The content on this page was written for St. Athanasius Byzantine Catholic Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, by Carolyn Pickett, who departed for her eternal life on April 14, 2008. It is used here, with minor edits, with permission from Mrs. Pickett's family and St. Athanasius Church.
Worship that Engages All the Senses
If you're not a Byzantine Catholic and are unsure or curious about what you'll encounter when you visit, we hope you'll find the information on this page helpful and interesting.
The Divine Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy, the offering (sacrifice) of the Body and Blood of Christ, is the central act of worship. The Byzantine Liturgy is one of the most widely celebrated in U.S. Eastern Catholic Churches. It has several different forms, but the principal one used daily by most Eastern Catholics is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. St. John Chrysostom (349-407) was Archbishop of Constantinople and a renowned preacher and biblical scholar. The liturgy was adapted from the Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem.
Into What Parts is the Divine Liturgy Divided?
The Divine Liturgy can be divided into three main parts and can also be explained as a mystical approach to the life of our Lord. The Life of Jesus Christ is usually divided into three periods, namely:
1) The hidden life
2) the public life; and
3) the salvific life, or Christ's work of salvation.
Corresponding to these three periods of Christ's life, the Divine Liturgy can also be divided into three consecutive parts:
1) The Preparation (proskomedia), the rite of preparing the holy gifts (bread and wine) at the side altar, which enacts the sacrificial life of Jesus
2) The Liturgy of the Catechumens, with the readings of the Holy Scriptures and the sermon, which celebrates and teaches the public life of Jesus;
3) Liturgy of the Eucharist, which communicates our Lord's salvific work: His passion, death on the cross, His glorious resurrection, and His ascension.
Receiving Holy Communion
If you are Catholic, have maintained the one hour fast before Holy Communion and are in a state of grace (free of conscious mortal sin), you may receive Holy Communion, the saving Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as you normally would. The faithful are called to "Approach with the fear of God and with Faith." A gesture of reverence and thanksgiving is appropriate (hands folded one over the other on the breast in the form of St. Andrew's Cross) before and after receiving Holy Communion. When you approach, you will simply tilt your head back with mouth open as Holy Communion is given to the faithful under both species by means of the communion spoon, while holding the linen under your chin. There is no response to the words of the priest. . As each communicant receives the sacred species the priest says: "(Name) servant of God receives the precious and all holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins and for life everlasting."
Byzantine Sign of the Cross
Blessing oneself with two fingers brought to the thumb represents the Trinity. The last two fingers held to the palm represent the two natures of Jesus--God and man. For the first 1,200 years of the Church, in making the Sign of the Cross, the hand was typically brought from the right to the left shoulder. In the East this is still the practice, to signify Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father. According to tradition and in the words of Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), The Sign of the Cross is made with three fingers because it is impressed upon us in the name of the Holy Trinity. From the forehead we pass to the breast, then from the right to the left. (Quoted in Gasparri: Catholic Catechism, p. 248).
Bows and Blessings
We bow and make the Sign of the Cross many times during the Liturgy, as a sign of our faith, and the receiving and accepting of Gods blessings. Following the making of the Sign of the Cross, reverence to God is further expressed by bowing the head. We bless ourselves every time we mention the Persons of the Trinity by name, or whenever the priest blesses the congregation. We also bow and sign ourselves whenever we enter or leave the church.
What is the Difference Between the Divine Liturgy and the Mass of the Roman Rite?
There is no theological difference; that is, both are the same event, Sacrifice and Eucharist. The word liturgy came from the Greek 'leitourgia,' which means a 'public gathering.' The term mass comes from the Latin "ite, missa est;" "go, you are dismissed," from the dismissal at the end of the Mass. Both terms, however, are synonymous in meaning and describe the same event.
Why does the Priest Have His Back to the Congregation?
Actually, he is facing to pray in the same direction as the worshipping faithful. The priest is the representative of the congregation. The sanctuary and tabernacle are the heavenly throne of God, so the priest faces God, the object of our prayers, and he speaks to God on our behalf.
Does the Divine Liturgy Fulfill the Sunday Obligation for Catholics of All Rites?
Yes. The Byzantine Divine Liturgy is the same re-creation of the Last Supper as the Roman Rite Mass. The Divine Liturgy is offered by a validly ordained priest recognized by and in union with Rome.
Altar Bread
Our altar bread is made with yeast (leavened) to symbolize that Christ is Risen! At the beginning of the Liturgy, the priest will cut a loaf of specially baked prosphora and prepare cubed particles that will be used for distribution of Holy Communion.
Icons
Icons are revelation in pigment and paint. In front of the altar, usually on an iconostasis, which is the screen partition that unites the mystical heavenly (sanctuary or Holy of Holies) to the earthly (nave), you see two icons flanking the altar. The icon of Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms reminds us of the first coming of Jesus, the God-man. The icon of Jesus by Himself represents His Second Coming at the end of time. The altar beckons us to enter into Gods presence and to put aside all earthly distractions. Icons make us remember: not a passive recollection of a past person or event, but a remembrance that transforms. This is one of the foundation stones of Christian liturgy - that the remembrance makes present the reality.
The Iconostasis
This is a barrier that divides the holy altar, in the sanctuary, from the body of the church. The screen has three openings: the royal doors in the center and two smaller doors called deacon doors. There can be one icon on the screen, or many, but all are hung according to an established order. The royal doors are flanked by the icons of Christ (on the right) and the Mother of God (with Christ) on the viewer's left. It is the Lord as He came in history, and the Lord as He will come again when history is no more. On the far right is the patronal icon of the parish, St. Athanasius, and in the far left. is the patron saint of the Byzantine Church, St. Nicholas. If the altar is the highest heaven and the nave the place of transfiguration, the iconostasis is both a window and a mirror. It reveals to us glimpses of the glory of heaven, those transfigured by the divine life. Some Questions and Answers
What Languages are Used in the Divine Liturgy?
Mostly English, with some language that reflects the ethnic roots of the particular branch of Eastern Catholicism (Ukrainian at St. Michael's).
St. John Chrysostom originally recorded the Divine Liturgy in Greek. Later, as Ss. Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity throughout eastern Europe, the Divine Liturgy was translated into Slavonic, and later, into other eastern European languages. In the Byzantine Catholic Church in America, the liturgy was translated into English in the 1950s, but many churches continue to include some traditional ethnic languages in worship, especially the second verse of the hymns and seasonal greetings.
Incense
We use incense as a sign of reverence for the sacred place and the sacredness of the people who are made in Gods image and as a sign of preparing for something important about to happen in the Liturgy. It is our prayer ascending like the smoke of incense before the throne of God.
Does the Divine Liturgy Use Musical Instruments?
No, Byzantine liturgical tradition emphasizes that we offer ourselves to God as we are. We bring only ourselves and stand before the Creator and we worship with our God-given voices without any manmade instruments. All liturgical prayer, therefore, is sung a capella (without accompaniment).
Divine Liturgy
The content on this page was written for St. Athanasius Byzantine Catholic Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, by Carolyn Pickett, who departed for her eternal life on April 14, 2008. It is used here, with minor edits, with permission from Mrs. Pickett's family and St. Athanasius Church.
Worship that Engages All the Senses
If you're not a Byzantine Catholic and are unsure or curious about what you'll encounter when you visit, we hope you'll find the information on this page helpful and interesting.
The Divine Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy, the offering (sacrifice) of the Body and Blood of Christ, is the central act of worship. The Byzantine Liturgy is one of the most widely celebrated in U.S. Eastern Catholic Churches. It has several different forms, but the principal one used daily by most Eastern Catholics is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. St. John Chrysostom (349-407) was Archbishop of Constantinople and a renowned preacher and biblical scholar. The liturgy was adapted from the Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem.
Into What Parts is the Divine Liturgy Divided?
The Divine Liturgy can be divided into three main parts and can also be explained as a mystical approach to the life of our Lord. The Life of Jesus Christ is usually divided into three periods, namely:
1) The hidden life
2) the public life; and
3) the salvific life, or Christ's work of salvation.
Corresponding to these three periods of Christ's life, the Divine Liturgy can also be divided into three consecutive parts:
1) The Preparation (proskomedia), the rite of preparing the holy gifts (bread and wine) at the side altar, which enacts the sacrificial life of Jesus
2) The Liturgy of the Catechumens, with the readings of the Holy Scriptures and the sermon, which celebrates and teaches the public life of Jesus;
3) Liturgy of the Eucharist, which communicates our Lord's salvific work: His passion, death on the cross, His glorious resurrection, and His ascension.
Receiving Holy Communion
If you are Catholic, have maintained the one hour fast before Holy Communion and are in a state of grace (free of conscious mortal sin), you may receive Holy Communion, the saving Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as you normally would. The faithful are called to "Approach with the fear of God and with Faith." A gesture of reverence and thanksgiving is appropriate (hands folded one over the other on the breast in the form of St. Andrew's Cross) before and after receiving Holy Communion. When you approach, you will simply tilt your head back with mouth open as Holy Communion is given to the faithful under both species by means of the communion spoon, while holding the linen under your chin. There is no response to the words of the priest. . As each communicant receives the sacred species the priest says: "(Name) servant of God receives the precious and all holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins and for life everlasting."
Byzantine Sign of the Cross
Blessing oneself with two fingers brought to the thumb represents the Trinity. The last two fingers held to the palm represent the two natures of Jesus--God and man. For the first 1,200 years of the Church, in making the Sign of the Cross, the hand was typically brought from the right to the left shoulder. In the East this is still the practice, to signify Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father. According to tradition and in the words of Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), The Sign of the Cross is made with three fingers because it is impressed upon us in the name of the Holy Trinity. From the forehead we pass to the breast, then from the right to the left. (Quoted in Gasparri: Catholic Catechism, p. 248).
Bows and Blessings
We bow and make the Sign of the Cross many times during the Liturgy, as a sign of our faith, and the receiving and accepting of Gods blessings. Following the making of the Sign of the Cross, reverence to God is further expressed by bowing the head. We bless ourselves every time we mention the Persons of the Trinity by name, or whenever the priest blesses the congregation. We also bow and sign ourselves whenever we enter or leave the church.
What is the Difference Between the Divine Liturgy and the Mass of the Roman Rite?
There is no theological difference; that is, both are the same event, Sacrifice and Eucharist. The word liturgy came from the Greek 'leitourgia,' which means a 'public gathering.' The term mass comes from the Latin "ite, missa est;" "go, you are dismissed," from the dismissal at the end of the Mass. Both terms, however, are synonymous in meaning and describe the same event.
Why does the Priest Have His Back to the Congregation?
Actually, he is facing to pray in the same direction as the worshipping faithful. The priest is the representative of the congregation. The sanctuary and tabernacle are the heavenly throne of God, so the priest faces God, the object of our prayers, and he speaks to God on our behalf.
Does the Divine Liturgy Fulfill the Sunday Obligation for Catholics of All Rites?
Yes. The Byzantine Divine Liturgy is the same re-creation of the Last Supper as the Roman Rite Mass. The Divine Liturgy is offered by a validly ordained priest recognized by and in union with Rome.
Altar Bread
Our altar bread is made with yeast (leavened) to symbolize that Christ is Risen! At the beginning of the Liturgy, the priest will cut a loaf of specially baked prosphora and prepare cubed particles that will be used for distribution of Holy Communion.
Icons
Icons are revelation in pigment and paint. In front of the altar, usually on an iconostasis, which is the screen partition that unites the mystical heavenly (sanctuary or Holy of Holies) to the earthly (nave), you see two icons flanking the altar. The icon of Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms reminds us of the first coming of Jesus, the God-man. The icon of Jesus by Himself represents His Second Coming at the end of time. The altar beckons us to enter into Gods presence and to put aside all earthly distractions. Icons make us remember: not a passive recollection of a past person or event, but a remembrance that transforms. This is one of the foundation stones of Christian liturgy - that the remembrance makes present the reality.
The Iconostasis
This is a barrier that divides the holy altar, in the sanctuary, from the body of the church. The screen has three openings: the royal doors in the center and two smaller doors called deacon doors. There can be one icon on the screen, or many, but all are hung according to an established order. The royal doors are flanked by the icons of Christ (on the right) and the Mother of God (with Christ) on the viewer's left. It is the Lord as He came in history, and the Lord as He will come again when history is no more. On the far right is the patronal icon of the parish, St. Athanasius, and in the far left. is the patron saint of the Byzantine Church, St. Nicholas. If the altar is the highest heaven and the nave the place of transfiguration, the iconostasis is both a window and a mirror. It reveals to us glimpses of the glory of heaven, those transfigured by the divine life. Some Questions and Answers
What Languages are Used in the Divine Liturgy?
Mostly English, with some language that reflects the ethnic roots of the particular branch of Eastern Catholicism (Ukrainian at St. Michael's).
St. John Chrysostom originally recorded the Divine Liturgy in Greek. Later, as Ss. Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity throughout eastern Europe, the Divine Liturgy was translated into Slavonic, and later, into other eastern European languages. In the Byzantine Catholic Church in America, the liturgy was translated into English in the 1950s, but many churches continue to include some traditional ethnic languages in worship, especially the second verse of the hymns and seasonal greetings.
Incense
We use incense as a sign of reverence for the sacred place and the sacredness of the people who are made in Gods image and as a sign of preparing for something important about to happen in the Liturgy. It is our prayer ascending like the smoke of incense before the throne of God.
Does the Divine Liturgy Use Musical Instruments?
No, Byzantine liturgical tradition emphasizes that we offer ourselves to God as we are. We bring only ourselves and stand before the Creator and we worship with our God-given voices without any manmade instruments. All liturgical prayer, therefore, is sung a capella (without accompaniment).