SaintElias.com -> Church Etiquette

A Survival Guide to Divine Liturgy

Survival Tips to Byzantine Church Life	A Survival Guide to Divine Liturgy	A Survival Guide to Great Vespers	Who's Who? in Church Services
Coming into Church	"Greetings and Salutations"	Greeting a Priest	The Sign of the Cross

1. Divine What?

" Divine Liturgy " is the main Sunday Service in the Byzantine Tradition, -- i.e. the Eucharistic Service,

Latin Catholics call their Divine Liturgy: "the Mass".

2. If you are unfamiliar with our Divine Liturgy, it may seem strange to you, but like any Eucharist in the Christian tradition, the central core are the 2 essential parts:

a. the Liturgy of the Word of God called in our tradition:

-- "the liturgy of the Catechumens"

and

b. the Liturgy of Holy Communion.

3. in addition to this are several short Hymns

4. Hint: the whole Liturgy is linked together by a series of Litanies.

Participation

– EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!

- We encourage you to pray and sing with us! Please join in!

Sing Along!

Much of our Divine Services involves the praying of Litanies.

The Deacon will lead the Faithful in a series of Petitions: (e.g.: "...in peace let us pray unto the Lord.")

The Faithful respond by singing:

"Lord have mercy." about 83% of all Responses in our Church

"Grant this, O Lord." Used in a couple of the Litanies.

"To You, O Lord." The 2d last Response to each Litany

"Amen." The conclusion to all prayer.

Sing Along in Ukrainian!

(N.B: in Ukrainian, ALL vowels are short vowels, e.g. ö = got, ï = fit, etc.)

Lord, have mercy = " Hós-pö-dï Pö-mí-lou-wee "

To You, O Lord = " Tö -Bée, Hós-pö-dï "

Amen = " Ah -méen "

Grant this, O Lord = " Pö -dýe, Hós-pö-dï "

Comportment

The general practice is to:

– STAND in prayer for everything
except:
– one may SIT for the New Testament Reading and the Sermon

– Please sit if you are infirm, or elderly, etc.

– at the very least you should stand for

- the Gospel,

- the Entrances,

- from the Great Entrance until after Holy Communion

Like... Where the heck are the pews, MAN?

- Tips

- a. don't worry, soon, your legs/back will get used to standing

- b. making Reverences and venerating Icons/Gospel really helps the ol' legs

- c. wear comfortable shoes

Holy Communion

– Holy Communion: all Catholics are welcome & encouraged to receive

– provided they have fasted and go to Confession regularly

– Holy Communion: all Orthodox are encouraged to follow the Canons of their Church and are welcome to Holy Communion as well in the spirit of Oeconomia.

– Everyone is welcome to receive the “Antidor” Blessed Bread at the end of Divine Liturgy

- if you are receiving Holy Communion:

- make the sign of the Cross

- cross your hands over your heart

- tell the priest your Christian name

- come right up very close to the Holy Cup

- tilt your head back

- and open your mouth

- ensure that your tongue is well back in your mouth

- do NOT stick out your tongue

A Brief outline of the Divine Liturgy