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“We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere on earth. We cannot describe it to you; we only know that God dwells there among men and that their Service surpasses the worship of all other places…”

In the latter part of the tenth century, Vladimir the Prince of Kiev sent envoys to various Christian centers to study their form of worship. These are the words the envoys uttered when they reported their presence at the celebration of the Eucharist in the Great Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople. The profound experience expressed by the Russian envoys has been one shared by many throughout the centuries who have witnessed for the first time the beautiful and inspiring Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.

The Holy Eucharist is the oldest experience of Christian Worship as well as the most distinctive. Eucharist comes from the Greek word which means thanksgiving. In a particular sense, the word describes the most important form of the Church’s attitude toward all of life. The origin of the Eucharist is traced to the Last Supper at which Christ instructed His disciples to offer bread and wine in His memory. The Eucharist is the most distinctive event of Orthodox worship because in it the Church gathers to remember and celebrate the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ and, thereby, to participate in the mystery of Salvation.

In the Orthodox Church, the Eucharist is also known as the Divine Liturgy. The word liturgy means people’s work; this description serves to emphasize the corporate character of the Eucharist. When an Orthodox Christian attends the Divine Liturgy, he comes as a member of the Community of Faith who participates in the very purpose of the Church, which is the Worship of the Holy Trinity. Therefore, the Eucharist is truly the center of the life of the Church and the principal means of spiritual development, both for the individual Christian and the Church as a whole. Not only does the Eucharist embody and express the Christian faith in a unique way, but it also enhances and deepens our faith in the Trinity. This sacrament-mystery is the experience toward which all the other activities of the Church are directed and from which they receive their direction.

As it is celebrated today, the Divine Liturgy is a product of historical development. The fundamental core of the liturgy dates from the time of Christ and the Apostles. To this, prayers, hymns, and gestures have been added throughout the centuries. The liturgy achieved a basic framework by the ninth century, and is a celebration of faith which touches not only the mind but also the emotions and the senses.

There are three forms of the Eucharist presently in use in the Orthodox Church:

  1. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is the most frequently celebrated.
  2. The Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which is celebrated only ten times a year.
  3. The Liturgy of St. James which is celebrated on October 23, the Feast Day of the Saint.

While these saints did not compose the entire liturgy which bears their names, it is probable that they did author many of the prayers. The structure and basic elements of the three liturgies are similar, although there are differences in some hymns and prayers.

In addition to these Liturgies, there is also the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. This is not truly a eucharistic liturgy but rather an evening Vesper Service followed by the distribution of Holy Communion reserved from the previous Sunday. This liturgy is celebrated only on weekday mornings or evenings during Lent, and on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week, when the full Eucharist is not permitted because of its Resurrection spirit. The Eucharist expresses the deep joy which is so central to the Gospel.

The Divine Liturgy is properly celebrated only once a day. This custom serves to emphasize and maintain the unity of the local congregation. The Eucharist is always the principal Service on Sundays and Holy Days and may be celebrated on other weekdays.

By Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald

For a more in depth explanation of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, please read An Explanation of the Divine Liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Church.

THE DIVINE LITURGY ~ The Holy Eucharist, which is known as the Divine Liturgy, is the central and most important worship experience of the Orthodox Church. Often referred to as the “Sacrament of Sacraments”, it is the Church’s celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Christ offered every Sunday and Holy day. The Divine Liturgy at the Saint Barbara Parish is celebrated every Sunday morning and during the week according to the following schedule:

Sunday Morning:
Matins – 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.

Weekday Feast Day Celebrations:
Matins – 8:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy – 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Morning (Summer Hours):
Matins – 8:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.

Orthodox Christians fully participate in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy when they receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. In order to partake of this sacrament in the Orthodox Church, one must be a practicing Orthodox Christian in good canonical standing in the Church. For those individuals who are joining us in prayer, yet not practicing Orthodox Christians, they are invited to take a piece of the blessed bread, known as Andidoron (Greek), meaning “instead of the Gift.,” at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.