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The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

A "Hierarchical Divine Liturgy" is a Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Bishop (who is also known as the "Eparch" or "Hierarch"). The Eparch is the ruling Hierarch of an Eparchy (i.e. area over which he is pastorally responsible, a.k.a a "diocese" in the Latin Churches).

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is served whenever the Bishop is present. Nowadays the Eparch usually "visits" on special occasions in the parish, e.g. ordinations, a big parish anniversary, or the parish "Praznyk" (the patronal Feast day of the parish).

But, from a theological and liturgical viewpoint, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is actually the basic and normal Divine Liturgy of the Church. Technically, it is only "by exception" that any Divine Liturgy is served without the Eparch

Since the Bishop is the "Shepherd" of his Church, he should preside at all his Church's celebrations. And he did in the early Church when the Christian Community was small. Nowadays it is impractical the Bishop be present at every Service in the Eparchy. However, the Eparch is still present at each Service by means of various symbols which remind us of our unity with the Bishop, and through him the entire Church both local and universal.

E.g. any celebration of Liturgy requires an "Antimins", a small cloth icon of the Burial, which is signed by the Bishop, representing his presence and thus the authorization of the entire Christian Community.

Just as each Divine Service should be served by a Deacon, and the Service obviously "limps" without the ministry of the Deacon. Even more so does the Service "limp" when the Bishop is absent.

Clearly in the early Church, the Bishop presided at every Divine Service.

And in Cathedrals, esp. the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) our mother Church, where our Liturgy developed, the presidency of a Bishop was normative.

When the Bishop is present, the entirety of the Church is present.

The Eparch represents in his office, the Christian community (both Laity and Clergy) geographically in the local and particular Church

- being the representative of both laity and clergy (cf. his election and the Triple Axios of clergy and laity).

By his Apostolic Succession, he also makes present the Church historically stretching back to the Apostles.

And by his Communion with:

the Patriarch, the college of Bishops and all those with whom the Patriarch is in Communion, e.g. the other Patriarchs and the first Patriarch, the Bishop and Pope of elder Rome, the Eparch makes present the entirety of the Catholic Communion.

You may notice that every so often during the Hierarchical Services, suddenly the language will change into Greek: e.g.:

"eis polla Eti, Dhespota";

"Ton Dhespotin...",

or "Agios o Theos...".

As Rus'-Ukraine was evangelized by Byzantine missionaries, the first Bishops and Metropolitans of our Church were Greeks.

Thanks to Saints Cyril and Methodios, equal to the Apostles and Teachers of the Slavic Nations, the Holy Scriptures and Liturgical Texts, etc. were translated into the local vernacular.

Nevertheless, in gratitude to their missionary bishops who had leave their homeland to ministry to our Church and in remembrance of our connections with our mother Church, certain portions of the Service will be taken in Greek.

Letter to the Church of Smyrna by Saint Ignatius
Patriarch of Antioch and Successor of Peter

8:1 Do ye all follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ doth the Father...

Let no one, apart from the bishop, do any of the things that appertain unto the church.

Let that eucharist alone be considered valid which is celebrated in the presence of the bishop, or of him to whom he shall have entrusted it.

8:2 Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.

It is not lawful either to baptize, or to hold a love-feast without the consent of the bishop; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that also is well pleasing unto God, to the end that whatever is done may be safe and sure.

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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