Liturgy – Lesson 15 Questions

 What does it mean to “complete” our prayer?

 What is the response for the Litany of Supplication? Why is it different?

 What is the kiss of peace?

 How does a priest hold his hand when he blesses the faithful? Why?

 What do we need to do in order to properly confess the Trinity?

 What did the exclamation “The doors!” mean originally?

 What is our statement of faith? Can you say it by memory?

BONUS question for discussion:

 Name four things we pray for during the Litany of Supplication.

Liturgy – Lesson 15 Answers

 When “Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord” is said, we are actually asking God to hear and fulfill our prayers.

 The response that the faithful say during the Litany of Supplication is “Grant this o Lord”. This is because we are making specific requests of God and asking that he fulfill our prayers.

 The kiss of peace is the greeting that takes place right before the recitation of the creed. All members of the Church turn to greet one another to reinforce our love and togetherness. In the Orthodox Church, the kiss of peace is sometimes an actual kiss on the cheeks, but is most commonly a handshake or a hug.

 When giving a blessing, the priest will hold his right hand out with his fingers creating the shapes of the letters “ICXC”. These in Greek stand for “Jesus Christ”. The blessing, therefore, is done in the name of Jesus Christ.

 In order to properly confess the Trinity, we have to mirror and imitate the love of God. This means we confess our love for God and love for each other as a united community.

 Originally, the exclamation “The doors” was really referring to the doors of the narthex. In the early Church it was at this time that the doors that separated the narthex from the main sanctuary were closed and all of the catechumens who were standing in the narthex would leave (typically to receive some teaching). Thus only the faithful would remain for the rest of the service in order to receive the Eucharist.

 Our statement of faith in the Orthodox Church is the Nicene Creed. It is recited as follows: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”