ORTHODOX WORSHIP

Orthodox Worship

Orthodox worship means a service to God: Prayers Word of God Ordered ritual Bishop or priest.

Orthodox Worship

Why do we worship?

Why Worship?Edify - the true doctrines of Christ & dispose us towards prayer and repentance.Inspire us to give thanks to God Intensify our supplication for further mercies from Him,Help us gain peace in our souls.Enter into a mystical union with God through the Mysteries, i.e. Holy Communion; Receive the power of Divine Grace.

Roots of Orthodox Worship

Before Moses - without structure and in open places - sacrifices wherever they chose, and prayers in own words.Time of Moses - the first Temple the Tabernacle - high priest, priests, and Levites.Time of Jesus - He taught us to worship the Heavenly Father in every place. Jesus taught in the Temple in Jerusalem and was concerned for the order of the Temple. Apostles regarded it in same way, until time of open persecution of Christians by the Jews.

Continuity from Old Testament Times

Roots of Orthodox WorshipTime of Apostles - special places called churches (ecclesia) established Bishops, priests, and deacons were consecrated to lead the divine services.The order of the Christian service was formalized by the successors of the Apostles."Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor.

14:40). Orthodox Christians preserve this order today.

Daily Cycle

The Evening Service of Vespers The Compline Service

The Midnight service

The Morning Service of Matins (Orthros)

The Four Services of the Hours: Coming of the true light (First Sunrise) Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Third 9:00) Crucifixion and Passion of the Lord (Sixth 12:00noon) Death and burial of our Lord (Ninth 3:00)

Weekly CycleSunday - Christ's Resurrection Monday - Holy Bodiless Powers (Angels, Archangels, etc.)Tuesday - Prophets and especially the greatest of the Prophets, St. John the Forerunner and Baptist of the LordWednesday - Cross and recalls Judas' betrayal Thursday - Holy Apostles and Hierarchs Friday - Cross and recalls the day of the CrucifixionSaturday - All Saints, especially martyrs, and the memory of all those who have departed this life in the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

September 8 Nativity of the TheotokosSeptember 14 Elevation of the Holy CrossNovember 21 Presentation of the TheotokosDecember 25 ChristmasJanuary 6 Epiphany (The Baptism of Christ)February 2 Presentation of the LordMarch 25 AnnunciationSunday before Easter   Palm Sunday40 Days after Easter Ascension of the Lord50 Days after Easter PentecostAugust 6 Transfiguration of our LordAugust 15 Dormition of the Theotokos

Yearly CycleMajor Feast Days

Nov DecOct Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Nativity Fast

Advent

Lent

Holy week

Bright Week

Pentecost

Annual Liturgical Cycle

PaschaPalm Sunday

Epiphany

Sep

Nativity

Nativity Fast Lenten Fast

Presentationin Temple

PentecostAscension

Transfiguration

Divine Liturgy Gathering of Heaven and Earth

The Divine Liturgy embraces both heaven and earth; one altar, one sacrifice, one presence.

The faithful are taken up into the ‘heavenly places’;

A gathering of the Church universal - the saints, the angels, the Mother of God, and Christ.

We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such beauty, and we are at a loss how to describe it. We only know that God dwells there among men...Report from Vladimir’s emissaries D.D. 987

Every time there is performed the liturgy of this awesome sacrifice, which is the clear image of the heavenly realities, we should imagine that we are in heaven. Saint John Chrysostom, homily 15, ch 20

What is the Main Aim of the Divine Liturgy?

The transformation of the elements into the Divine Body and Blood of Christ; for the sanctification of the faithful, who receive remission of their sins and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.Cabasilas p 25

Divine Liturgy

NOT a memorial Service for a dead founder.

A full participation in communion with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the Living God.

A foretaste of the Kingdom of God.

We join with Angels in praise and worship.

Entering the Cathedral

Entering the Narthex of the Cathedral

Lighting a candle

Venerating the icons

Making a prayer before entering the Nave.

Enter into the fourth dimension and leave worldly cares behind.

Divine Liturgy

9:00am 10:00am

Orthros

Proskomide Liturgy of Catechumens

Liturgy of Faithful

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

Prosfora Wine

Preparation of the Gifts proskomide - gathering of gifts

Dedicated as “precious gifts” just like the sacrifices of old.

Why Bread and wine?

are the “first fruits” of life made by man. In ancient times they offered the first fruits of their crops or animals.

God gives us life in exchange for these gifts.

Orthros

Proskomide Liturgy of Catechumens

Liturgy of Faithful

Prothesis ροθησις - a setting forth

LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS

Orthros

Proskomide Liturgy of Catechumens

Liturgy of Faithful

Liturgy of Catechumens

Begin with prayers, hymns, and readings from Holy Scripture -

Prayers turn us towards God and obtain pardon for our sins.Hymns make God look favorably on us. Holy Scripture proclaim the goodness of God and the severity of His judgment and justice - instilling in us the fear of the Lord and enkindle our love for Him giving us zeal to observe His commandments.

Liturgy of the CatechumensWhy do we have this part of the Liturgy?

Preparation to receive the actual Blood and Body of Christ.

Why its so important to be present for the entire service?

Participate in the prayers say them in your heart with total attentiveness.

Liturgy of the Catechumens1. Great Litany

and Hymns

2. Bring the Gospel to the Altar - Small Entrance

3. Hymns

4. Reading of Epistle and Gospel

5. Sermon

Orthros

Proskomide Liturgy of Catechumens

Liturgy of Faithful

Great Litany

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Many things are asked and how does the Congregation respond?

Lord have MercyImplies both gratitude and confession.To beg God’s mercy is to ask for His kingdom.“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt 5:7

Great Litany

Remembering our most holy Theotokos and all the saints... Let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

We call to our aid the Theotokos and all the saints for this awesome commitment.

Hymns

1. By the Intercession of the Theotokos, Lord save us.2. Son of God save us you who rose from the dead. AlleluiaResurrectional Hymn - 8 hymnsLet the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord has done a wondrous deed with his arm: He has crushed death by his death, becoming the first to rise from the dead. He has delivered us from the mouth of Hades and bestowed great mercy upon the world.

Bringing Gospel Book To Altar Small Entrance

Procession with deacon carrying the Gospel.Priest prays that God will send His angels to escort him to the altar and offer sacrifice with him and praise the Lord. Priest blesses the entrance.Book placed on the altar. We sing, “Come let us worship and bow down before Christ....”Some say this symbolizes the coming of Christ and His teachings.

Trisagion Hymn

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Song of the angels - Isaiah 6:1-31 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Christ has given us a place with the angles and the heavenly choir.

Readings from Scripture

Epistle and Gospel

Sermon helps us to understand the Scripture.

Prepares us for sanctification of the holy mysteries.

LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL

Liturgy of the Faithful1. Great Entrance 2. Litany of Supplication 3. Confession of Faith 4. Consecration - Epiclesis 5. Recite the Lord’s Prayer 6. Holy Communion 7. Thanksgiving 8. Dismissal

Proskomide Liturgy of Catechumens

Liturgy of FaithfulOrthros

Opening the Antimension

"instead of the table"

Decorated with Descent of Christ from the Cross, the four Evangelists, and inscriptions related to the Passion.

Great Entrance

Bringing the Gifts that have been offered to the altar for consecration after which they will be offered back to us.

We all pray: Remember us all, Lord our God, In your kingdom.

Litany of SupplicationPray for:

For the Gifts that have been presentedFor a peaceful and sinless dayFor an guardian angelFor forgiveness of sinsFor all that is good for our soulsTo complete our lives in peace and penitenceThat our lives may end as Christians.

End with committing ourselves and each other to Christ.

Confession of FaithRecite Creed - Confession of faith

Priest asks us to stand with fear and awe so we can present the Holy offering in peace. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matt 5:23-24

We lift our hearts to the Lord and give Him thanks

Consecration Epiclesis

Priest repeats the words of the Lord at the last supper.

We kneel, “Your own gifts we offer to you on behalf of all and for all.”

"We offer to Thee this reasonable and unbloody sacrifice; and we beg Thee, we ask Thee, we pray Thee that Thou, sending forth Thy Holy Spirit on us and on these present gifts"(the Deacon says: "Bless, Lord, the holy bread") "make this bread the Precious Body of Thy Christ" (Deacon: "Amen. Bless, Lord, the holy chalice"): "and that which is in this chalice, the Precious Blood of Thy Christ" (Deacon: "Amen. Bless, Lord, both"), "changing by Thy Holy Spirit." (Deacon: "Amen, Amen, Amen.")

No specific instance when offerings are consecrated.

Consecration Epiclesis

Christ himself said, This is my body and this is my blood.

He commanded the Apostles to do this. “Do this in remembrance of me.”

Lord’s Prayer

All recite the Lord’s Prayer

Wishes us peace

Deacon asks us to bow our heads unto the Lord.

As we bow the Priest give thanks to the Lord.

Preparing the Gifts for Faithful

Lamb is broken and pieces placed in Chalice

Zeon (boiling water) put in chalice Signifies the Holy Spirit that came down to the Apostles as fire.

Prayers of preparation

Clergy partake of communion.

Approach with the Fear of God, Faith and Love.

Receive with reverence

Thanksgiving

Priest prays for those who have received the communion. “Save thy people and bless their inheritance.” Ps 28:9Lord is the Lord of our minds and wills.

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Dismissal

Antidoron (Ἀντίδωρον)

Dedicated and blessed prosfora.

To be received with reverence. Kissing priest’s hand that has touched the body of Christ.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE TAKE

COMMUNION?

Frequency of CommunionAll Orthodox Christians are commanded to receive Communion frequently:

1st by orders of our Lord.

2nd by the Acts and Canons of the Holy Apostles and sacred Councils and testimonies of the church fathers.

3rd by the words, order and celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

4th by Holy Communion in and of itself.

The Lord Commands Us

Jesus said: “And the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (Jn 6:51)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (Jn 6:53)

When he gave this mystery to his disciples he did not say whoever want to eat and drink but commanded, “Take eat... Drink of it all of you...” (Matt 26:26-28)

Apostles, Councils and Fathers Command Us

In Acts the Apostles converted thousands. “And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine, and in Communion, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

“If anyone... does not receive Communion when the offering is made, let him declare the reason; and, if it is legitimate, let him be excused. But if he does not declare it, let him be excommunicated.” (Canon 8 of Holy Apostles)

“Any of faithful who enter in and listen to the Scriptures, but do not stay for the prayers and Holy Communion, are to be excommunicated, as causing disorder in the Church.” (Canon 9)

The goal of the Liturgy is Holy Communion.

“With the fear of God, with faith, and with love, draw near.”

After communion we give thanks, “Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord... for thou hast deemed us worthy to partake of Thy holy, immortal, and immaculate Mysteries.

Why bother to come to Liturgy?

“If anyone... being in town does not go to Church on three consecutive Sundays -- that is three weeks--if he is a cleric let him be disposed, but if he is a layman, let him be cut off from Communion.” (11th Canon Local council in Sardica, Sixth Ecumenical Council.)

Holy Communion necessary for life of the soul.

Basil the Great says, The receiving of the body and blood of Christ is necessary for eternal life.

It is good and beneficial to commune every day.

Gregory the Theologian When the most sacred body of Christ is received and eaten in a proper manner, it becomes a weapon against those who war against us,

it returns to God those who had left Him,

it strengthens the weak, it causes the healthy to be glad, it heals sickness, and it preserves health.

Through it we become meek and more willing to accept correction, more long-suffering in our pains, more fervent in our love, more detailed in our knowledge, more willing to do obedience, and keener in the workings of the Charismata of the Spirit.

HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR COMMUNION?

Preparation for Communion

Repentance - “Lord have mercy on me a sinner”

Prayer - daily give thanks and ask for forgiveness

Fasting - Wednesday and Friday and before taking of Holy Communion.

It’s a way of life!

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