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The
Greek Orthodox Church and Symbolisms
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- ONE VOICE : AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DIVINE LITURGY
- THE DIVINE LITURGY OF SAINT JOHN THE CHRYSOSTOM
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THE POSITION OF THE PRIEST
The primary position of the priest is standing in front of the altar on which the Tabernacle containing the Holy Gifts and Sacred Gospel are kept. This primary position is that of the priest leading the people in prayer. The priest at all times during the Liturgy either exhorts the spoken words or reads the inaudible prayers. He does not leave this position except for blessings, processions, and readings.
THE LIFTING OF THE GOSPEL
The Divine Liturgy starts with a blessing of Kingdom of God, which includes the Sacred Body of Christ on earth, His Church. The priest offers petitions or small prayers, especially for the peace of the world with the people responding, "Kyrie Eleison" (Lord have Mercy). Reading from the Old Testament, especially from Psalms 102 and 145, when refrains of Christian meanings and specific references to the Resurrection of Christ are intoned as responses.
THE SMALL ENTRY WITH THE GOSPEL
This entry represents the ancient practice when the priest took the
Gospel by the light of torches from the crypt (an underground safeguard to protect the Gospel from destruction of pagans), bringing it up into the Church. The priest lifts up the Gospel and exclaims: "Sophia", which means Wisdom, and calls people to worship and bow down to the Lord Jesus Christ. THE THRICE HOLY HYMN, a short prayer praising the Holiness of God is sung by the congregation.
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THE READING OF THE EPISTLE
A passage from the Book of Acts or the Epistles of the Apostles is read by the cantor or lay reader. In the cycle of a year, the church determines that the entire New Testament is to be read (except the book of Revelation).
THE READING OF THE GOSPEL
A passage from the four Gospels is read by the ordained clergy (Deacon, Priest, or Bishop). The specific passages read are determined by the Church and are the same every year. Although the content of the four Gospels are read during weekdays and Sundays the year around, the determined readings of Sundays are more familiar to the faithful.
THE GREAT ENTRY
A procession with the yet Unsanctified Species (bread and wine) is taken from the Table of Oblation and is brought to the Altar during the singing of the Cherubic Hymn (an addition made in the 9th Century). The gifts are carried in solemn procession to the main Altar for sanctification.
THE WAVING OF THE AER
The Creed is the concise and accurate confession of the Christian Faith in 12 articles formulated by the First Ecumenical Synod at Ni-caea in 325 A.D., and the Second Ecumenical Synod of Constantinople in 380 A.D. It is recited during every Liturgy (an addition made to the Liturgy in the 9th Century; prior to that time it was recited only during the Liturgy at Pascha). |
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KNEE LING AT THE SANCTIFICATION
The Sanctification Prayer is now read audibly by the priest; in fact it is the very heart of the Liturgy. The Sanctification Prayer starts with the offering of the Oblation (bread-wine); continues with blessings and the actual words of institution by the Lord, "This is my body...This is my blood..."), and climaxes in the sanctification of the Species. Now the priest elevates the gifts and exclaims, "Thine own of Thine own we offer to Thee, o Lord". At this time, the people kneel, as the Epiklesis Prayer is read.
THE LORD'S PRAYER DISTRIBUTION OF ANTIDORON
The "Our Father" is recited by the people. The celebrant follows it with the exclamation: "For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever from all Ages to all Ages." The Lord's Prayer is a part of the Sermon on the Mount. This prayer was in answer to the innocent ignorance of the Apostles who interrupted the Lord during the Sermon on the Mount to ask Him to "teach us how to pray." the extemporaneous answer of the Lord to this question was destined to captivate the hearts of Christians and become the model of devotional worship.
THE ELEVATION OF THE AMNOS
At this point, the priest elevates the consecrated bread (Amnos) and breaks it in commemoration of the first Eucharist (Last Supper). Also at this time, the priest pours warm water i.e., zeon, into the chalice, a reminiscence of the very early Church Rite. |
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HOLY COMMUNION
The Communion Prayers are said and the priest partakes of the Holy Gifts separately, and then combines both elements into the Chalice (a later practice of the Church) for distribution to the faithful. Both the very Body and very Blood of Christ, combined in the Chalice, are given to the prepared faithful when the priest calls them to "draw near with reverence". In ancient times, the Holy Gifts were given to the faithful separately, first the Body and then the Cup, from which the faithful drank in turn, as is the continued practice for the ordained clergy today.
THE FINAL DISMISSAL PRAYER
The prayer is called Opisthamvon Prayer. The priest blesses the people in the name of the Holy Trinity, as he did when he started the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing the fact that the belief in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit is the cornerstone of the belief in the Orthodox Catholic (Catholic: meaning Universal) Church.
Blessed bread is distributed to all the congregation by the celebrant, reminiscent of the early "Agape" feasts offered by the faithful in the' first centuries after the Resurrection. Everyone is invited to come forward for "Antidoron". |
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- Provided for you
Courtesy of: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of
Bridgeport
- Rev. Demetrios A. Recachinas, Protopresbyter
Booklet
& Web Version Designed by:
- Vicky
Andriotis
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- For
information about obtaining hard copies of this
booklet, please contact:
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
4070 Park Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06604
Church Phone (203) 374-5561
Church Fax (203) 374-5770
E-mail: fatherdemetrios@ holytrinitybridgeport.org
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