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The Enarxis

The "Enarxis" is the very first Part of the Divine Liturgy.

The Bells are rung from the Bell Tower to announce Divine Liturgy.

Before the Divine Liturgy begins, the Deacon incense the entire Church.

The incensation begins with the 4 sides of the Holy Table within the Altar, then he proceeds to incense the High Place (representing the Kingship of God, which seat is used only by the Bishop), the icons within the Altar.

Then exiting the Altar, he incenses the icons of the Iconstasis, the Icons in the Sanctuary and Narthex, and the Faithful.

Incense is symbolic both of the prayer of the Faithful rising to God (Ps. 140:2; Rev. 8:3-4) and the descent and presence of the Holy Spirit from heaven into our midst (Ex. 16:10; I Kings 8:10-13, Matt.17:5).

The Enarxis begins with the initial Blessing.

The Blessing is invoked by the bidding of the Deacon. The Deacon exits from the Altar and standing out on the Ambo before the Holy Doors (a.k.a. the "Royal Doors") in front of the Iconostas and invokes the Blessing by intoning: "Master, Give the Blessing."

Then the Priest begings the Divine Liturgy by proclaiming: "Blessed be the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". (Mk 11:10 & Mtt. 28:19)

The Faithful respond: "Amen."

During the Blessing, the Priest lifts up the Gospel Book and signs the Holy Table in the sign of the life-creating Cross in the name of the Holy Trinity.

The Deacon then leads the Faithful in praying the Great Litany (a.k.a. the Ektene of Peace), chanting: "In Peace, let us pray unto the Lord"; "for the Peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray unto the Lord"; "for Peace throughout the world, and the well-being of God's holy Churches and for the unity of all, let us pray unto the Lord"; ..."

During the Great Litany of Peace we not only pray for salvation, peace throughout the world, unity, but also for: the faithful of the parish, the hierarchs, the entire community of God, the clergy, the local community (city, village, etc.), cities, rural areas, the ecology and the environment, farms and agriculture, the sick, the suffering, the captive, all those suffering from tribulation and misfortune.

The Faithful, out in the Sanctuary (a.k.a. the "Nave" in the Latin Churches) pray the petition suggested by the Deacon by responding: "Lord, have mercy" to each petition.

The Prayer: "Lord, have mercy" is a constant theme in the liturgical worship of orthodox christianity. It is not only an supplication of God's mercy but even more a proclamation of Divine mercy, the "Hesed" (Hebrew) of God, i.e. God's faithful and unconditional love and compassion toward us.

Meanwhile, in soto voce the Priest in the Altar prays: "Lord, our God...look upon us, and bestow on us and on those praying with us the riches of your mercy and compassion..."

And recalling the examples of the saints and the entire community of the holy of God, the Faithful dedicate themselves, one another, and their whole lives to the Christ.

The Priest conludes the Litany by the proclamation: "For all glory, honour, and worship befit You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...." And the Faithful respond: "Amen!"

After the Great Litany, various 2 or 3 Antiphons are sung. These consist of various Psalms (e.g. Ps. 103, 145) and Hymns, including the Beatitudes from Matt. 5:3-12. Between the Antiphons, the Deacon leads the congregation in praying the Little Litany: "Again and again, in peace, let us prayer to the Lord"; "Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by your grace"; etc. Meanwhile, in soto voce, the Priest from within the Altar prays: "You have promised to fulfill the requests of 2 or 3 who join their voices in your name, Fulfill now for us, Your Servants, these petitions..."

Again the Faithful pray the petition suggested by the Deacon by responding: "Lord, have mercy." And again, following the example of the saints, the congregation dedicate themselves, one another, and their whole lives to the Christ.

The Priest conludes the Little Litany by the proclamation: "For Your are a good and loving God, and we give glory toYou, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...." And the Faithful respond: "Amen!"

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