Understanding the Divine Liturgy

Session #6The Liturgy of the Faithful Continued…

(Holy Communion)A study based on the books: “The Heavenly Banquet,” by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

“The Orthodox Faith vol. II (Worship)” by Fr. Thomas Hopko “Understanding The Orthodox Liturgy” by Fr. Michel Najim & T.L. Frazier

Celebrating:The Year of theHoly Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Preparation for Holy Communion”

2. Then we wish each other “the mercies of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

1. Immediately following the Anaphora (The Eucharistic prayer; including the “Epiclesis” or Prayer of Consecration, the priest says:

“And grant us (to worship) with one mouth and one heart to glorify and praise thine all honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.”

[This petition is an expression of our ultimate purpose in life….to stand united together, glorifiying and praising the most Holy Trinity]

Priest: “May the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with all of you.” A Direct quote from St. Paul to Titus. (Titus 2:13)

And the people respond: “And with your spirit.”

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Preparation for Holy Communion”

3. Here the priest blesses the people and begins a set of 12 petitions. (Usually these are skipped)

a. Commemorating the Saints,

b. Begging God to receive the Eucharistic gifts “upon His holy, most heavenly, and ideal altar”

c. Asking God to: “Send down in return His Divine Grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

d. Ending the petitions with a prayer asking for: 1. “The unity of the Faith and the Communion of the Holy Spirit.”

2. and to “commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.”

2. Then the priest asks on behalf of all of us that we may be made worthy…

“With boldness and without condemnation we may dare to call upon the Heavenly Father and say….

The Liturgy of the Faithful “The Lords Prayer”

Our Father, who art in heaven…. Why do we DARE to call upon God, as Father?

1. Because it is an awesome thing to call the almighty God, Father.

a. The Jews and Gentiles dared not.

b. In fact, Christ was killed for referring to God as His Father.

2. We now dare, because Christ paved the way for us to do so, by re-uniting us with “Our Father.” Only God’s children (by Grace) can refer to Him as Father.

-We become children of God by the Holy Spirit in chrismation. (John 1:12 “Those who believe are given the right by Christ”)

3. Jesus (Son of God) taught us to pray this way. (Matt. 6:9-13)

4. We dare, because we understand that by doing so we:

Understand our obligations and responsibilities

of being called CHILDREN OF GOD.

What is A Child of God?

•Seeks Peace

•Seeks Perfection

•Loves their neighbor & their enemies

•Prays for those who persecute them

•Pursues God’s Will

•And gives…expecting nothing in return

The Liturgy of the Faithful “The Lords Prayer”

The Lord’s prayer (or discipleship prayer) has been said just before receiving communion since the 5th century.

1. Through this prayer, we unite ourselves to God.

2. Christ is the daily bread we ask for, and the bread which we will receive.

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:48)

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)

“…Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:53-54)

3. Unity with God gives us:

“Remission of sins”

“forgiveness of transgressions”

“communion with the Holy Spirit”

“Inheritance of the Kingdom of heaven”

(Refer to the priestly prayer, said quietly, just prior to the Lord’s prayer) pg. 118 in service book

The People say together

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom

come; Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The Liturgy of the Faithful “The Elevation of the Gifts”

Then the priest directs our attention to the icon of Christ and says:

“Let us bow our heads unto the Lord”

With bowed heads the priest (on behalf of all) prays for:

1. Christ, Himself, to come and distribute His Body & Blood.

2. Christ to come and sanctify us.

Then comes the Elevation

“Let us attend! Holy Things are for the holy.”

The people respond to the priests invitation:

“(Only) One is Holy! (by Nature) One is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Faithful “The Elevation of the Gifts”

The Meaning of the Elevation

1. It is a special invitation to communion. But not intended for everyone.

a. The priest raises the gifts (showing them to the people) and calls all those who are holy (or worthy) to receive Christ’s body and blood.

2. So, who are the holy (or worthy)?

a. We respond “Only One….” (We know that only Jesus is worthy.)

b. But St. Nicholas Cavasilas (12th Century) says:

“Those whom the priest calls holy are not only those who have attained perfection, but those also who are striving for it without having yet obtained it. In this sense, the whole church is called holy.”

“We understand that no one has holiness of himself, but it comes to all exclusively from the Father, through Christ and in the Holy Spirit.”

“No one has rendered to God the glory which is His due.”

3. The church (the body of Christ…or all Christians) is not perfect, but we become (truly and really) sanctified through the holy Mystery of communion.

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Holy Communion”

The people then chant Psalm 148:1…“Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

…as the priest breaks the sacred Bread (Called “The Fracture.”) saying:“Divided and distributed is the Lamb of God, who is divided, yet not disunited; who is ever

eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifies those who partake thereof.”

The Meaning of the Fracture.

1. It symbolizes Christ’s sacrificial death.

2. “…divided, yet not disunited…”

a. We don’t receive only a piece of Christ, but Christ is fully present even in the smallest particle of the consecrated gifts.

3. “…ever eaten, yet never consumed…”

a. Christ’s body can never be entirely eaten, no matter how many liturgies are celebrated around the world on any Sunday.

b. The Church will never run out of the grace of the eucharistic Mystery. (Similar to Christ’s miracle of multiplying the loaves. (John 6:1-14)

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Holy Communion”

Then the priest arranges the pieces of the Lamb on the Diskos in the form of a cross.

IC NI KA

XC

Then placing the “IC” into the Chalice, he says:“The fullness of the Cup, of the Faith, of the Holy Spirit.”

And blessing the “zeon” (means boiling) filled with boiling hot water, he pours it into the Chalice saying:

“The fervor of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

(Placed in the Chalice.)

(For the people)

(For the clergy.)

The meaning of the hot water

1. Represents the warm blood and water that flowed from Christ’s side.

2. Signifies the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the church at Pentecost.

3. Reminds us that the Holy Spirit is acting upon the gifts presented.

(Physically changing them into the Body and Blood of Christ.)

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Holy Communion”

1. The clergy then receive Holy Communion at the altar, separately, following the ancient order of the Church.

NOTE*** (Everyone received communion separately up to around the ninth century, when the spoon was

introduced as a way to insure not dropping communion.)

2. After receiving communion, the clergy say:“Lo, this has touched my lips and shall take away mine iniquities, and purge away my sins.”

a. This is another reference to the prophet Isaiah’s vision of heaven.“Then one of the Seraphim was sent to me. He had a live coal in his hand, which he took with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth, and said; “Behold, this has touched your lips. Your lawlessness is taken away, and your sin is cleansed.” (Isaiah 6:7)

3. As the clergy take communion, the people recite the communion prayers. “I believe that this is truly thine own immaculate body, and this is truly thine own precious blood.”(Recalling Peter’s confession that Christ is truly God. Matt. 16:16)

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Holy Communion”

4. Then the priest or deacon invites the people to receive communion. “With the fear of God, with faith and love, draw near.” (This is why we came to church)

Why do we fear God?

a. Without fear (awe, reverence, humility) there is no love.

b. Proper fear of God, keeps us on the right path…the path of righteousness. (Synergy with God)

c. Fear of God reminds us of our destiny. “Do not fear those who kill the body, fear Him who can cast you into hell.” (Luke 12:4-5)

d. St. Tikhon (18th century) quote: “Without the fear of God and a living faith, a godly way of life is impossible.”

5. The people respond by expressing their faith.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Lord is

God and has revealed Himself unto us.” (Psalm 118:26-27))

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Holy Communion”

How do we prepare for Holy Communion?

1. Fast from food and drink (if possible) from midnight until reception of Holy communion.

2. Fast from sin a. Prepare yourself to be in a state of “spiritual warfare.” b. Confess your sins and forgive your brother and be reconciled with each other. c. “We should not commune without shedding tears.” (St. Symeon the New Theologian.)

3. Remember your baptism a. Where we put on the robe of light and are made pure. b. Every Sunday, our focus should be on repentance, humility, and charity. (These virtues unite us to Christ and are present at our baptism.)

4. Approach the chalice, like those who prepared themselves for the wedding feast. (The parable of the Great Supper, Matt. 22:1-14)

5. Come to church, prepared, and expecting to receive communion. (“The medicine of Immortality” – St. Ignatius of Antioch) See also: John 6:51-58)

6. Examine yourself spiritually before coming to church. (See hand-out)

7. Attend Vespers the night before. This service is a part of the church cycle of prayers of preparation.8. Seek silence (Put yourself in a prayerful mind frame) a. Avoid t.v., news media, radio, and gossip

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Holy Communion”

Spiritual Self Examination

• Do you pray to God in the morning and evening, before and after meals? • During prayer have you allowed your thoughts to wander? • Do you read the Scriptures daily? Do you read other spiritual writings regularly? • Have you sinned by forgetting God? • Have you been slack in attending church? • Have you kept the fasts? • Have you tried to pay reverent attention to the readings, hymns, and prayers in church? • Are you ever angry, bad tempered or irritable? • Have you entertained bad feelings, ill will or hatred against anyone? • Have you forgiven those who have offended you? • Have you asked forgiveness from those whom you have offended? • Are you obstinate, and do you always try to have your own way? • Have you been inconsiderate of other people’s feelings? • Have you been proud? Do you boast of your abilities, achievements, family, connections or riches? • Have you sinned in thought, word or deed, by a look or glance, or in any other way against the seventh commandment? • Have you wasted your time, energy or abilities in things that do not profit the soul? • Do you care for and seek first the salvation of your soul, the spiritual life and the kingdom of God, or have you put earthly considerations in the first place? • Is there any other sin, which burdens your conscience, or which you are ashamed to tell?

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Thanksgiving after Communion”

After communion, the priest prays for God to:

1. Accept our Thanksgiving.

2. Keep the whole day perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless.

3. Make our path straight.

4. Strengthen us all in our fear.

5. Guard our lives.

6. Make our steps firm.

7. Save us and bless us.

8. Preserve the fullness of the church

9. Sanctify those who love the beauty of His house

10. Glorify us with His divine power

11. Give peace to the world, to the churches, to the priests, to the armed services and to everyone.

12. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness.

The Liturgy of the Faithful “Thanksgiving after Communion”

The people leave the church, being re-fueled and giving thanks saying:

“O Master, Christ our God, King of the ages and Maker of all things: I thank You for all the good things which You have bestowed upon me, and for this partaking of Your immaculate and life-giving Mysteries. Therefore I pray to You, who are good and loves mankind: Keep me under Your protection, and in the shadow of Your wings; and grant to me with a pure conscience and even unto my last breath, to partake of Your Holy Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. For You are the Bread of Life, the Fountain of holiness, the Giver of good things, and unto You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.”