind may become children of light and of day. Let them proclaim: According to the gift of your Christ, with whom you are blessed, together with the All-Holy.

Entrance. And after the fulfillment of the powers of heaven, the priest prays: God of the unutterable and invisible mysteries, with whom the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden; who has revealed to us the service of this liturgy and has established us, sinners, through your great philanthropy, to offer to you both gifts and sacrifices for our sins and for the ignorances of the people; He, the invisible King, who does...

2Great and unsearchable, glorious and wonderful, of which there is no number, You have bestowed upon us, Your unworthy servants, as if presenting us before Your Cherubic throne at this holy altar, upon which Your only-begotten Son and our God rests through the forthcoming awesome mysteries; and sanctify all our souls and bodies with this lifting sanctification, having freed us and Your faithful people from all impurity, so that, receiving these divine sanctifications with a pure conscience, an unashamed countenance, and an enlightened heart, and being made alive by them, we may be united to Him, Your Christ, our true God, who said: 'He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.' So that, O Lord, as Your Word dwells in us and walks among us, we may become a temple of Your Holy and worshipful Spirit, having been delivered from all the deceitful methods of the devil in deed, or word, or in thought, and may obtain the promised good things with all the saints who have pleased You from all eternity. Choir: And grant us, Lord. People: Our Father. Priest: For Yours is the kingdom. People: Amen. Priest: Peace to all. People: And to your spirit. Deacon: Lift up your heads. Priest: The God, the only good and compassionate One, who dwells in the heights and looks upon the lowly, look with a compassionate eye upon all Your people, protect them, and grant all of us to partake without condemnation of these life-giving mysteries of Yours. For we have bowed our heads, awaiting the abundant mercy that comes from You. Choir: By the grace, mercies, and philanthropy of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed through Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now. People: Amen. Deacon: Let us attend. Priest: The preceding holy ones say: People: One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ. Prayer after Communion: We give thanks to You, O God, the Savior of all, for all the good things You provide us, and for the partaking of the holy Body and Blood of Your Christ. And we pray to You, O compassionate Lord: protect us under the shelter of Your wings, and grant us, until our last breath, to worthily partake of Your sanctifications for the enlightenment of soul and body, unto the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. Choir: For You are our sanctification, and to You we send up the glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. People: Amen. Deacon: Let us go forth in peace.

3The people: In the name of the Lord. Prayer after the previous ones: Lord, God Almighty, who created the creation in wisdom, who has led us through Your inscrutable providence and Your free will into these all-encompassing days for the purification of souls and for the attainment of the resurrection; You, who through Moses handled the God-written letters upon the tablets of the forty days: grant also to us, good Lord, to run the good race, to complete the course of the fast, to keep the faith undivided, to crush the heads of the invisible dragons, so that we may appear as victors over sin and reach Your holy resurrection without condemnation. For holy is the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

2, C, D, E, F, G, Sequence of the previous ones (of Holy Lent). Liturgy of the Catechumens. C. After the readings have been said at the lamp-lighting, the direction is given: 'Let all direct themselves,' and after this the deacon prays: 'Let us all say: With all my soul and with all my mind...' And the people say: 'Lord, have mercy.' And the priest says: 'For You are a merciful and loving-towards-mankind God, and to You we return the glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages.'

After this, the prayer for the catechumens regarding the previous ones is said thus: 'God, our God, the Creator and Maker...' (page 53). Extolled: 'So that they also with us may glorify Your all-venerable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...' C. Know (be aware) that this prayer and the ministrations from the Tetrad of the mid-week of the fast are: 'All you who are catechumens, come forward'; 'You who are catechumens, come forward' (not 'any of the catechumens,' but 'all who are faithful'). Prayer: 'Manifest, Lord, Your face' (page 54). 'All you who have come toward the light...' 'Again and again, let us pray, kneeling in the peace of the Lord.'

Liturgy of the Faithful. Prayer of the faithful A: 'God, the great and praiseworthy...' (page 54). Prayer of the faithful B: 'Holy Lord, supremely good...' (page 55). Extolled: 'According to the gift of Your Christ...' E. Now the powers C, H: 'Let us fulfill the petition...' 'For those set forth...' E. Prayer after 'Now the powers,' which the priest performs: 'You who have visited us in mercy and compassion, Lord and God, and who have granted to Your humble and unworthy servants the boldness to stand at Your holy altar and to offer to You this rational and bloodless worship on behalf of our sins,'

4Look upon me, your worthless servant, and blot out my transgressions through your compassion, and cleanse my lips and my heart from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and make me sufficient by the power of your Holy Spirit for this liturgy. And receive me, through your goodness, as I approach your holy altar. Be pleased, Lord, to accept these gifts brought to you by our hands, descending with us into our infirmities. And do not reject me from your presence, nor loathe my unworthiness, but may God have mercy on me according to your great mercy and overlook my iniquities, so that, approaching without condemnation before your glory, I may be worthy of the protection of your only-begotten Son and may not become an unproven slave of sin. Yes, Lord, Almighty Master, hear my prayer. For you are the one who works all things in all, and from you we all seek help.

[...] Prayer after the holy gifts have been set aside. The prayer of the Unutterable (). 'Take hold, save.' The entire evening service. And grant us, Lord, with boldness, etc. (pages 56, lines 60–67). 'God, the only good and compassionate' (). Prayer. 'Pay attention, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of your kingdom, and come to sanctify us, sitting with the Father above and being invisibly present with us; and grant us, by your mighty hand, to partake of your immaculate body and your precious blood, and through us, for all your people.'

The priest lifts the bread. The deacon says: 'Let us pay attention' (). Prayer after all have partaken, the priest prays: 'We give thanks to God, the Savior of all' (). Then he says: 'The Son, God, has been lifted up to heaven.' The people: 'We give thanks to you.' The deacon: 'Righteous are those who partake.' Exclamation: 'For you are our God.' Let us go forth in peace. The people: 'In the name of the Lord.' The deacon: 'Let us pray to the Lord.' The people: 'Lord, have mercy.'

Prayer after the procession. The prayer the priest says: 'Lord (O God) Almighty' (). Prayer said in the diaconicon. Prayer in the vestry. 'Lord, our God, who has brought us into these all-encompassing days and has made us partakers of your awesome mysteries, unite us with your rational hymn and make us heirs of your kingdom, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.'

53. Liturgy of the Catechumens. I. Proparaskevi—Connection to Vespers. Beginning. When the priest has entered the holy altar, put on the sacred vestments, and has made the blessed blessing: Deacon: Bless, Master. Priest: Blessed be the Kingdom. M. The introductory psalm is usually chanted; then, standing inside, he says the prayers of the lamp-lighting secretly. II. Prayers at the Lamp-Lighting. K. Prayer I: Lord, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, incline our prayer toward us and attend to the voice of our petition. Make with us a sign for good; guide us in the way of walking in your truth. Gladden our hearts to fear your holy name, for you are great and do great wonders. You alone are God, and there is none like you among the gods, Lord; powerful in mercy and good in strength, to help, to comfort, and to save all who hope in your holy name. Exclamation: For it is fitting to you, all... Prayer II: Lord, do not rebuke us in your anger, nor discipline us in your wrath; but deal with us according to your kindness, physician and healer of our souls. Guide us to the harbor of your will; enlighten the eyes of our hearts to the knowledge of your truth, and grant us the remainder of this present day in peace and without sin, and all the time of our lives, through the intercessions of the Mother of God and all your saints. Amen. Exclamation: For yours is the kingdom, and yours is the dominion... Prayer III: Lord our God, remember us, your sinful and unworthy servants, in [...]

...for calling upon your holy and worshipful name; and do not let us be put to shame from the expectation of your mercy, but grant to us, O Lord, all things that pertain to salvation; and grant that we may love and fear you with all our heart, and to do your will in all things. Exclamation: For you are a good and loving-towards-humanity God, and to you we send up the glory... [After the psalm is completed, the censing begins. 3. Litany. 1. Then the litany. Deacon: In the peace of the Lord. For the peace from above and for the salvation of those who are for the peace of the whole world. For this holy house and for those who are for our bishop, the honorable. For the most pious and God-protected ones. For the struggle and the subjection of enemies. For this holy monastery, for every city. For the moderation of the air, for the abundance of the fruits. For the many travelers. That we may be delivered from all troubles. Help, save, and protect. Of the All-Holy, immaculate, most blessed. For all glory, honor, and worship is due to you, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Then the prokeimena are chanted. At each antiphon, the priest makes a small litany: And again, and again, in peace. Help, save. Of the All-Holy, immaculate. For yours is the kingdom. 4. For you are good. 3. For he has been blessed and glorified. 4. Prothesis. Censing. K. While the psalm of the seated is usually being sung, the priest goes to the holy prothesis and, bringing out from the bread-box the life-giving bread, places it upon the holy diskos with all care and reverence, also performing the communion in the holy cup. However, he does not say anything of those in the prothesis...

6[...] as is customary, and not even a prayer of preparation. For the sacrifice is already offered, completed, and presented, even if a prayer of preparation is found in some of the kontakia. But usually, one only covers these with an asterisk and the divine veils, performs the censing, and proceeds. During the singing of 'Lord, I have cried,' one censors according to the type. E. The Small Entrance. K, M. Then, having turned, he enters with the censer. The Prayer of the Entrance. Th, I. We praise You in the evening, in the morning, and at noon; we bless You and besee You, O Master of all, direct our prayer as incense before You, and do not let our hearts turn toward wicked words, but save us from all those who hunt our souls; for to You, Lord, Lord, our eyes look, and in You we have hoped. Do not let us be put to shame, O our God. Exclamation: For it is fitting for You all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and to the Son. L, M. Then: Lord, I have cried. The Verses. L. And the priest, entering, says: K, L, M. Wisdom: Stand upright. L, M. A peaceful light. I. After the entrance, the Peaceful Light. St. The Readings. K, M. And having entered into the holy solea, he goes to the ambo and says: I, K. Deacon: Let us attend. I, K. Priest: Peace be to all. I, K. Deacon: Wisdom. K. Reader: The appointed reading and the prophecy. I. And a reading, then, from Genesis. After the prophecy: Priest: Peace be to you. Deacon: Wisdom. M. And he reads the 4th Psalm. Kh. And when the readings have been read, the brothers chant. Z. A cross-shaped light and the sealing of the people. I. Then the priest, taking the censer in his right hand along with the wax, exclaims: Wisdom, stand upright. The Light of Christ shines upon all. Then the parable, after which: Priest: Peace be to you. Deacon: Wisdom. And immediately the 'Let our direction be...' H. The Litany of Supplication. Th. And after the entrance, the readings, and the 'Let our direction be...', he says: Let us all say with all our heart and with all our mind: K. Let us say: Lord Pantocrator, God of our fathers, hear us and have mercy. For the holy... For the salvation... Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we beseech You: K, K. Lord, hear and have mercy. I, K. etc. We beseech You also for our most pious and God-fearing kings, for their reign, victory, K. stability, peace, health, and salvation, and that the Lord our God may work with them even more, guide them in all things, and subject all enemy and strife under their feet. I. We beseech You also for our most pious and Christ-loving kings, for the health of the Name and the Name. For the health of our Archbishop Name. For the forgiveness of the sins of the servant of God Name, and for all our brotherhood in Christ. And for those who serve. Exclamation: For You are a merciful and loving-towards-mankind God. I. The Prayer of the Litany of Supplication. Th. Lord, our God, this continuous prayer...

7Accept a supplication from your servants and have mercy on us according to the abundance of your mercy, and send your mercies upon us and upon all your people, who await the rich mercy from you. Extolled: For you are a merciful and loving-towards-humanity God, and to you we return the glory to the Father...

Prayers for the catechumens and those being illuminated. The Deacon. Responses. Let the catechumens pray to the Lord. The faithful, let us pray for the catechumens, that the Lord may have mercy on them, instruct them in the word of truth, reveal to them the gospel of righteousness, and unite them to his own holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Responses: Save, have mercy, uphold, and protect them, O God, by your grace. Catechumens, bow your heads to the Lord. The Priest prays: God, our God, the Creator... Responses: Save, have mercy, raise up, and protect. Catechumens, bow your heads to the Lord. That they too may glorify with us. 'All you who are catechumens, come forward; all you who are catechumens, come forward.' These diaconal instructions are said from the seventh week until the mid-week; but from the fourth mid-week, these following are said: 'All you who are catechumens, come forward; all you who are catechumens, come forward; all you who are approaching illumination.'

Let those approaching illumination pray. The faithful, let us pray for our brothers who are being prepared for the holy illumination and for their salvation by the Lord: that the Lord God our God may support them and strengthen them; enlighten them with the light of knowledge and truth; grant them to be worthy in the proper time of the bath of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins, and the garment of incorruption; regenerate them through water and spirit; grant them the perfection of faith; and count them among his holy and elect flock. Responses: Save, have mercy, raise up, and protect them, O God, by your grace. You who are approaching illumination, bow your heads to the Lord. This prayer is said from the fourth mid-week: 'Appear, O Lord, your face, etc.' [See page 54]. Extolled: For you are our light, and to you is the glory. The people: Amen. 'All you who are approaching illumination, come forward; all you who are approaching illumination, come forward; all you who are catechumens, come forward; let no one of the catechumens remain.' Let us pray continually that we all may be in the peace of the Lord.

Liturgy of the Faithful. X. Prayers for the faithful. The Priest. Prayer of the faithful after the unfolded veil. God, the great and praiseworthy, etc. [See page 54]. Responses: Uphold, save, have mercy, raise up, and protect. Extolled: For all glory and honor belong to you. Again and again. The Priest prays: Holy Lord, supremely good, we are being disgraced... [See page 55]. Responses: Uphold, save, have mercy, raise up, and protect. According to the gift of...

8With your Christ, with whom you are blessed through your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and forever... 14. The Great Entrance. The chanters: K, L, M, Ph, m, Tr. The people: Now the powers of heaven: K, M. The Cherubic prayer is not said. 1. After the priest has entered from the prothesis and placed the Holy Things upon the holy altar, he says: the priest Let us fulfill our evening petition to the Lord. Th, I. Let us pray for the gifts that have been offered and sanctified: K, M, P. For this holy house and for the... Th, I, K, P, Tr, etc. So that our Philanthropic God, I, K, P, having received these, may... K, into his holy, super-heavenly, and spiritual altar, Th, P, send back to us... I, K, M, P, Tr, etc. For us to be delivered from all... Th. The prayer of the Presanctified Gifts follows after the gifts have been placed on the altar and the mystical people have been filled. The prayer of the ineffable and unseen mysteries (pp. 55–56). 12. Diaconal and Lordly prayer—Communion. Th, I, K, M, P, P, a, etc. Help, save, have mercy, and protect... May the entire evening be perfect, holy, peaceful, and without sin, through the Angel of Peace, a faithful guide and guardian. For forgiveness and remission of sins; for that which is good and profitable for souls; for the remaining time of life; for a Christian end to our lives, without... for the unity of the faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit... And grant us, etc. (pp. 56–57, lines 60–76). 1. The priest, bowing, prays: Lord, hear me (p. 62, lines 51–55): Th, I. The deacon: Let us attend. The priest: The Presanctified Holy Things to the saints. The people: One is holy, one is Lord. Ph. Taste and see that Christ is Lord. K. Note that when he is about to lift them, while the Holy Things are still covered, he brings his hands forward; he exclaims: K, M. Once Communion is completed and the Holy Things have been removed from the holy altar, the priest prays: Th. After Communion: We give thanks to you (pp. 57–58). 13. Epilogue and Dismissal. 1. Then, remembering and saying to himself, the priest exclaims: Blessed be our God, lifting up the Holy Things: Always, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. The deacon: Blessed are those who have partaken of the divine, holy, unblemished, immortal, and heavenly mysteries of Christ; let us give thanks to the Lord. Help, save, have mercy, and protect. Having asked for the entire evening to be perfect, holy, peaceful, and without sin, for ourselves and for one another: K. Exclaiming: Because you are our sanctification, and to you we return the glory, to the Father and to the Son: K, Ph. The deacon: Let us go forth in peace. Let us pray to the Lord: Prayer after Communion: Lord God Almighty (p. 58). 1. Prayer for the removal of the Holy Things: Lord our God, who leads us... (pp. 63, lines 71–74).