Divine Liturgy part II

[ThomasPeter]

i went to the Liturgy and it was wonderful. and as i thought i might, i have a few general questions. 1) when was the actual consecration? there was a procession out of the sanctuary that went back in through the main gate. then the priest prayed (in Greek) but i didnt see him lifting the hosts as is done in our mass. 2) the sign of the cross was made many times by the people during the Liturgy, why is this. also why do they do it differently? it was "backwards" (right to left) and done 2-3 times rapidly each time. 3) and lastly, the homily seemed to come from a book the priest read from. it was in english, but are Orthodox homilies pre-made so to speak?
thank you very much. i am planning to go again soon and hope to more fully embrace it.
oh, and lastly, how old is the Orthodox Liturgy? thansk again
tom

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='ThomasPeter' date='Jul 12 2005, 12:18 PM']1) when was the actual consecration? there was a procession out of the sanctuary that went back in through the main gate. then the priest prayed (in Greek) but i didnt see him lifting the hosts as is done in our mass.
[right][snapback]641022[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Let me preface my remarks by saying that I have not participated in a Greek Orthodox liturgy. That being the case, I am basing my responses to your questions upon my experience of the Divine Liturgy as it is celebrated in my Church. It is important to note that there are minor differences between the Byzantine Greek Orthodox liturgy and the Byzantine Ruthenian liturgy, but the same basic prayers are sung in both Churches.

Now in answer to your first question, the procession that you mentioned is called "The Great Entrance," and the consecration takes place shortly after this processional rite. Just after "The Great Entrance" the creed is sung by all the faithful, while the priest continues to prepare the holy gifts that have been placed upon the altar. Once the creed has been sung the priest turns and faces the people and sings "Let us stand aright, let us stand in awe, let us be attentive, to offer the holy oblation in peace," and the people sing in response, "The offering of peace, the sacrifice of praise."

Next the priest and the people sing the introductory dialogue:

Priest: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ + and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you."

People: "And with your spirit."

Priest: "Let us lift up our hearts."

People: "We have lifted them up to the Lord."

Priest: "Let us give thanks to the Lord."

People: "It is proper and just to worship the + Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in substance and undivided."

While the people sing the final verse mentioned above, the priest silently prays the preface to the anaphora, ending the prayer by chanting aloud: "Singing, shouting, crying out and saying, the triumphal hymn." To which the people respond by singing the Seraphic hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts! Heaven and earth are full of your glory; hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest!"

After the people sing of the Seraphic hymn the priest continues praying the anaphora (eucharistic prayer) silently, until he comes to the words of institution, which he sings aloud. After the singing of the words of institution the priest then sings the epiclesis, which consecrates the elements into the body and blood of the Lord.

And that concludes my brief summary of the opening part of the anaphora. Now in answer to the second part of your question, the reason that you did not see the priest elevate the consecrated species, is because doing that is not a part of the Eastern tradition.

[quote name='ThomasPeter' date='Jul 12 2005, 12:18 PM']2) the sign of the cross was made many times by the people during the Liturgy, why is this. also why do they do it differently? it was "backwards" (right to left) and done 2-3 times rapidly each time.
[right][snapback]641022[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
The sign of the cross is made quite frequently in Eastern Churches, in fact it is made whenever the priest turns and gives the people the sign of peace, it is also made whenever the three persons of the Trinity are mentioned, and it is made during the "Thrice-Holy Hymn" (Holy God, holy and mighty . . .). Moreover, it can be made at any time during the liturgy when the priest blesses the people or incenses them. It should be borne in mind that in the Eastern Church there is no imposed uniformity of practice on the times to make the sign of the cross; and as a consequence, people are free to make the sign of the cross whenever they want to during the Divine Liturgy. In other words, there is no set number of times that one is supposed to make the sign of the cross.

In addition to making the sign of the cross, many people also bow their heads when the three divine persons are mentioned, and at other points in the Divine Liturgy they will make either a bow of the head or a more profound bow.

In response to your question about how the sign of the cross is made by Eastern Christians, it should be noted that Easterners make it in the original way, that is, by touching the forehead, then just below the rib cage, then touching the right shoulder, and ending on the left shoulder. That is how the sign of the cross was made in the West as well, that is, until the end of the 12th and the early part of the 13th century, when Westerners started making it the way that they do now.

As far as making the sign of the cross in groups of three is concerned, this is simply a pious custom which is meant to honor the all Holy Trinity.

[quote name='ThomasPeter' date='Jul 12 2005, 12:18 PM']3) and lastly, the homily seemed to come from a book the priest read from. it was in english, but are Orthodox homilies pre-made so to speak?
[right][snapback]641022[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
I've never been to a Greek Orthodox Church and so I do not know if the homily is always read from a book. I can tell you that in the Byzantine Catholic Church the priest delivers a homily much as a priest in the Latin Rite does. The homily is normally a reflection upon the readings of that Sunday or feast day.

[quote name='ThomasPeter' date='Jul 12 2005, 12:18 PM']thank you very much. i am planning to go again soon and hope to more fully embrace it.
[right][snapback]641022[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
I'm glad you liked the Eastern liturgy, but if you really want to worship in the Byzantine tradition, I would encourage you to find an Eastern Catholic Church. I cannot recommend attendance at the Divine Liturgy of the Greek Orthodox Church on a regular basis, because they are not in communion with the Pope.

[quote name='ThomasPeter' date='Jul 12 2005, 12:18 PM']oh, and lastly, how old is the Orthodox Liturgy? thansk again
tom
[right][snapback]641022[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
The Byzantine Catholic and Eastern Orthodox liturgy is ancient, and in its foundational elements it clearly goes back to the Apostolic age, just as the Roman liturgy does. Over time various ritual actions and other elements have been added to the liturgy, but the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom has been fairly stable in the way that it is celebrated since around the 4th century, with minor additions and subtractions over time.