NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

The Divine Liturgy is the primary worship service of the Church. The two primary forms of the Divine Liturgy are those of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great. The Divine Liturgy is a eucharistic service. It contains two parts: the Liturgy of the Catechumens, sometimes called the Liturgy of the Word, at which the Scriptures are proclaimed and expounded, and the Liturgy of the Faithful, sometimes called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which the gifts of bread and wine are offered and consecrated. The Church teaches that the gifts truly become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, but it has never dogmatized a particular formula for describing this transformation. The Prothesis (or proskomedia), the service of preparing the holy gifts, can be considered a third part which precedes the beginning of the Liturgy proper. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Eastern Christianity. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ... In ecclesiology, a catechumen (from Latin catechumenus, Greek ÎºÎ±Ï„Î·Ï‡Î¿Ï…Î¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Ï‚, instructed) is one receiving instruction in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Preparation

Before the Divine Liturgy begins, the priest and a deacon, if one is serving, begin by preparing the gifts of bread and wine for use in the service. This preparation is itself a considerable service. More than simply setting aside the bread and wine, a robust ritual has developed with elaborate symbolism. Though the main outline is similar for most Orthodox churches, there may be some differences based on which typicon a jurisdiction uses. . ... Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ...

During the prothesis, the priest cuts out a square called the Lamb from the main loaf of bread (prosphora). This will be consecrated during the Liturgy of the Faithful to become the holy Body of Christ. He also removes small particles and places them on the diskos (or paten) in commemoration of the Theotokos, various saints, and the living and departed faithful. The remainder of the bread is blessed and distributed to parishioners and visitors after the service; this bread is called antidoron. A Prosphora (Greek Προσφωρα, Offering) is a small loaf of bread used in Orthodox Christian ritual. ... Paten (liturgy) A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic hosts. ... Theotokos of Kazan Theotokos (Greek: , translit. ... The remains of the loaves or cakes from which the various portions are cut for consecration in the Mass, according to the Greek Rite, are gathered up on a plate, or salver, in the sanctuary and kept upon the prothesis, or side-altar, during the celebration of the Mass. ...

During the prothesis, the priest also blesses wine and water, which are poured into the chalice. Warm water will be added to the chalice after the epiclesis. In Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Old Catholic, United Methodist, and Lutheran churches, the epiclesis (also sometimes spelled epiklesis, since it is a transliterated Greek word) is that part of the prayer of consecration of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine) by which...

Naturally, the gifts are censed several times during the prothesis. The conclusion of the prothesis leads directly into the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. Incense is a preparation of aromatic plant matter, often with the addition of essential oils extracted from plant or animal sources, intended to release fragrant smoke for religious, therapeutic, or aesthetic purposes as it smolders. ...

Liturgy of the Catechumens

Rites of Entrance

After a more or less quiet exchange between the priest and deacon, if one is serving, the Divine Liturgy begins with the memorable exclamation from the priest, "Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages." The assembled faithful respond, "Amen."

The deacon (or priest, if no deacon is serving) continues with the Great Litany, so called because it is longer than most litanies and its petitions touch on the needs of the world: peace and salvation, the Church, her bishops, her faithful, captives and their health and salvation, deliverance from anger and need. It is concluded, as with most litanies, by calling to the remembrance of the faithful the witness of the Theotokos and the saints. In light of that powerful witness, the faithful are charged to commend one's life to Our Lord Jesus Christ. A closing prayer is exclaimed by the priest. Theotokos of Kazan Theotokos (Greek: , translit. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

There follow three antiphons which vary by day and jurisdiction. The first two anitphons are followed by a shorter litany and a prayer. The third is followed by the Little Entrance, at which is sung, "Come, let us worship God, our King! Save us, O Son of God, who sing to you! Alleluia." "Son of God" is normally followed by an insertion, such as "risen from the dead" or "wondrous in your saints." This article is about the musical term. ...

Troparia and kontakia prescribed for the day, season, and temple follow next. Troparion (also tropar, plural: troparia) in Byzantine music and in the religious music of Eastern Orthodoxy is a short hymn of one stanza, or one of a series of stanzas (this may carry the further connotation of a hymn interpolated between psalm verses). ... Kontakion is a form of hymn performed in the Eastern Orthodox Church. ...

Having fully entered the church liturgically and gathered together around the Word, the gathered body chants the Thrice-Holy Hymn to the holy Trinity: "Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal: have mercy on us." The Trisagion (thrice Holy) is a standard hymn of the Orthodox Christian Divine Liturgy, chanted immediately before the Prokeimenon and the Epistle Reading. ...

Rites of Proclamation

The proclamation of Scripture is announced with the prokeimenon, a psalm or canticle refrain sung in responsorial fashion. Then, a reader proclaims the apostolic reading from an epistle or from the Acts of the Apostles. This reading is usually chanted, but a spoken reading may be allowed out of economy for local situations. (In some traditions, the reader starts the chant in a very low voice, and steps up to end of the reading with a high voice. This is a reminder of how the Young Church rose up from the catacombs.) Many religions and spiritual movements hold certain written texts (or series of spoken legends not traditionally written down) to be sacred. ... In the liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church, a Prokeimenon (Greek Î ÏÎ¿ÎºÎµÎ¹Î¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Î½, plural prokeimena; sometimes prokimenon/prokimena) is a psalm or canticle refrain sung responsorially at certain specified points of the Divine Liturgy or the Divine Office, usually to introduce a scripture reading. ... A reader might be several different things, depending on the context: there are several cities in the United States named Reader a reader is a minor member of the clergy in some Christian churches a reader is a book of different pieces of writing, often by many authors, collected for... An epistle (Greek ÎµÏ€Î¹ÏƒÏ„Î¿Î»Î·, epistolÄ“, letter) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of persons, usually a letter and a very formal, often didactic and elegant one. ... The Acts of the Apostles (Greek Praxeis Apostolon) is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ...

A triple alleluia is sung, also with verses as at the prokeimenon. This alleluia announces the Gospel reading. Following the alleluia, there is a short exchange between the priest and the people, after which he or a deacon chants the Gospel. Hallelujah, Halleluyah, or Alleluia, is a transliteration of the Hebrew word הַלְלוּיָהּ meaning [Let us] praise (הַלְלוּ) God (יָהּ) (or Praise (הַלְלוּ) [the] Lord (&#1497... Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, either on a single pitch or with a simple melody involving a limited set of notes and often including a great deal of repetition or statis. ...

Following the Gospel, the priest will often give a homily, a short or medium-length excursus on the Scripture, the season, or the present festival or commemoration, roughly equivalent to the Protestant sermon. The homily may also be given after the communion or even after the dismissal. In the Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a homily is usually given during Mass (or Divine Liturgy for Orthodox) at the end of the Liturgy of the Word. ...

The service continues with the Litany of Fervent Supplication, which is marked by an insistent triple repitition of "Lord, have mercy."

The Liturgy of the Catechumens is concluded by a litany praying for the continued growth of the catechumens in faith, leading up to the day of their baptism. Though many churches do not have catechumens in attendance, this litany remains in the liturgy and serves as a constant reminder of the Great Commission, the foundation of the Church as mission to the world. In ecclesiology, a catechumen (from Latin catechumenus, Greek ÎºÎ±Ï„Î·Ï‡Î¿Ï…Î¼ÎµÎ½Î¿Ï‚, instructed) is one receiving instruction in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism. ... In Christian tradition, the Great Commission is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread the faith to all the world. ... Look up mission in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Liturgy of the Faithful

The Great Entrance

As the assembly begins chanting the Cherubic Hymn, the celebrants go to the prothesis or table of preparation. The priest presents the diskos to the deacon and takes the chalice himself. The deacon leads the priest through the north door of the icon screen. The clergy bring the gifts in procession to the holy doors, the central doors of the icon screen, while the deacon calls the faithful to attention, asking that the Lord will remember all people in his kingdom. As the holy gifts are carried solemnly through the holy doors, the assembled faithful conclude the Cherubic Hymn. (Note: if a deacon is not present, the priest makes this entrance with the diskos and chalice alone.) Paten (liturgy) A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic hosts. ... Chalice For the Gothic Metal band, see Chalice (band) A chalice (from Latin calix, cup) is a goblet intended to hold drink. ...

After the priest blesses the faithful the deacon exclaims, "The doors! The doors!" This famous exclamation once marked the point in the service at which the doors to the temple were locked, only faithful Christians remaining. Over the centuries, visitors have been allowed to stay, though the solemnity of what follows is still recalled with this phrase.

Then, the Church professes its common faith by reciting the Creed. The liturgical name for this creed is the Symbol of Faith, indicating its importance to early Christians in determining the Orthodoxy of persons claiming to be of the Church. The Nicene Creed, or the Icon/Symbol of the Faith, is a Christian statement of faith accepted by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and most Protestant churches. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Eastern Christianity. ...

The Eucharistic Prayer

Following the Creed, the priest begins the anaphora, the great eucharistic prayer over the gifts, so called because of the initial phrase: "Let us lift up our hearts." The two principal anaphoras in use in the Orthodox Church are those of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great. In rhetoric, anaphora (from the Greek anaphÃ©rÅ, Â«I repeatÂ») is the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of several consecutive sentences or verses to emphasize an image or a concept. ... John Chrysostom (349â€“407, Greek: , Ioannes Chrysostomos) was the archbishop of Constantinople. ... Basil (ca. ...

After remembering the history of our fall and redemption and the institution of the eucharistic meal, the priest invokes the Holy Spirit, asking that he be sent down on the gifts. It is sometimes noted that this invocation, the epiclesis, is the moment of transformation of the gifts of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, but there is not total agreement among Orthodox scholars whether the transformation can actually be pinpointed to a single moment in the service. It is certainly true that the prayers of the service treat the gifts as consecrated and transformed after this point. In Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Old Catholic, United Methodist, and Lutheran churches, the epiclesis (also sometimes spelled epiklesis, since it is a transliterated Greek word) is that part of the prayer of consecration of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine) by which...

Having invoked the Holy Spirit and consecrated the gifts, the priest commemorates the saints, beginning with the Theotokos. At this point, the assembled faithful chant the ancient hymn in honor of the Virgin, "It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim, beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God, the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you." Theotokos of Kazan Theotokos (Greek: , translit. ... Theotokos of Kazan Theotokos (Greek: , translit. ... A cherub (Hebrew כרוב; plural cherubim, כרובים) is an angelic creature mentioned several times in the Tanakh, or Old Testament, and in the Book of Revelation. ... å…ç¿¼å¤©ä½¿ Seraphim(å…ç¿¼å¤©ä½¿) is a Taiwanese symphonic metal band similar to Nightwish and Therion. ... Theotokos of Kazan Theotokos (Greek: , translit. ...

The priest prays the the bishop, in whose name he is celebrating the Liturgy, will be kept in the Orthodox Faith and preserved in health and years.

The Communion and Dismissal

After consecrating the gifts, commemorating the saints and praying for the local bishop, the priest lifts up the consecrated gifts, exclaiming, "The holy things are for the holy!" To which the faithful respond, "One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father, amen." This phrase unfortunately loses something in English, since we have two words for holy and saint. In most other languages, this dialogue has a connotation of, "The holy things are for the saints! / Only one is a saint! Only one is Lord: Jesus Christ...." This is a rather prominent reminder that our holiness finds its source in God alone, and particularly in our participation in this communion.

The faithful communicate in Orthodox tradition by receiving in both kinds (bread intincted in the wine) from a spoon, a tradition which dates to the fourth century. Having received the body and blood of the Savior, they take a small piece of bread, antidoron, which is a part of the same loaf from which the Lamb was taken. Antidoron is not consecrated to be the Eucharist, but it is blessed and so it is treated with reverence. In Russian tradition, a small cup of wine is also offered. The remains of the loaves or cakes from which the various portions are cut for consecration in the Mass, according to the Greek Rite, are gathered up on a plate, or salver, in the sanctuary and kept upon the prothesis, or side-altar, during the celebration of the Mass. ...

After a dismissal common to the services of the Church, the faithful come forward to venerate the cross and leave the church. Renewed by the eucharistic meal, they are sent forth as witnesses to Christ in the world. In litigation, a dismissal the result of a successful motion to dismiss. ...

Bibliographical Resources

In rhetoric, anaphora (from the Greek anaphÃ©rÅ, Â«I repeatÂ») is the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of several consecutive sentences or verses to emphasize an image or a concept. ... In rhetoric, anaphora (from the Greek anaphÃ©rÅ, Â«I repeatÂ») is the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of several consecutive sentences or verses to emphasize an image or a concept. ... Alexander Schmemann (13 May 1921 - 13 December 1983) was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian priest, theologian, and writer. ...

External links

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This page has been tagged since March 2007. A Prothesis (liturgy) is part of the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... OCA can mean: Observatoire de la CÃ´te dAzur Orthodox Church in America Oxford Capacity Analysis Online Crash Analysis See also Oca This is a disambiguation page â€” a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (often referred to in North America simply as the Antiochian Archdiocese) is the sole jurisdiction of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada with exclusive jurisdiction over the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in those countries, though these faithful were originally cared... Image File history File links Information_icon. ...

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