The Service
The eucharistic Divine Liturgy is not celebrated in the Orthodox Church on Lenten weekdays. In order for the faithful to sustain their Lenten effort by participation in Holy Communion, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served. The service is an ancient one in the Orthodox Church. We officially hear about it in the canons of the seventh century, which obviously indicates its development at a much earlier date.
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; 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 or in the morning instead of the evening. 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 Testament 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 Pascha -- who attended the service only to the time of the communion of the faithful.
After the readings, the evening Psalm 141 (KJV) is solemnly sung once again with the offering of incense. Then, after the litanies of intercession and those at which the catechumens were dismissed in former days, the presanctified eucharistic gifts are brought to the altar in a solemn, silent procession. The song of the entrance calls the faithful to communion.
Now the heavenly powers (i.e., the angels) do minister invisibly with us. For behold the King of Glory enters in. 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 that the Lord is good. 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.
Notes on Prostrations
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a Liturgy, thus the normal posture for it is standing. There are a few exceptions to this, however, as there are prostrations during this service.
Venerating icons: Prostrations are made when one venerates the icons as one enters church. If one receives the Holy Eucharist at this liturgy, then one venerates the icons with metanias while leaving the church. Otherwise, one should venerate the icons when leaving the church with prostrations.
The Kathisma: this is a sectioned reading from the Psalter. A Kathisma is broken into three parts called “stases” and each one section is called a “stasis.” The 18th Kathisma is read after the Great Litany at the beginning of the service. During the reading the faithful stand. When the reader stops reading in the third stasis and the curtain above the Holy Doors is closed, the faithful prostrate. At this point in the liturgy the pre-sanctified gifts are solemnly transferred from the altar table to the table of oblation. When this is completed, the curtain will be opened, the reader will resume his reading, and the people then stand.
“The light of Christ…”: After the singing of “O Gladsome
Light”, a reader will come to the center of the church to intone a prokimenon and read from Genesis. Once he completes this reading, he will intone another prokimenon and then he will prostrate. The rest of the congregation prostrates with him as the priest blesses the people with a candle and the censer while chanting “The light of Christ illumineth all!”
“Let my prayer arise…”: After the reader completes the second Old Testament reading (which is from Proverbs), the choir begins the solemn hymn “Let my prayer arise”. During this hymn the people prostrate for the refrain and kneel for the verses.
“Prayer of St Ephraim”: This prayer occurs twice in the liturgy. It is said immediately after the hymn “Let my prayer arise” and immediately after the “Great Entrance”.
“The Great Entrance”: The choir sings the solemn hymn “Now the powers of Heaven” as the priest prepares for the Great Entrance. When the priest begins the Great Entrance, the choir stops singing and the entrance is made in complete silence. The people prostrate during the Great Entrance and stand up again when the choir continues with “Now the powers of Heaven”.
“Our Father…”: The “Our Father” is sung shortly after the Great Entrance. During this singing, the people prostrate.
“The Presanctified Holy Things are for the holy”: The priest chants “The Presanctified Holy Things are for the holy” a few moments after the “Our Father”. When the priest chants this, the people prostrate.
“With the fear of God, in faith and love draw near”: When the priest has prepared the presanctified gifts for the laity, he opens the Holy Doors and chants: “With the fear of God, in faith and love draw near”. When the priest does this, the people prostrate and then stand back up to recite “I believe, O Lord, and confess…”