THE LITURGY OF THE WORD • The Troparia and Kontakia, which focus on the that we must give thanks continually to God for the The first portion of the Divine Liturgy is called theme of the day’s Liturgy, are then sung. sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of the Liturgy of the Word because it focuses on the • The Trisagion – “Holy God! Holy Mighty! His Son, in anticipation for His glorious Second proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ as Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us!” is then sung Coming. recorded in Scripture. in praise of the Holy Trinity. Following these introductory hymns, we • The Great Entrance, performed during the • The Opening Doxology – “Blessed listen attentively to the singing of the Cherubic Hymn, initiates the is the Kingdom of the Father, and Scripture readings. off ering of our gifts of bread and wine to God. of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” Uniting our prayer with that of the angels, we – is our acknowledgment that • The Responsorial “lay aside all earthly cares, that we may we are entering, through worship, Psalm, or Prokeimenon, receive the King of all.” into the very Kingdom and presence is chanted alternately • The Sign of Peace reminds us that Christ is of God. between the Reader and indeed in our midst, uniting us with one heart and • In the Great Litany, we pray for the faithful in prepara- mind in worshipping the Trinity. God’s mercy and help in facing the tion for the reading of • The public proclamation of the Nicene- various needs that confront us in our • the Epistle. A Constantinopolitan Creed, the basic state- daily lives. diff erent reading from ment of our faith in continuous use by Orthodox • The First Antiphon – “Bless the Lord, the New Testament Christians since the fourth century, follows the O my soul!” – is a Psalm of praise Epistles or the Acts of the Sign of Peace. by which we rejoice in the many Apostles is prescribed • The Eucharistic Kanon recalls the institution of blessings God has granted us. for every Liturgy. the Eucharist by Jesus Christ on the eve of • In the Second Antiphon – “Praise the Lord, • In response to Psalm verses chanted by the Reader, His crucifixion and death, while during the O my soul! – we continue to praise God, we sing “Alleluia!” – “Praise the Lord!” Consecration, or Epiklesis, the Holy Spirit is proclaiming Him as the One “Who reigns • The Gospel is the public proclamation invoked to change our gifts of bread and wine into forever.” of the revealed word of God, taken from the the very Body and Blood of Christ. Gospels of Saints Matthew, Mark, • The Com- Both antiphons are taken from the Old Luke or John. The Gospel reading memorations Testament Psalms. is followed by remind us that • the Sermon, during which the the “blood- • The Hymn to Christ, the Only Begotten priest continues to proclaim the less sacrifice” Son of God, follows the Second Antiphon. Good News while challenging us is off ered “on Written in the sixth century, this hymn to apply it to our daily lives. behalf of all proclaims Christ as “one of the Holy Trinity, and for all” – glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit.” The Liturgy of the Eucharist the Mother • The Beatitudes, as recorded in the Gospel Having been fed by the pro- of God and of Saint Matthew, constitute the Third clamation of the word of God, all the saints, Antiphon. The Beatitudes remind us of the we now turn our attention to the the living, the eternal blessings those who live in faithfulness to central mystery of our faith: participation in the faithful departed, the clergy and the laity, Jesus Christ will receive. death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the and “all mankind.” • In preparation for the Scripture celebration of the Eucharist. • In singing The Lord’s Prayer, we acknowledge readings, the Book of Gospels is carried in solemn God as our heavenly Father. procession during the Little Entrance, at which The word Eucharist refers to the Body and Blood • In the Elevation of the Holy Gifts, we point we are invited to “worship and fall down of Christ, which we now prepare to receive. The worship the One Lord God, Who alone is holy before Christ.” word literally means “thanksgiving,” reminding us yet invites us to share in His holiness. • In the Reception of Holy Communion, we • off ered to the faithful for the forgiveness of affirm our “common union” with the Holy Trinity their sins and unto life everlasting; and with our sisters and brothers in • to manifest God’s Kingdom to and in this THE Christ. As Orthodox Christians, we receive world. the Eucharist “for the remission of sins and DIVINE unto life everlasting.” During the Divine Liturgy, the bread and wine are offered to God on behalf of all and for LITURGY Having received all. God’s greatest The two most commonly celebrated versions of the gift to mankind in Divine Liturgy are Holy Communion, • the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, the Eucharist, we celebrated on most Sundays and feasts; and are invited • the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, celebrated on lenten Sundays, the feast of Saint Basil, and • to “depart in several other occasions. peace, in the name of the The Liturgy in Our Lives Lord,” to witness The end of every Divine Liturgy prepares us to all what we for the beginning of the next! If we strive to have experienced live and apply all that has been experienced during the Litur- in our public worship, our lives become an gy, and to serve inseparable part of the Liturgy, and the others as Jesus Liturgy becomes an inseparable part of our Christ served us; lives. Having placed ourselves in the very • to join the priest in praying for salvation and presence of God, we are no longer children of this guidance as we return to our daily lives and world, but inheritors of the Kingdom of God and routine, remembering to give thanks to God at recipients of everlasting life. all times; • to receive the Blessing of the Lord, granted through His grace and love for mankind, now For further information on Orthodox and for many years to come. In an act of final Christianity visit the web site of the thanksgiving to God, we come forward to kiss the Orthodox Church in America at www.oca. “Let us give Holy Cross, off ered for veneration by the priest. org thanks unto The Divine Liturgy is the common work of Make our home your home! God’s People – clergy and laity alike – who come together HOLY TRINITY the Lord!” • to praise and worship God while thanking ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH Him for His many blessings and gifts; 369 Green Ave., East Meadow, NY • to publicly proclaim the Good News of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Christian Church The Rev. Martin Kraus, Rector risen Christ while awaiting His Second East Meadow, NY Coming; For more information, visit us at: Orthodox Church in America • to partake of the Eucharist – the very Body www.htocem.org Diocese of New York & New Jersey and Blood of Jesus Christ – which is 516-483-3649 | [email protected]