matins and vespers
What is the reason the priest opens the sanctuary curtain from left to right, symbolizing our redemption?
to symbolize our transfer from sin to righteousness through Christ’s redemption
Which psalms are recited by priests while dressing in their liturgical garments to remind them of the eternal wedding clothes and God’s kingship?
Psalm 29 and Psalm 92
What does the Pauline Epistle reading come from?
from one of the Epistles of St. Paul
What does the removal of the Prospherin represent in the Anaphora?
The resurrection of the Lord
Who are the five men in the Old Testament symbolized by the five spoonfuls of incense placed in the censer during the Thanksgiving Prayer?
The five spoonfuls of incense represent five men from the Old Testament who offered acceptable sacrifices to God
When preparing the altar, what sacred vessel is used to hold the wine that becomes the Holy Blood of Christ?
The Cup
Why does the priest process around the altar seven times during the Pauline Incense procession?
our struggle to enter heaven, similar to the Old Testament story of marching around Jericho
During the Consecration, what happens to the bread and wine on the altar?
The Holy Spirit descends and changes the bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
What does the counterclockwise procession of incense symbolize in the context of the Church's relationship with time and the world?
the Church is above time, moving in the opposite direction of the world
What does the priest’s act of wrapping the Lamb in a linen napkin and carrying it around the altar symbolize?
Christ’s incarnation and recalls Simeon the elder carrying the child Jesus in the temple
What is the Synaxarion, and why isn’t it read during the fifty days following the Lord's resurrection?
The Synaxarion contains biographies of saints and martyrs. It is not read during the fifty days following the resurrection, as this time focuses on the miracle of the resurrection
In the Fraction, what does the priest do with the Espadicon after breaking the Body into pieces?
He immerses the Espadicon (the centerpiece) in the cup
What specific litanies are prayed during the Matins of Sunday and the Lord’s feasts, differing from the other days of the week?
On Sundays and the Lord’s feasts, the priest prays the litanies for the sick and the oblations but does not pray for travelers, as all are encouraged to be present in church with their offerings
When washing his hands before the Offertory, the priest recites, 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.' What is this act meant to symbolize?
the priest’s plea for inner purification and innocence before approaching the altar
In the Praxis Incense procession, why does the priest only offer incense to the first rows of the congregation?
This is symbolic of the Apostles beginning their mission in Jerusalem and Judea, starting small and then spreading outward
What does the Commemoration of Saints represent in the Liturgy, as referenced in Hebrews 12?
It represents the 'cloud of witnesses' that surrounds believers, recalling the virtues of the saints
What is symbolized by the procession around the altar with the Gospel during the Litany of the Gospel, and what Old Testament figure does this prayer transition from?
the spread of God’s word around the world, and the prayer honors Simeon, representing the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament with Christ’s coming
After the Creed, the congregation sings 'Lord have mercy' 41 times. What is the significance of this number in relation to Christ’s suffering?
The 41 chants represent the 39 lashes, the crown of thorns, and the spear wound Christ endured before and during His crucifixion
In the litany before the Gospel reading, what does the priest ask of God, and how does this reflect Moses' words to the people of Israel in Exodus?
The priest asks God to make the congregation worthy of hearing and acting on the Gospel, reflecting Moses' command to 'stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord' in Exodus 14:13
At the Confession, what does the priest proclaim as he raises the paten with the Body of Christ?
The priest declares it is the true and living Body and Blood of Jesus Christ given for the remission of sins