On all days of
the holy fast of Lent, except on the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, and the holy day
of the Annunciation, the Liturgy of the Presanctified is to be served (Canon
52, Quinisext, 692). The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is an evening
service. It is the solemn lenten Vespers with the administration of Holy
Communion added to it. There is no consecration of the eucharistic gifts at the
presanctified liturgy. Holy Communion is given from the eucharistic gifts
sanctified on the previous Sunday at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy,
unless, of course, the feast of the Annunciation should intervene; hence its
name of “presanctified.”
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served on
Wednesday and Friday evenings, although some churches may celebrate it only on
one of these days. It comes in the evening after a day of spiritual preparation
and total abstinence. The faithful who are unable to make the effort of total
fasting because of weakness or work, however, normally eat a light lenten meal
in the early morning.
During the psalms of Vespers, the presanctified gifts
are prepared for communion. They are transferred from the altar table where
they have been reserved since the Divine Liturgy, and are placed on the table
of oblation. After the evening hymn, the Old Testamental scriptures of Genesis
and Proverbs are read, between which the celebrant blesses the kneeling
congregation with a lighted candle and the words: “The Light of Christ
illumines all,” indicating that all wisdom is given by Christ in the Church
through the scriptures and sacraments. This blessing was originally directed
primarily to the catechumens—those preparing to be baptized on Easter—who
attended the service only to the time of the communion of the faithful.
Now the heavenly powers [i.e., the angels] do minister
invisibly with us. For behold the King of Glory enters. Behold the mystical
sacrifice, all fulfilled, is ushered in. Let us with faith and love draw
near that we may be partakers of everlasting life. Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
After the litany and prayers, the Our Father is sung
and the faithful receive Holy Communion to the chanting of the verse from Psalm
34: “O taste and see how good is the Lord. Alleluia.” The post-communion hymns
are sung and the faithful depart with a prayer to God who “has brought us to
these all-holy days for the cleansing of carnal passions,” that he will bless
us “to fight the good fight, to accomplish the course of the fast, and to
attain unto and to adore the holy resurrection” of Christ.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is
traditionally considered to be the work of the sixth-century pope, Saint
Gregory of Rome. The present service, however, is obviously the inspired
liturgical creation of Christian Byzantium.
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