Divine Liturgy Totally Explained

Everything about Divine Liturgy totally explained

The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it's used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church (External Link

) and of the Armenian Catholic Church, (External Link

) use the same term. Some Oriental Orthodox employ the term "holy offering" (Syriac: qurbono qadisho, Armenian: surb badarak) for their Eucharistic liturgies instead. The term is sometimes applied also to Latin Rite Eucharistic liturgies, though the term Mass is more commonly used there.

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 days of the year, and occasionally as a vesperal liturgy on the Annunciation.
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, used on the 5 Sundays of Great Lent, and on Saint Basil's feast day (January 1). On the eves of the Nativity and Theophany, and on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday, it's celebrated as a vesperal liturgy in most cases. In some traditions, Saint Basil's Liturgy is also celebrated on the Exaltation of the Life-giving Cross on September 14th. All together, St. Basil's liturgy is celebrated 10 or 11 days out of the liturgical year.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, served on Wednesdays and Fridays during Great Lent and on the first three days of Holy Week. It is essentially the office of vespers with a communion service added, the Holy Gifts having been consecrated and reserved the previous Sunday. It is traditionally attributed to St. Gregory the Dialogist.

The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is traditionally thought to be 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). It is celebrated once a year on his feast day, traditionally only in Jerusalem, but now in other places as well.

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:

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

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; in the Greek rubrics, Psalm 91) with the Refrain (in the Greek rubrics) "Through the Prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior Save us."

Little Litany

Second Antiphon (usually Psalm 145; in the Greek rubrics Psalm 92) with the Refrain (in the Greek rubrics) on Sundays: "Save us O Son of God who art Risen from the dead, Save us who sing unto you, Alleluia" and on Weekdays: "Save us O son of God who art Wondrous in your Saints..."°

"Only Begotten Son"

Little Litany

Third Antiphon° (usually the Beatitudes with troparia from the canon of Matins, Odes 3 and 6; in the Greek rubrics, Psalm 94) with the Refrain (in the Greek rubrics) on Weekdays: O Son of God who art wonderful in Thy saints, Save us who sing to thee, alleluia. On Sundays: the Troparion of the Day, Saint or Sunday Resurrection

Small Entrance—procession with the Gospel Book

Introit°

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 isn't said on Sundays, Great Feasts or during the Paschal season

Litany of the Catechumens, and Dismissal of the Catechumens

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.

Oriental Orthodox

The Coptic Orthodox have 3 principal Divine Liturgies:
The Liturgy of St. Basil, The Liturgy of St. Cyril, and The Liturgy of St. Gregory, an exceptionally long and humble liturgy. The Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated on most Sundays.

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