|
|
SaintElias.com -> Divine Services -> The Hierarchical Divine LiturgyThe Dismissal
"May the LORD God grant Life, Health, Salvation, Peace, Success in every good endeavour, and many blessed years to the Servants to God... The Bishop commemorates: the entire Church, the Congregation, the hierarchs and any particular individuals or groups present. The Senior priest prays the Polychronos for the Bishop. Myrovannya
On Feast days, the Bishop will wish a happy Feast Feastday upon the Faithful (lit. "I congratulate you on this Feast", otherwise he will use the standard liturgical greeting: "Christ is in our midst." (Khrystos po cered nas) To which the Faithful reply: "He is and will be." (Yest' y bude) As usual Antidoron is distributed - Bread Blessed by the Bishop - an alternative development of the Agape Feast of the Early Church and a symbol of the Bishop's (i.e. the Church's) care of for the poor. For originally, at the end of Liturgy, food offerings brought by the Faithful (part of which was used for the Eucharist) were blessed by the Bishop and distributed by his delegates (the Deacons) to the poor. Post Dismissal After the Concluding Prayers, the Bishop and the deacons wash their hands and exits the Altar.
Before the Bishop leaves the Church, he blesses the Congregation, who respond: "Eis polla Eti, Dhespota" ( for many Years, O Master [may God bless and keep you among us]). |
Mailing address: |
||||||||||||