Divine Liturgy

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The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church [1] and of the Armenian Catholic Church,[2] use the same term. But the Oriental Orthodox usually employ the term "holy offering" (Syriac: qurbono qadisho, Armenian: surb badarak) for their Eucharistic liturgies. The term is sometimes applied also to Latin Rite Eucharistic liturgies, though the term Mass is more commonly used there.

1 Types of Liturgies
2 Structure
3 Oriental Orthodox
4 External links

[edit] Types of Liturgies

There are three Divine Liturgies that are in common use in the Eastern Orthodox Church:

the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, used on most Sundays and holy days of the year;
the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, used during the Great Lent and on Christmas, Theophany, and St. Basil's Day, Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday as Vesperal Liturgies of Saint Basil
and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, served on weekdays of Great Lent.(principally on Wednesdays and fridays, and Thursday of the fifth week of Lent, and the First Three days of Holy Week)

The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is a shortened form of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil. Both are related to the earlier Divine Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem, which is traditionally attributed to the first bishop of Jerusalem, James the Just (not to be confused with James, brother of Saint John the Evangelist), and which is celebrated once a year on his feast day.

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is essentially the office of vespers with a communion service added, the Holy Gifts having been consecrated and set aside the previous Sunday. It is traditionally attributed to St. Gregory the Dialogist. The Latin Rite of Roman Catholicism has an analogous form in the Mass of the Presanctified, traditionally celebrated on Good Friday.

[edit] Structure

The format of Divine Liturgy is fixed, although the specific readings and hymns vary with season and feast.

While arrangements may vary from liturgy to liturgy, the Divine Liturgy always consists of three interrelated parts:

the Liturgy of Preparation, which includes the entry and vesting prayers of the clergy and the Prothesis;
the Liturgy of the Catechumens, so called because in ancient times catechumens were allowed to attend, also called the Liturgy of the Word;
and the Liturgy of the Faithful, so called because in ancient times only faithful members in good standing were allowed to participate. In modern times, this restriction applies only to communication — reception of the sacrament of holy communion.

A typical celebration of the Byzantine Liturgy consists of:

[edit] Liturgy of Preparation

Main article: Liturgy of Preparation

This part of the Liturgy is private, said only by the priest and deacon. It symbolizes the hidden years of Christ's earthly life.

Entrance and vesting prayers°—the clergy come into the church, venerate the icons and put on their vestments.
Liturgy of Preparation—the priest and deacon prepare the bread and wine for the Eucharist (see prosphora) at the Table of Oblation (Prothesis)
Kairos — a preliminary dialog between the priest and the deacon

[edit] Liturgy of the Catechumens

This is the public part of the Liturgy

Opening blessing by the priest°—He raises the Gospel Book, making the sign of the cross with it over the Altar and proclaiming: "Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages"
Great Litany, beginning "In Peace, let us pray to the Lord"
First Antiphon° (usually Psalm 102)
Little Litany
Second Antiphon° (usually Psalm 145)
Little Litany
Third Antiphon° (usually the Beatitudes)
Small Entrance—procession with the Gospel Book
Troparia° and Kontakia°—hymns commemorating specific saints and Scriptural events, as appropriate to the liturgical calendar and local custom
Trisagion°—the "Thrice-Holy" hymn
Prokeimenon°
Epistle Reading°
Alleluia°
Gospel Reading°
Homily (homilies may also be preached while Communion is being prepared for distribution to the people, and before the Dismissal)
Litany of Fervent Supplication—"Let us all say with our whole soul and with our whole mind…"
Litany for the Departed—this is not said on Sundays, Great Feasts or during the Paschal season
Litany of the Catechumens, and Dismissal of the Catechumens

[edit] Liturgy of the Faithful

In the early Church, only Baptized members in good standing were allowed to attend this portion of the Liturgy.

First Litany of the Faithful
Second Litany of the Faithful
Cherubic Hymn°—chanted by the Choir as spiritual representatives (or icons) of the angels
Great Entrance—procession taking the chalice and diskos (paten) from the Table of Oblation to the altar
Litany of Fervent Supplication—"Let us complete our prayer to the Lord"
Symbol of Faith—the Nicene Creed
Sursum Corda ("Lift up your hearts…"), followed by the Sanctus ("Holy, Holy, Holy…")
Anaphora—the Eucharistic Canon, containing the Anamnesis (memorial of Christ's Incarnation, death, and Resurrection, and the Words of Institution)
Epiklesis—calling down the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Gifts (bread and wine) to change them into the Body and Blood of Christ
Commemoration of Saints and Axion Estin (hymn to the Theotokos)°
Commemoration of bishop and civil authorities—"Remember, O Lord…"
Litany of Supplication—"Having called to remembrance all the saints…"
Lord's Prayer
Bowing of Heads
"Holy Things are for the Holy"
Communion Hymn
Holy Communion
"We have seen the true light"°
"Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord…"°
Litany of Thanksgiving
Prayer behind the Ambon
Dismissal°

Those parts marked with ° indicate portions that can change according to the day or liturgical season of the year. Some parts change at every Divine Liturgy, some parts only change at Pascha (Easter).

Note that almost all texts are chanted throughout the Divine Liturgy, not only hymns but litanies, prayers, creed confession and even readings from the Bible. The sole exception is the sermon.

[edit] Oriental Orthodox

The text of the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian tradition is given in the website The Beauty and Wisdom of the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church.

[edit] External links

Eastern Christian

The Priest's Service Book Contains Liturgies of St John, St Basil, and Presanctified
The Divine Liturgies Music Project Byzantine music in English for the Liturgies of St. John, St. Basil, St. James and the Presanctified
The Divine Liturgy Text with Bible References and line-by-line Greek to English translations
The Divine Liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church in English/Church Slavonic, including music (midi, mp3)
The Divine Liturgy of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Photos of Divine Liturgy from Russia

Oriental Christian