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Note on the English translation |
xiii |
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Abbreviations |
xv |
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Foreword to the first Greek edition |
xvii |
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Foreword to the fourth Greek edition |
xix |
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INTRODUCTION |
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1. |
The Last Supper and the early Christian Liturgy |
3 |
2. |
The earliest liturgical prayers |
5 |
3. |
The first written texts of the Divine Liturgy |
8 |
4. |
St John Chrysostom and the Divine Liturgy |
9 |
5. |
What is the Divine Liturgy? |
15 |
6. |
The fruits of the Divine Liturgy |
23 |
|
I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE LITURGY |
|
1. |
THE RITE OF THE KAIROS |
|
|
The preparation of the celebrant |
28 |
|
My heart is ready, O God |
30 |
|
The day without evening |
33 |
|
The Theotokos: the gate that faces east |
36 |
|
The Cross: the glory of Christ |
37 |
|
Glorify God in your body |
38 |
|
Through the icons, we see the Lord and the saints |
40 |
|
Priesthood: a ministry of service |
42 |
|
The celebrand enters heaven |
45 |
|
The workshop of the gifts of the Holy Spirit |
46 |
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|
2. |
THE VESTING OF THE CELEBRANTS |
|
|
The vestments are holy and transmit holiness |
48 |
|
Christ: the vestmen from heaven |
50 |
|
The epitrachelion, symbol of Grace |
51 |
|
The symbolism of the girdle |
53 |
|
The priest acts as thw hand of Christ |
54 |
|
Gird on Your sword, O Mighty One |
56 |
|
Priests, clothe yourselves in righteousness, in Christ |
57 |
|
The deacon, minister of the Mysteries of Jesus Christ |
59 |
|
I will wash my hands in innocency |
60 |
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3. |
THE SERVICE OF PREPARATION OF THE EUCHARISTIC GIFTS |
|
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The Chalice and the Paten |
63 |
|
'Make ready, O Bethlehem' |
65 |
|
You have redeemed us from the curse of the law |
66 |
|
The offering of bread and wine |
67 |
|
Bread and wine, symbols of unity |
69 |
|
Celebrating the remembrance of Christ |
71 |
|
A narrative of the Passion in actions |
73 |
|
The Lamb of God is sacrificed |
76 |
|
There came forth blood and water |
78 |
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Sober inebriation |
79 |
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The Queen stood at Your right hand |
81 |
|
Holy angels assist the priest |
84 |
|
The assembly of the saints |
87 |
|
Remember, O Master, Lover of mankind |
90 |
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God in the midst of gods |
92 |
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When the soul becomes a censer |
93 |
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The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty |
95 |
|
Your virtue, O Christ, has covered the heavens |
96 |
|
The blessing of God and the blessing of man |
97 |
|
From the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit |
100 |
|
The entire church is censed |
101 |
|
Time for the Lord to act |
103 |
|
II. THE DIVINE LITURGY |
|
|
|
|
1. |
THE LITANY OF PEACE AND THE ANTIPHONS |
|
|
The Liturgy transforms earth into heaven |
106 |
|
The Cross is the symbol of the Kingdom |
107 |
|
The faithful conclude with the Amen |
109 |
|
The Mystery of the peace of God |
110 |
|
Christ is our peace |
112 |
|
The peace of the whole world |
114 |
|
One who seeks peace is searching for Christ |
116 |
|
The church is heaven on earth |
117 |
|
Man is a Christ-bearing temple |
119 |
|
He who presides in the place of God |
121 |
|
Christians sustain the world |
123 |
|
Let creation rejoice |
125 |
|
Those who are weary and heavy laden |
128 |
|
For our deliverance from affliction |
129 |
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That we may be delivered from wrath |
132 |
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That we may be delivered from danger |
133 |
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That we may be delivered from constraint |
133 |
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Let not your hearts be troubled |
134 |
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Let us entrust ourselves to Christ our God |
135 |
|
God's love for mankind beyond all telling |
136 |
|
The soul is a consummate musician |
138 |
|
Behold the Lamb of God |
140 |
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Again and again let us pray to the Lord |
141 |
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To share in the inheritance of the saints |
142 |
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The God who is not proud |
144 |
|
Common and united prayers |
145 |
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|
2. |
THE ENTRANCE WITH THE GOSPEL BOOK AND THE SACRED READINGS |
|
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Angels and humans intermingle |
149 |
|
A festival shared by heaven and earth |
152 |
|
The throne on high |
154 |
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The foretelling of Christ's coming |
155 |
|
We beheld His glory |
156 |
|
Praise God |
157 |
|
The light of divine knowledge |
159 |
|
Let us approach the Bridegroom bearing lamps |
161 |
|
We see and hear Christ |
163 |
|
Let us raise our minds above earthly things |
165 |
|
My peace I give to you |
166 |
|
The good news of the Kingdom |
168 |
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|
3. |
THE LITANY AND THE GREAT ENTRANCE |
|
|
Christ is the abyss of mercy |
171 |
|
Lord, have mercy |
173 |
|
The catehumens |
175 |
|
The dismissal of the catechumens |
177 |
|
Make us worthy |
179 |
|
Make radiant the garment of my soul |
182 |
|
The Cherubic Hymn |
184 |
|
Lord, You offer and are offered |
187 |
|
For we are about to receive the King of all |
189 |
|
The transfer of the precious Gifts |
192 |
|
Taking your most pure Body down from the Tree |
194 |
|
The Holy Spirit concelebrates |
196 |
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|
|
4. |
THE LITANY OF THE PROSKOMIDE AND THE CREED |
|
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Perfection without end |
199 |
|
A guardian angel |
201 |
|
Things profitable for our souls |
203 |
|
Death: the beginning of a better life |
204 |
|
Sins and acts of ignorance |
207 |
|
Peace prepares the way for love |
208 |
|
The kiss of love |
209 |
|
The doors, the doors! |
212 |
|
Enumerating the gifts of God |
214 |
|
|
|
5. |
THE HOLY ANAPHORA |
|
|
Let us stand with fear |
215 |
|
A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise |
216 |
|
A trinitarian gift |
218 |
|
The miracle of the liturgical transfiguration |
220 |
|
Let us give thanks to the Lord |
223 |
|
It is meet and right |
224 |
|
For all these things we give thanks tou You |
225 |
|
The Triumphal Hymn |
229 |
|
Angels and men give glory together |
231 |
|
God so loved the world |
234 |
|
The sacrifice of Christ is accomplished |
235 |
|
The Last Supper and the Divine Eucharist |
237 |
|
Remembrance of Christ |
239 |
|
Remembrance of Christ's Kingdom
|
241 |
|
We offer to You Your own of Your own |
242 |
|
The descent of the Paraclete |
245 |
|
It is truly meet to call you blessed, Theotokos |
247 |
|
Provider and nourisher of the faithful |
248 |
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|
|
6. |
DIPTYCHS* AND PRAYERS |
|
|
In memory of the saints |
251 |
|
Visit us, O God |
253 |
|
An offering for the world |
253 |
|
With one voice and one heart |
255 |
|
As a sweet-scented spiritual fragrance |
256 |
|
The unity of the faith |
259 |
|
For communion of the Holy Spirit |
262 |
|
Boldness before God |
263 |
|
Now are we children of God |
264 |
|
The Table of peace |
266 |
|
The bowing of heads |
268 |
|
|
|
7. |
HOLY COMMUNION |
|
|
Above I have you, and below I intermingle with you |
270 |
|
The Holy Things for the holy |
272 |
|
One is Holy, one is Lord: Jesus Christ |
273 |
|
The Lamb of God is broken |
275 |
|
Christ is one |
277 |
|
The fervour of the Holy Spirit |
278 |
|
Communion prayers |
281 |
|
Employ a mother's boldness, All-pure Lady |
282 |
|
This has touched my lips |
286 |
|
We can always be celebrating Easter |
289 |
|
Preparing to draw near |
290 |
|
With faith, fear of God and love |
291 |
|
He calls His sheep by name |
295 |
|
We and Christ are one |
296 |
|
Christ nourishes us in both worlds |
298 |
|
We have seen the true Light |
300 |
|
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens |
303 |
|
I have no words, my Saviour |
305 |
|
|
|
8. |
DISMISSAL |
|
|
Let us go forth in peace |
309 |
|
The fullness of the Church |
310 |
|
Blessed be the name of the Lord |
312 |
|
The blessing of the Lord and His mercy |
314 |
|
III. THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION |
|
|
I give thanks to You, O Lord |
321 |
|
|
|
|
EPILOGUE |
323 |
|
The Catechetical Homily of St John Chrysostom |
325 |
|
|
|
|
Glossary |
329 |
|
List of main Patristic Texts concerning the Divine Liturgy |
345 |
|
Index of scriptural references |
347 |
|
Index of subjects and names |
351 |