Opening Doxology [“Blessed in the Kingdom…] Mark: 11:10; Luke: 22:29-30, Matthew: 28:19; Revelation: 7:12. The Great Litany – Philippians: 4:6-7; Psalm 51:1 Luke: 18:13; John: 14:27; 1 Timothy: 2:1-2; 1 Hebrews: 13:7; Psalm 109:26; Luke: 1:42. The First Antiphon – [“Bless the Lord, O my soul”]. Selected verses from Psalm 103. The Second Antiphon – [“Praise the Lord, O my soul”]. Psalm 103. The Hymn to Christ Incarnate – [“Only- begotten Son…,”]. John: 1:1, 3:16, 17:5, 19:18; Luke: 1:35; Hebrews: 2:14; Matthew: 8:25. The Third Antiphon – [The Beatitudes] Matthew: 5:3-12. The Little Entrance – [“Come let us worship..,] Psalm 95:1-6; Revelation: 7:11-12. The Trisagion – [“Holy God, Holy Mighty…,”] Isaiah: 6:1-5; Revelation: 8:8. Prokeimenon – Psalms 12:7,1; 28:9,1; 29:11,1; 33:22,1; 47:6,1; 76:11,1; 104:24,1; 118:14,18. The Epistle – readings change daily, from the Epistles or Acts of the Apostles. The Allelulia – Psalms 113:1; 135:1; 146:1; Revelation: 19: 1-6. The Gospel – readings change daily. The Sermon – 1 Timothy: 4:13. The Cherubic Hymn – [“Let us who mystically..”] Colossians: 3:12; Pslam 24; Revelations: 19:1-6. The Great Entrance – Psalm 43:4; Matthew: 5: 23-24; Hebrews: 5:1. The Peace – [“Peace be unto all…”]. John: 20: 9,21,26. 1 John 4:7; 1 Peter: 3:8; Philippians:2-2. The Eucharistic Canon – [“Let us stand aright”] Leviticus: 3:1; Hebrews: 13:14-15; Hosea: 6:6; Psalm 49:19; Matthew: 9:13; Corinthians: 13:14; 2 Timothy: 4:22; Lamentations: 3:41. The Eucharistic Prayer – [“Holy, Holy, Holy…” through the Consecration]. Isaiah: 6:3; Mark: 11:10; Matthew: 21:9; Corinthians: 11:23-24; Matthew: 26:26-28; John: 6:51; Luke: 22:20; Mark: 14: 23-24; Corinthians: 29: 14, 16; Romans: 21:1. Hymn to the Theotokos– [“It is truly right…”]. Luke: 1:28, 42, 48. The Concluding Eucharistic Prayers – 2 Maccabees: 12:44-45; 1 Timothy: 2:2; 2 Timothy: 2:15; Romans: 15:6; Titus: 2:13; Revelations:22:21 The Litany before the Lord’s Prayer – Ephesians: 5:2; Philippians: 4:18; 1 Peter: 3:15; Corinthians: 5:10; Ephesians: 4:13; Philippians: 2:1. The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew: 6:9-13; Corinthians 29:11. The Elevation of the Holy Gifts – [“Holy things are for the Holy.”] Leviticus: 11:44; Philippians: 2:10-11. The Communion Hymn– [“Praise the Lord…”] Psalm 148:1. The Eucharist – 1 Corinthians: 11:27-29; Matthew: 16:16; 1 Timothy: 1:15; Mark: 14:45; Luke: 23:42- 43; Isaiah: 6:7; 1 Timothy: 1:14; James: 4:8; Psalm 118: 26-27; Psalm: 34:8; 1 Peter: 1:19; John: 6: 32-35, 48-58; Psalm 116:13; Psalm 28:0. Hymns after Holy Communion– [“We have received the true Light..”]. John: 1:9; Rev.: 3-14; Psalm 71:8; Chronicles: 16:9; Ephesians: 3:9. Litany after Communion – Judges 18:6; Colossians: 3:17; Mark: 11:9. Prayer behind the Ambo – [“O Lord, who blesses those who…”]. Genesis 12:3; Psalm 28:9, Psalm 26.8; Psalm 138:81, 1 Timothy: 2:2; James: 1:17. “Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore!” Psalm 113:2. “The blessing of the Lord…”. Psalm 129:8; 2 Corinthians 13:14. The Dismisal – 1 Timothy: 1:1.
What is Divine Liturgy?
St. Paul taught the Corinthians that in God's house all things should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), and he wrote to Timothy so that he and his disciples would know how they ought to behave in the household of God--the church of the living God, which he called "the pillar and ground of the truth."
The word "liturgy" literally means “work on behalf of/for the benefit of the people,” and within the Christian Church, and it describes the shape or form of the Church's corporate worship of God. Derived from a Greek word which means "the common work," liturgy is a term that describes all gestures of adoration to God as He draws His people into one place for proper worship. In the Old Testament, God ordered and ordained a "liturgy" or specific pattern of worship which we find described in great detail in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. In the New Testament, we find facets of the ancient Old Testament worship as expressed in both synagogue and temple, adjusting them with their fulfillment in Christ.
The Liturgy at THE CHURCH is not something we invent to express our feelings or personal theological positions nor is it a style we adopt to mirror the spirit of the age. Liturgy in THE CHURCH starts with a high view of God, of His Word, His glory, and recognition of the gracious pattern preserved for us in The Western Rite liturgy. In the Liturgy we approach God on earth as the angels and saints do in heaven, which means we are not spectators in worship, but participants. THE CHURCH has a form of worship that grew in solemnity over millennia of faith and deep devotion, while retaining that ancient shape of reverential, "Biblical worship."
The central elements in the Liturgy at THE CHURCH include the singing of Psalms and ancient Christian hymns, the reading of the Old Testament Scriptures, New Testament Epistles, and Gospels. At the CHURCH we also recite the ancient creeds, offer corporate prayer, and of course, celebrate Eucharist itself.
“Whenever we enter the church and draw near to the heavenly mysteries, we ought to approach with all humility and fear, both because of the presence of the angelic powers and out of the reverence due to the sacred oblation; for as the Angels are said to have stood by the Lord’s body when it lay in the tomb, so we must believe that they are present in the celebration of the Mysteries of His most sacred Body at the time of consecration.” + St. Bede the Venerable +