The rules pertaining to Lent forbid the celebration of the Divine Liturgy from Monday thru Friday. Therefore on Wednesdays and Fridays the Church celebrates a special service of Communion called the LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS.
Basically it is a Vespers Service to which is added the serving of Holy Communion. Since the joyous nature of the Divine Liturgy would not be in keeping with the penitential spirit of Lent, the Church from early times came upon the perfect solution. At the Sunday Liturgy the priest consecrates not one but two (or three) "amnoi" (hosts). These additional "lambs" are saved or reserved for use during the Liturgy of the Presanctified. Hence the name presanctified. Since the bread has already been consecrated there is no subsequent epiklesis (prayer of consecration). This is especially underscored by what occurs during the Great Entrance. Whereas normally the priest simply carries the unconsecrated elements into public view intoning "may the Lord our God remember all of you in his Kingdom....." during the Great Entrance of the Presanctified Liturgy the priest in presenting the previously consecrated gifts has his head covered by the aer to show the greatest awe for the present Christ. Also during the lengthy procession he does not utter a word nor does the cantor. It is only at the conclusion of the entrance that he recites solemnly the usual words of concluding benediction said at every service; "Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers O Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen." Furthermore, during the entrance the people kneel out of reverence for the consecrated gifts.
The obvious purpose of this service is to provide the faithful with the strenngh they need to persevere on their lenten journey. We need to remember that Communion is our sustaining power.
At St.John's the Presanctified Liturgy is served twice the first week in Lent (Wednesday at 6 p.m and Friday at 9 a.m.) For the remaining part of Lent it is only on Wednesday evenings. And on Wednesday of Holy Week it is celebrated at 9 a.m.
Prior to reception. Confession before the priest is in order. The fast should also last from rising until reception.
Certainly, the faithful Christian who desires to be one with Christ needs to participate in this liturgy weekly. In order for us to receive the full benefits we must come ready to receive Holy Communion and not simply come as spectators.
Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. we will celebrate a service called APODEIPNON (lit.service following deipno,i.e. evening meal) There are two services. Of the two we will conduct the shorter one which lasts about 20 minutes to half an hour. It consists of several psalms,the Creed, the Trisagion, some Troparia (hymns) and the beautiftil Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos and the equally exquisite Prayer to Our Lord. It concludes with appropriate intercessory petitions.
This truly exceptional service of the Akathist Hymn is a poetic masterpiece. It was composed and first celebrated as an active prayer of thanksgiving on the occasion of the deliverance of Constantinople from the siege of the barbarians in 626 A.D.
While some of the more devout Orthodox attend all or some of the five Friday evening services devoted to the Akathist, the majority stay at home and thus remain ignorant of its profound spiritual treasures and never experience its power to elevate the human soul and mind to spiritual heights seldom attained by flesh and blood.
The Akathist is composed of 24 Stanzas called "oikoi". The starting letter of each is a letter from the Greek alphabet beginning with Alpha and ending with Omega. Twelve of the stanzas end with "Hail! O Bride without Bridegroom", and the other twelve conclude with "Alleluia".
The title Akathist or Akathistos means literally "not sitting" because the worshippers are called to remain standing. Most of the hymn is made up of praises addressed to the Virgin Mary. The hymn presents the various events connected with Christ's Incarnation beginning with the Annunciation and ending with the flight to Egypt and Symeon's reception of Jesus.
THE FIRST STANZA
The archangel was sent from heaven to say "Hail" to the Theotokos.
And with his celestial voice envisioning you O Lord embodied, he was
rapt with wonder and stood crying to her.
Hail, to you through whom joy shall shine forth.
Hail, to you through whom the curse will vanish.
Hail, the recalling of the fallen Adam.
Hail, the redemption of Eve's tears.
Hail, O height beyond human logic.
Hail, O depth invisible even to the eyes of Angels.
Hail, for you are the King's throne.
Hail, that you bear him, who bears the universe.
Hail, O star revealing the Sun.
Hail, O womb of divine incarnation.
Hail, to you through whom Creation is renewed.
Hail, to you through whom the Creator is born a babe.
Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.