Presanctified Liturgy

Canon XLIX of the Sixty Canons of the Regional Council of Laodicea (AD 364) states, "During the Great Fast, bread must not be offered, except on Saturday and Sunday only."  Canon LII of the Sixth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (AD 680) states, "On the days of the Holy Lent devoted to fasting, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday and the days of the Holy Annunciation, let the sacred Liturgy of the Presanctified be celebrated."


In short, the Eucharist is incredibly important to us, and yet the sanctity and sobriety of the Great Fast requires that the 'celebration' that is the Divine Liturgy not be observed during the days of the week.  It is for this reason that on the calendar we find readings from Genesis, from Isaiah, from Proverbs instead of the typical Epistle and Gospel readings.  And so the Church gifts to us the "necessary food," our "daily bread" as the Eucharist of the Presanctified Gifts.

This Liturgy itself is filled with the indications of that which is "different".  From the very beginning, when the clergy arrive for entrance prayers and vesting, the vesting prayers are 'removed', and substituted with simple, "Let us pray to the Lord/Lord have mercy" offerings at the addition of each vestment item.  We begin with Vesperal hymns, the "Sunset Psalm" (Ps 104).  The hymns and responses are sung in the Lenten tones, as opposed to those used during the more joyous Divine Liturgy of Sunday.

The First Antiphon is founded upon the "Song of Ascents" (Ps 120 - 124), the Second from Ps 125-129, the third Ps 130-134.  During the singing of these hymns, the Host which is already sanctified is transferred from its receptacle (where it was placed on Sunday) to the diskos, then the diskos to the Table of Oblation, all with extreme reverence, for it is the Lord Who is fully before us!

As at Vespers, Lord I Call is sung in the Tone of the Week, followed by hymns which carry the message of the particular week of the Fast within which the service is being served.  Today, we are taught of the Fast itself, ("While fasting in body, let us also fast in spirit, let us loose the bonds of iniquity...."), and of the saints and the Apostles who defended the Holy Orthodox Faith against heresy.

We continue with "Gladsome Light", the hymn which reminds us of the Light of Christ, one of the Holy Trinity, Who entered the world for our salvation.  There are Prokeimena and Old Testament readings, beginning with the account of Creation (today), and carrying us to the Passion of our Lord (during Holy Week).  In between the readings, we bow as the priest brings forth the censer and a single lighted candle, with the proclamation, "Let us attend!  The Light of Christ illumines all!"  This reminds us that our Lord is our source of illumination, of understanding and wisdom, in all that we do.  It is His light that shines on the Old Testament readings before us today, He Who is present at creation, Who is the Creator.  It is He Who gave the wisdom to Solomon to record that which we read today from Proverbs ("My son, if you receive My words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; ....then you will find the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God.") Prov 2:1-22

The clergy and faithful antiphonally sing "Let My Prayer Arise" as the Holy Eucharist is censed at the four corners of the altar and the Table of Oblation.  All pray the prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian, bowing before the Holy Eucharist in repentance, and asking the Lord for His gifts of chastity, humility, patience and love.

After litanies, the Great Entrance follows.  The hymn, "Now invisibly, heavenly powers minister with us.  For behold, the King of Glory now enters.  Behold the mystical sacrifice, all fulfilled, is ushered in."  As the chalice and diskos are carried with extreme reverence by the clergy to the altar, the faithful bow to the floor, for the diskos does not bear our human offerings of bread, but of the Body and Blood of our Lord, fully completed (not as the 'offering' of a regular Divine Liturgy).  Communion is received by the faithful with the beautiful hymn, "O taste and see how good the Lord is!" (Ps 34)

We pray that you may participate in tonight's Presanctified Liturgy, wherever you may be.  If you are near to Hudson, please join us in offering your prayers and voice to our Lord in worship!