👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾(#Holy #Liturgy) What #Sacrifices Are #Offered During the #Liturgy?
(Part 9)
Dear followers of the Orthodox teachings on John's Repentance website .we greet you with the peace of the Lord.Today , based on the topic mentioned above, we present to you the following important lesson.We encourage everyone to read it carefully and learn from it.
✍🏾The Four Main Purposes Found in the Consecration of the Liturgy
During the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, four essential spiritual elements are revealed:
1. Teaching (Education)
The Divine Liturgy contains the dogma and doctrine of the Church. The mysteries of the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the Body and Blood of Christ, and the honor of the Holy Virgin Mary are all proclaimed through the prayers of the Liturgy.
For example, when Abba Hiryakos composed the Liturgy of St. Mary, he clearly expressed the mystery of the Trinity and the divine role of the Theotokos.
2. History
Through the celebration of the fourteen liturgy, the faithful learn the history of the Church, the lives of the saints, the apostles, and the work of God throughout salvation history.
3. Spiritual Advice
The Liturgy teaches believers to love one another, to be patient, to live in unity, to fast, to pray, and to walk in holiness. These teachings are not given briefly, but deeply and repeatedly throughout the Liturgy.
4. Exhortation and Correction
The Liturgy also exhorts the faithful to examine themselves. For example, it teaches that if someone has a quarrel with a brother or sister, reconciliation must come before Communion. It reminds us of our relationship with others and our
submission to God the Creator.
These four elements show that the holy Liturgy is a complete spiritual school for humanity.
✍🏾The Offering in the Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy is a communal prayer where readings, hymns, and sacrifices are offered by the priest, the deacon, and the faithful together.
The Church teaches:
“Do not stand naked before the prophet of God.”
✍🏾This means that no one should come before God without an offering. Even if a person has little, they should offer what they are able without shame. Offerings may include incense, raisins, bread, or other gifts.
✍🏾During the Liturgy, the priest prays specifically over the offerings of the faithful. If no one brings an offering, we must ask: for whom is this prayer said? Therefore, preparation for the Liturgy includes preparing an offering, according to one’s ability.
✍🏾Preparation for the holy Liturgy
When we come to church to participate in the Holy Liturgy, we must prepare ourselves in the following ways:
👉🏾To stand reverently and participate fully
👉🏾To listen attentively to the readings and apply them to our lives
👉🏾To receive Holy Communion for eternal life The Church teaches through hymnody that anyone who does not remain until the end of the Liturgy, who does not listen to the Holy Scriptures, and who does not receive Holy Communion without reason, separates themselves from the communion of the Church. Therefore, preparation is essential.
✍🏾Sanctification of the Five Senses in the Liturgy
During the Divine Liturgy, all five human senses are consecrate :
1. Sight (Eyes)
The faithful observe the priest’s movements at the altar.
These movements are not random; each has deep spiritual and mystical meaning. By seeing them, the eyes are sanctified.
2. Hearing (Ears)
Through hymns, prayers, Scripture readings, and proclamations by the priest and deacon, the ears are sanctified.
3. Smell (Nose)
The fragrance of incense sanctifies the sense of smell and symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising to God.
4. Taste (Tongue)
By receiving the Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ, the sense of taste is sanctified.
5. Touch (Hands and Body)
Touch is sanctified through bowing, prostration, kissing the Gospel, and receiving the priest’s blessing.
Continues 👇🏾