Liturgy – Lesson 3 Questions for Study

 What is the bread called that is baked specifically for liturgy?

 What is the baked bread used for?

 What is the name of the book of directions that is referenced before services?

 Why do we follow this book of directions?

 Name the room where vestments and other liturgical instruments are kept.

 How do our chanters and servers typically prepare for the liturgy?

 Why do the clergy pray in front of the iconostasis and in the altar before liturgy?

Questions for Discussion:

 How does the liturgy reveal truth?

 If the liturgy is always the same, how is every service unique?

 How many liturgical items can you recognize from the footage in the Vestry?

Liturgy – Lesson 3 Answers

 The baked bread is called prosphora. From the prosphora loaf, we also have the antidoron handed out at the end of the liturgy.

 Prosphora is blessed at the proskomedia service before the liturgy and certain parts of the bread are set aside to be consecrated as the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. The rest of the bread is used as the antidoron which is given out after communion and at the end of the service.

 This is the Typikon which in Greek means "following the order".

 We use the Typikon as a book of directives and rubrics that establishes the order of divine services for each day of the year. The liturgical books presently used by the Orthodox Church have originated either in monasteries or have been greatly influenced by monastic practices. The services of the daily cycle of worship used today in the Orthodox East reflect monastic usages and traditions, especially those of the two monastic centers that produced and developed them, the Holy Lavra of St. Savas of Jerusalem and the Monastery of Studion in Constantinople.

 This is the Vestry. Ours is located on the second floor of the main building at the end of the hall between the choir room and restroom.

 Preparation for our chanters and servers involves many things. The chanters reference the service books and rubrics in order to have the correct hymns and melodies prepared, while servers prepare the nave with candles and other items that will be used during the service. Both the chanters and servers even help to prepare the bread and wine that will be used for the liturgy.

 These are called the kairon prayers. These prayers help the clergy prepare mentally and spiritually for the service as they humble themselves before God asking His mercy and that He would strengthen the priest to serve by His grace.