The celebration of the Divine Liturgy, with the other Holy Mysteries, is the greatest thing that any human being is called upon to do – far greater than reigning as monarchs, governing as politicians, creating as artists, composing as compsers, discovering as scientists or explorers… than walking on the moon or travelling into the depths of outer space.
The fruits, relevance or temporal value of the labours of all of these people is finite, and will perish and pass away in due season.
In the Eucharistic Offering, we encounter Christ the immortal, eternal, changeless and infinite, despite the paradox and seeming contradiction implicit in the very sacrament itself – in Christ becoming real and present beneath the veils of bread and wine, in space and in time – an earthly place which becomes heavenly, as time merges with eternity in a foretaste of the age to come.
The Divine Liturgy is humanity’s greatest offering and – in as much as the priesthood is a necessary part in this offering – it is humanity’s greatest achievement.
Thus, in accomplishing this Great Mystery, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the love and generosity of the Father, and the selfless self-giving and self-offering of the Son (our High-Priest and Sacrifice), nothing is casual, accidental or ‘optional’ (despite the Liturgical slovenliness and laziness to encountered in some places).
We give our best, we do our best, we try our best – in awe of the almost unfathomable Mystery of Love that comes to pass.
No other human activity or offering approaches the awesome reality of the Holy Mysteries: the apex of the sacramental life of the Church, in Christ’s self-giving of His Body and Blood.
Given this profound truth and reality, before the Divine Liturgy, the bishop or priest does not simply enter the sanctuary and get on with vesting and preparing the gifts.
Rather, mindful that through the power of the Holy Spirit the Saviour will Himself descend to be present, the celebrant spiritually prepares to enter the altar – where the Lord will be truly present – by praying before his entrance.
Though the assembled clergy at the Hierarchical Liturgy makes it much more obvious that the clergy before the ikonostas are praying, I continue to be astounded when parishioners come up to me and try to ask a question, or wish me good morning even from a distance. Is it not obvious that prayers are being offered?
Please be aware that the priest is still preparing for the awesome celebration of the Divine Mysteries.
Be silent, be prayerful yourself, and cause no disturbance – including staying away from the area before ikonostas unless you are there on an obedience.
Equally, please understand that there are prayers throughout the vesting, indeed at the putting on of EVERY article of the vestments, so this is not a time for the priest to be disturbed with requests or for talking in the altar, and he cannot simply put on vestments quickly before hearing your confession.
And, PLEASE, read on to understand what happens before we even begin the prokomidia. It’s a relatively short read, but a valuable one.
May God bless you.
Hieromonk Mark
The priest that desireth to celebrate the Divine Mysteries must first be at peace with all, have nothing against anyone, and insofar as is within his power, keep his heart from evil thoughts, be continent from the evening before, and be vigilant until the time of divine service. When the time is come, he goeth into the temple, in company with the deacon, and together thy make three reverences towards the east before the holy doors.
The deacon saith: Bless, Master.
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Deacon: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King and the Trisagion Prayers.
Then they say: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defense, this prayer do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, have mercy on us; for we have hoped in Thee, be not angry with us greatly, neither remember out iniquities; but look upon us now as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies; for Thou art our God, and we Thy people; all are the works of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy name.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The door of compassion open unto us, O blessed Theotokos, for hoping in thee, let us not perish; through thee may we be delivered from adversities; for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Then they approach the icon of Christ and kiss it, saying: We venerate Thine immaculate Icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ God; for of Thine Own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Savior, when Thou camest to save the world.
Then they kiss the icon of the Theotokos, saying the Troparion: As thou art a well-spring of compassion, vouchsafe mercy unto us, O Theotokos. Look upon a sinful people; show forth, as always, thy power. For hoping in thee we cry “Rejoice!” to thee, as once did Gabriel, the SupremeCommander of the Bodiless Hosts.
Then, with bowed head, the priest saith: O Lord, stretch forth Thy hand from Thy holy place on high, and strengthen me for this, Thine appointed service; that standing uncondemned before Thy dread altar, I may celebrate the bloodless ministry. For Thine is the power and the glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.
[According to custom the priest says this prayer: Remit, pardon, forgive, O God, our offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, in deed and word, in knowledge and ignorance, by day and by night, in mind and thought; forgive us all things, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.]
Then they make a bow to each choir, and go into the prothesis, saying: I shall go into Thy house; I shall worship toward Thy holy temple in fear of Thee. O Lord, guide me in the way of Thy righteousness; because of mine enemies, make straight my way before Thee. For in their mouth there is no truth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they spoken deceitfully; judge them, O God. Let them fall down on account of their own devisings; according to the multitude of their ungodliness, cast them out, for they have embittered Thee, O Lord. And let all them be glad that hope in Thee; they shall ever rejoice, and Thou shalt dwell among them. And all shall glory in Thee that love Thy name, for Thou shalt bless the righteous, O Lord, as with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us.
Having come into the sanctuary, they make three bows before the Holy Table and kiss the Holy Gospel and the Holy Table. Then each one taketh his sticharion in his hands, and they make three reverences toward the east, while saying to themselves with each:
O God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy on me.
Then the deacon cometh to the priest, holding in his right hand the sticharion with the orarion, and bowing his head before the priest, saith:
Bless, Master, the sticharion with the orarion.
The priest saith: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Then the deacon goeth to one side of the sanctuary, putteth on the sticharion, praying thus: My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture of gladness hath He covered me; He hath placed a crown upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me as a bride with comeliness.
And then kissing the orarion, he placeth it on the left shoulder. Then putting the epimanikia on the hands, with the right cuff he saith: Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered enemies, and in the multitude of Thy glory hast Thou ground down the adversaries.
And with the left, he saith: Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments.
Then, going to the prothesis, he prepareth the holy things. The holy diskos he placeth on the left side; the chalice, that is the holy cup, on the right; and the rest [the spoon and spear, etc.] with them.
Then the priest vesteth himself thus: taking the sticharion in the left hand, and bowing thrice toward the east, as mentioned before, he signeth it with the sign of the Cross, saying:
Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Then he vesteth himself, saying: My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture of gladness hath He covered me; He hath placed a crown upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me as a bride with comeliness.
Then taking the epitrachelion and signing it, he putteth it on, saying: Blessed is God Who poureth out His grace upon His priests, like unto the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment.
Then taking the zone (belt) and girding himself, he saith: Blessed is God, Who girded me with power, and hath made my path blameless, Who maketh my feet like the feet of a hart, and setteth me upon high places.
Then putting the epimanikia on the hands, with the right cuff he saith: Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered enemies, and in the multitude of Thy glory hast Thou ground down the adversaries.
And with the left, he saith: Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments.
Then taking the nabrdnenik and then the palitsa (if awarded it), if he have it, and having blessed and kissed it, he saith: Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty One, in Thy comeliness and Thy beauty, and bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king, because of truth and meekness and righteousness, and Thy right hand shall guide Thee wondrously, always now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.Amen.
Then taking the Phelonion, and having blessed and kissed it, he saith thus: Thy Priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy saints with rejoicing shall rejoice, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Then, having gone to the prothesis, they wash their hands, saying: I will wash my hands in innocency and I will compass Thine altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of Thy praise and tell of all Thy wondrous works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Destroy not my soul with the ungodly, nor my life with men of blood, in whose hands are iniquities; their right hand is full of bribes.But as for me, in mine innocence have I walked; redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot hath stood in uprightness; in the congregations will I bless Thee, O Lord.
