Transcript Understanding the Divine Liturgy

Celebrating:
The Year of the
Holy Eucharist
Understanding the Divine
Liturgy
Session #2
Preparation of the Priest and of the Holy Gifts
(Remembering for whom and by whom it is offered)
A study based on the book “The Heavenly Banquet,” by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis
and The Orthodox Faith vol. II (Worship) by Fr. Thomas Hopko
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
Before the actual beginning of the Divine Liturgy, the priest enters the Church and
prays a special service called “The Kairon Service” or preparation prayers.
This service is prayed outside the
sanctuary in front of the
iconostas.
Prayer taken from the end of the Kairon service.
“Stretch forth thy hand, O Lord, from thy holy dwelling place (on high), and
strengthen me for thine appointed service, that standing without condemnation
before thy fearful judgment seat, I may fulfill the sacred, bloodless service, for
thine is the power and the glory, unto ages of ages. Amen”
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The priest then enters the sanctuary, bows three times, kisses the Gospel and says:
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
“I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy, and in fear I will worship
toward thy holy temple. Cleanse, O Lord, the defilement of my soul, and save
me, for thou art the Lover of mankind.”
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
Next the priest prays a special service as he puts on his vestments. Each piece he
puts on has a prayer and specific meaning that goes with it.
The Sticharion:
The White robe worn under all other
vestments. It represents the
baptismal garment we wore at our
baptism.
Putting on the sticharion, the priest says
“My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the garment of salvation, and
with the robe of gladness He has encompassed me. As a bridegroom He has set a crown
upon me, and as a bride He has adorned me with an ornament.” (Isaiah 61:10)
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The vesting service cont.
The cuffs or “Epimanikia”
The cuffs represent the reminder that
the Priest is tied against sin.
Blessing and kissing the right and left cuff,
the priest says the following prayers.
“Your right hand, O Lord is glorified in strength;
Your right, O Lord, has shattered Your enemies,
and in the multitude of Your glory You crushed
Your adversaries.” (Exodus 15:6)
and
“Your hands have made and fashioned me; give
me understanding and I will learn Your
commandments.” (Psalm 119:73)
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The vesting service cont.
The Epigonation or “Shield”
Given to priests who have the distinction of
hearing confessions.
A square vestment that hangs to the right side of the
priest. It represents the Sword of the Spirit (which is
the Word of God) and Christ’s victory over death. It
can also symbolize the towel that Christ used to wipe
the feet of His disciples.
Blessing the Epigonation and kissing it, the priest
says;
“Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, in
Your comeliness and your beauty, and proceed
prosperously, and be king because of truth and
meekness and righteousness; and Your right hand
shall guide You wondrously.” (Psalm 45:3)
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The vesting service cont.
The Stole or Epitrachilion
This garment represents the dignity of
the office of the Priest.
Blessing the stole and kissing it, the
priest says.
“Blessed is God, who pours out His
grace upon His priests, as oil of myrrh
on the head, running down upon the
beard of Aaron, running down over the
fringe of his robe.” (Psalm 133:2)
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The vesting service cont.
The Belt or “Zone”
This garment represents the wisdom
and strength of the Priestly office.
Blessing the belt and kissing it,
the priest puts it on and says.
“Blessed is God, who girds me with
strength and has made my path
blameless.” (Psalm 18:32)
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The vesting service cont.
The Phelonion
The outer garment covering the
shoulders. It’s short in front and long
in the back to symbolize Christ
carrying the cross on His shoulders.
It’s also a reminder of the scarlet robe
placed on Christ before the crucifixion.
Blessing the belt and kissing it,
the priest puts it on and says.
“Your priests, O Lord, shall be
clothed with righteousness, and
Your holy ones shall shout for joy
(Psalm 132:9)
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
A Fully Vested Priest
Part 1:
How the priest prepares for the Divine Liturgy
The Washing of the Hands
Before beginning any of the sacred functions of the Divine Liturgy, the priest washes his
hands.
This action symbolizes the purity of those who celebrate the Eucharist.
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
With notes from “Understanding The Orthodox Liturgy” by Fr. Michel Najim & T.L. Frazier
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
• Before the Divine Liturgy, the priest prepares the offering of bread and wine on the table
of Oblation, called the Prothesis table.
•The word Proskomide means “to offer”
or “to bring. This service dates back to
the 14th century
•The gifts are offered to give thanks
to God and to make supplication to Him.
•No Divine Liturgy can be celebrated
without the Proskomedia.
•The Prothesis table symbolizes the Christ’s manger.
•The Prothesis table signifies “Calvary.” This is the place where Jesus was “offered up”
to God
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
• The priest first holds the offering with both hands, elevates it and makes the sign of the
cross with it saying:
“Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.”
“In remembrance of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
• Next, the priest cuts a large cube of bread from the loaf (called the Prosphora or
offering).
•This cube is called the Lamb. It represents Christ Himself who is “The bread of
life…which came down from heaven, and who takes away the sin of the world.” (John
1:29)
As the priest cuts the lamb from the bread,
he recites from the prophecy of Isaiah.
“As a sheep led to the slaughter, and as a
blameless lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he
opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 23:7)
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
The Seal from which the lamb is taken.
The lamb has the symbols (IC
XC) “Jesus Christ” and (NI KA)
“Conquers.”
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
•And then, inverting the Lamb, he makes a deep
cross-wise cut without cutting through it and
says:
“Sacrificed is the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world.”
[This is done so the Lamb can easily be broken into
four separate pieces at the time of Holy Communion.]
• The priest then puts the Lamb on a Diskos, pierces it on the symbol “IC” with the Spear,
saying:
“One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at
once there came out blood and water.” (John 19:34)
The Diskos represents the hands of Joseph of Arimathea and
Nicodemus, who baried Christ. It also represents Heaven.
The spear represents the spear that was used to pierce Christ’s
side at His crucifixion.
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
•The priest then pours wine and water into a Chalice and blesses it saying:
“Blessed is the union of thy holy things.”
[The wine and water represent the blood and water which came forth from Christ’s body when the
soldier pierced it.]
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
The Church is called the Body of Christ
•So, the priest cuts out pieces from the Lamb, which will become the eucharistic
Body of Christ.
•These pieces are placed on the Diskos around the Lamb, showing that Christ is
the center of the Church.
•This also shows that we are mystically presenting ourselves to God as “a living
scrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
Christ
The Virgin Mary
The Saints
The living and the departed
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
After having poured wine mixed with water into
the chalice, the priest then places a piece of
bread on the Diskos next to the Lamb in
remembrance of the Theotokos.
Then pieces of bread are placed on the
Diskos in memory of:
1.
John the Baptist
2.
the prophets
3.
The Apostles
4.
The Hierarchs
5.
The Marytrs
6.
The Monastic Saints
7.
The Healers,
8.
The Saints commemorated for the day
9.
The Saint whose liturgy is being celebrated.
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
In addition, pieces are placed on the Diskos for
the bishop, for civil authorities, and for all the
faithful both living and departed.
Then the priest places over the Diskos a cover
called “The Star,” and says:
“The star came to rest over the place where the young
child was.”
[The Star represents the “Star of Bethleham, and also
protects the Lamb from anything touching it.]
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
Covering the Gifts with special covers
The priest blesses the cover
for the Diskos with incense
and says:
“The Lord is King, He is clothed
with majesty and strength. For
He has established the world
which shall not be shaken.”
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
Covering the Gifts with special covers
The priest then blesses the cover for the Chalice with incense
and says:
“Thy virtue has covered the heavens, O Christ, and the earth is full of
thy praise.”
Part 2:
Preparation of the Holy Gifts
The Proskomedia or “Prothesis” Service
Covering the Gifts with special covers
Finally, the priest blesses the “aer” with incense, and covering both the Diskos
and Chalice he says:
“Shelter us, O God, in the shelter of thy wings; drive away from us every enemy and
foe; make our life peaceful and have mercy on us and on the whole world, for thou art
good and lovest mankind.”