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After weeks of briefly explaining the 3 parts of our Divine Liturgy, we are entering the final phase of our Liturgy. But we are reminded, that the most sacred point is, when the Priest beseeches the Holy Spirit to descend, and bless, and transubstantiate the visible elements of Bread and Wine, into the very Body and Blood of our Lord. The Lord Himself at the Last Supper instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, when He took the bread, and raising it He blessed and broke it saying: "Take, eat, this is My Body, which for you is broken unto remission of sins." Then taking the cup of wine, and giving thanks, He gave to His Disciples saying: "Drink from it all of you„ for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:16-28) That is when we kneel, during the Consecration of the Holy Gifts, to express our complete devotion and submission to the Lord. All during the Liturgy, as we heard, there are so many inspiring and meaningful prayers offered by the Priest. But following the Consecration, there are so many soul-fulfilling prayers, which are inter-related, and whose purpose is, to prepare ourselves to approach and receive, when the Priests invites those, who are prepared to come forth and receive Holy Communion. Last week we finished with the prayer, in which the Priest beseeches God to come amongst us, and sanctify us through Holy Communion. Having offered this prayer, the Priest blesses himself, repeating three times inaudibly; "O God, have mercy upon me, a sinner!" He then takes the Consecrated cube of Bread, now the Body of our Lord. He elevates It, after having called the people's attention by saying: "Pros-homen," that is, "let us be attentive." Having elevated the Consecrated Bread the Priest exclaims: "The Holy Things for the Holy" (People). At this point, when the Priest raises the Consecrated Bread we bring to mind our Lord's Resurrection. "Holy Things unto the Holy," is a vivid reminder, that if we are to receive the Lord within us, we must firstly be worthy as possible; that is, to have a conscience, which is clear, and a heart, which is laden with Christian love, and free from the burden of sin. When you truly think of it, I don't know if we can adequately conceive the unimaginable, I would say; That is the indescribable and ineffable fact, that when we open our mouth, we in effect receive the Lord's very Body and Blood. You may remember the opening phrase, from the first inaudible prayer of the Liturgy, while the Congregation is singing the Cherubic hymn. I repeat it here, to stress the inadequacy or insufficiency of our being, stated so beautifully in the prayer: 'Wo one, who is bound with the desires and pleasures of the flesh is worthy to approach, or draw near, or to serve Your O King of Glory ...etc." Truly, no one is worthy, but a dedicated Chrisian makes every attempt to achieve perfection. After all, did not the Lord in Matthew 5:48, say: "Be ye perfect, as my Father in Heaven is perfect?" The holy ones of course are the Faithful, who have made their spiritual preparation to receive Holy Communion. But, even though in this instance the Faithful are called holy, or saints, the Congregation voices the sentiments and humility by singing the hymn; "One is Holy, One is Lord; Jesus Christ, to the Glory of God, the Father. Amen" Immediately after singing the hymn: "One is Holy, etc." the Priest will commence offering many prayers. While the Congregation sings the Communion hymn, repeating it until the Priest invites the Faithful to come forth. The hymn states: "Praise ye the Lord from the Heavens. Praise Him in the Highest. Alleluia." While this hymn is being sung, the Priest takes the Consecrated Cube of Bread with the imprint IC XC NIKA, meaning "Jesus Christ conquers," which was carved on the Prothesis, or preparation Table, in the form of the Cross, but not cut through. He breaks it into four quarter pieces, praying inaudibly: "Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God, Who is divided, yet not divided; Who is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifies those, who partake thereof." Think on this: "Broken and distributed is the Lamb of God, Who is divided, yet not divided; Who is ever eaten, yet never consumed, but sanctifies those, who partake thereof." How very Godinspired were the Holy Fathers of our Church, to have bequeathed to us such masterpieces. The Priest having separated the Consecrated Cube into 4 quarters, places them in the form of the Cross on the Paten. He then takes the piece stamped with IC, which is a contraction for Jesus, and making the sign of the Cross over the Holy Chalice, he drops it in, saying inaudibly: "The fullness of the Cup of Faith, of the Holy Spirit." How significant! The Lamb of God is divided and distributed, yet not divided; The Lamb of God is forever consumed by the Faithful, but never eaten up, and always sanctifies those, who are partakers thereof! Casting the Piece, which was placed into the Chalice containing the most Holy and Precious Blood of our Lord, constitutes the completion of the Mystery; the fullness of the Cup, received in faith by the Faithful, bestows upon them the power, and Grace of the Holy Spirit. When the one quarter of the Consecrated Cube is in the Holy Chalice, an Altar Boy brings the Zeon which is warm water. The Priest blesses the warm water, while saying: "Blessed is the fervor o f Your Saints, always, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen." The warm water is also symbolic of the fervor of our faith. The Priest while pouring the Zeon into the Holy Chalice says: "The fervor of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Amen." The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is complete. The Priest inaudibly offers the following prayers, right before Communion time: 1." I believe O Lord, and I confess, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who did come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Also I believe, that this is Your sacred Body, and this Your Precious Blood." "Therefore I pray to You, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, of both known and unknown; and make me worthy without condemnation to partake of Your sacred Mysteries, unto the remission of sins and unto life everlasting. Amen. 2.Behold, I approach for Holy Communion. O Creator, burn me not as I partake; for You are Fire, which burns the unworthy. Therefore, cleanse me from every stain. 3. Receive me today O Son of God, as a partaker of Your Mystic Feast; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Your enemies; I will not kiss You as did Judas; but as the Thief, I will confess You. 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom. 4. Shudder beholding the Divine Blood O mortal one; for it is to the unworthy as a burning coal. It is God's Body, and it deifies me and nourishes me; it deifies my spirit, and wondrously nourishes my mind. 5. You have enchanted me with yearning, O Christ, and with Your Divine Love You have changed me; but, burn away my sins with the spiritual fire, and make me worthy to be filled with Your joy; that rejoicing in Your goodness, I may magnify Your two Presences. 6. Into the glorious company of Your Saints, how shall I, the unworthy enter? for if I also dare to go into the Bridal Chamber, my robe will betray me, for it is not a wedding garment, and I shall be bound by the Angels and cast out. Cleanse my soul, O Lord from pollution, and by Your compassion save me. 7. O Merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ my God, let not these Holy Things be unto me for judgment through my unworthiness, but rather for the purification and sanctification of my soul and body, and as an earnest of the Life and Kingdom to come. For it is good for me to cleave unto God, and to place my hope of salvation in the Lord." 8. The eighth prayer, is a repeat of prayer, number 3, at which point we stop to continue next week, which will complete the series on the Commentary of the Liturgy. My prayer is that this instructional series have helped you understand the Liturgy better. However, I believe that the meditation on these talks published every week would further edify you even more than the verbal instructions from the pulpit. +Fr. George Papadeas |
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