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Hieromonk Gregorios
“Some may say that a contemporary commentary on the Divine Liturgy should reflect how a contemporary Christian sees, hears and touches Christ, but on account of the present author’s spiritual blindness, deafness and insensibility he has turned to those who have seen the true Light, who have heard the Word and ‘touched the immaculate head of the Master’, and who are eternally contemporary. And so this book is compiled from the eucharistic experiences of the saints and presents the Divine Liturgy as it was actually lived by them, and as it is still lived within the Church. For even today, in these difficult times, there are hearts that burn with His love (cf. Luke 24:32) and experience His presence at the Altar and people who during the Divine Liturgy concelebrate with the angels and saints, and truly live in the blessed Kingdom of the Triune God.”
—“FOREWORD TO THE FIRST GREEK EDITION”
CONTENTS
Note on the English translation
Abbreviations
Foreword to the first Greek edition
Foreword to the fourth Greek edition
INTRODUCTION
1. The Last Supper and the early Christian Liturgy
2. The earliest liturgical prayers
3. The first written texts of the Divine Liturgy
4. St John Chrysostom and the Divine Liturgy
5. What is the Divine Liturgy?
6. The fruits of the Divine Liturgy
I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE LITURGY
1. THE RITE OF THE KAIROS
The preparation of the celebrant
My heart is ready, O God
The day without evening
The Theotokos: the gate that faces east
The Cross: the glory of Christ
Glorify God in your body
Through the icons, we see the Lord and the saints
Priesthood: a ministry of service
The celebrant enters heaven
The workshop of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
2. THE VESTING OF THE CELEBRANTS
The vestments are holy and transmit holiness
Christ: the vestment from heaven
The epitrachelion, symbol of Grace
The symbolism of the girdle
The priest acts as the hand of Christ
Gird on Your sword, O Mighty One
Priests, clothe yourselves in righteousness, in Christ
The deacon, minister of the Mysteries of Jesus Christ
I will wash my hands in innocency
3. THE SERVICE OF PREPARATION OF THE EUCHARISTIC GIFTS
The Chalice and the Paten
‘Make ready, O Bethlehem’
You have redeemed us from the curse of the law
The offering of bread and wine
Bread and wine, symbols of unity
Celebrating the remembrance of Christ
A narrative of the Passion in actions
The Lamb of God is sacrificed
There came forth blood and water
Sober inebriation
The Queen stood at Your right hand
Holy angels assist the priest
The assembly of the saints
Remember, O Master, Lover of mankind
God in the midst of gods
When the soul becomes a censer
The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty
Your virtue, O Christ, has covered the heavens
The blessing of God and the blessing of man
From the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit
The entire church is censed
Time for the lord to act
II. THE DIVINE LITURGY
1. THE LITANY OF PEACE AND THE ANTIPHONS
The Liturgy transforms earth into heaven
The Cross is the symbol of the Kingdom
The faithful conclude with the Amen
The Mystery of the peace of God
Christ is our peace
The peace of the whole world
One who seeks peace is searching for Christ
The church is heaven on earth
Man is a Christ-bearing temple
He who presides in the place of God
Christians sustain the world
Let creation rejoice
Those who are weary and heavy laden
For our deliverance from affliction
That we may be delivered from wrath
That we may be delivered from danger
That we may be delivered from constraint
Let not your hearts be troubled
Let us entrust ourselves to Christ our God
God’s love for mankind beyond all telling
The soul is a consummate musician
Behold the Lamb of God
Again and again let us pray to the Lord
To share in the inheritance of the saints
The God who is not proud
Common and united prayers
2. THE ENTRANCE WITH THE GOSPEL BOOK AND THE SACRED READINGS
Angels and humans intermingle
A festival shared by heaven and earth
The throne on high
The foretelling of Christ’s coming
We beheld His glory
Praise God
The light of divine knowledge
Let us approach the Bridegroom bearing lamps
We see and hear Christ
Let us raise our minds above earthly things
My peace I give to you
The good news of the Kingdom
3. THE LITANY AND THE GREAT ENTRANCE
Christ is the abyss of mercy
Lord, have mercy
The catechumens
The dismissal of the catechumens
Make us worthy
Make radiant the garment of my soul
The Cherubic Hymn
Lord, You offer and are offered
For we are about to receive the King of all
The transfer of the precious Gifts
Taking your most pure Body down from the Tree
The Holy Spirit concelebrates
4. THE LITANY OF THE PROSKOMIDE AND THE CREED
Perfection without end
A guardian angel
Things profitable for our souls
Death: the beginning of a better life
Sins and acts of ignorance
Peace prepares the way for love
The kiss of love
The doors, the doors!
Enumerating the gifts of God
5. THE HOLY ANAPHORA
Let us stand with fear
A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise
A trinitarian gift
The miracle of the liturgical transfiguration
Let us give thanks to the Lord
It is meet and right
For all these things we give thanks to You
The Triumphal Hymn
Angels and men give glory together
God so loved the world
The sacrifice of Christ is accomplished
The Last Supper and the Divine Eucharist
Remembrance of Christ
Remembrance of Christ’s Kingdom
We offer to You Your own of Your own
The descent of the Paraclete
It is truly meet to call you blessed, Theotokos
Provider and nourisher of the faithful
6. DIPTYCHS* AND PRAYERS
In memory of the saints
Visit us, O God
An offering for the world
With one voice and one heart
As a sweet-scented spiritual fragrance
The unity of the faith
For communion of the Holy Spirit
Boldness before God
Now are we children of God
The Table of peace
The bowing of heads
7. HOLY COMMUNION
Above I have you, and below I intermingle with you
The Holy Things for the holy
One is Holy, one is Lord: Jesus Christ
The Lamb of God is broken
Christ is one
The fervour of the Holy Spirit
Communion prayers
Employ a mother’s boldness, All-pure Lady
This has touched my lips
We can always be celebrating Easter
Preparing to draw near
With faith, fear of God and love
He calls His sheep by name
We and Christ are one
Christ nourishes us in both worlds
We have seen the true Light
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens
I have no words, my Saviour
8. DISMISSAL
Let us go forth in peace
The fullness of the Church
Blessed be the name of the Lord
The blessing of the Lord and His mercy
III. THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
I give thanks to You, O Lord
EPILOGUE
The Catechetical Homily of St John Chrysostom
Glossary
List of main Patristic Texts concerning the Divine Liturgy
Index of scriptural references
Index of subjects and names
Item Number: BKDH119
Publication Data: Karyes, Greece: Cell of St. John the Theologian, Koutloumousiou Monastery, 2009
Format: hardcover
Number of Pages: xx + 370
Dimensions (l × w × h): 21.5 cm × 14.9 cm × 3.0 cm
Additional Information: black-and-white illustrations, dust jacket
ISBN: 978‒960‒89067‒9‒2
$44.95 (USD)
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