The Pre-sanctified Liturgy on the first Wednesday of Lent was served by Bishop Silvester at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Jinja City. In dignified attendance of the penitential service were Titular Metropolitan Innocentios of Sozusa and Bishop Constantine of Juba and South Sudan. The vespers-like service was preceded by prayers of the Ninth Hour conducted by Fr. Chrysosotom Koolya.
After the Pre-sanctified Liturgy, Bishop Silvester reminded the fasters of the need to abstain from foods during the Great Lent which started on Clean Monday, 3 March 2025. ”The significance of our existence is not eating. We only eat to live but not live to eat. Let us avoid being slaves of food,” he said.
At the conclusion of the service, a light Lenten breakfast was served at the Cathedral to the faithful present, with the presence of the three bishops. The Pre-sanctified Liturgy is called so because the Body and Blood of Jesus which are partaken are consecrated during the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
The regular Liturgy of Saint John Chrysosotom is considered a festival celebration because it observes the resurrection of Jesus. This means it deviates from the penitential nature of the Great Fast. This is the reason the Pre-sanctified Liturgy is offered in substitute during the weekdays of the Great Lent to enable the fasters sustain their Lenten effort by divinely communing with God.
The prayer for the entire world read by the priest at the ambo at the conclusion of the Pre-sanctified Liturgy
Master and Ruler overall, You made all creation in wisdom. By Your ineffable providence and abounding goodness, You brought us to these solemn days, for cleansing of soul and body, self-control over passions, and hope of resurrection. Good Lord, who for Moses Your servant forged the divinely engraved tablets in the course of forty days, to us also grant to fight the good fight, to finish the race of the fast, to keep the faith intact, to shatter the heads of invisible dragons, to emerge as victors over sin, and to be ready without condemnation to venerate Your holy resurrection.
For blessed and glorified is Your all-honored and majestic name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
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