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Structure of Divine Liturgy

Structure of Divine Liturgy. Our Lord’s Actions and Sayings during Good Thursday’s Eucharist First Action (a Rite) Second Action (Sacramental) Third Action (Explanatory). Our Lord’s Actions and Sayings during Good Thursday’s Eucharist. First Action (A Rite) Agape (Love Meal)

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Structure of Divine Liturgy

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  1. Structure of Divine Liturgy Our Lord’s Actions and Sayings during Good Thursday’s Eucharist First Action (a Rite) Second Action (Sacramental) Third Action (Explanatory)

  2. Our Lord’s Actions and Sayings during Good Thursday’s Eucharist • First Action (A Rite) Agape (Love Meal) This consisted of breaking the bread, then supper, then blessing (thanksgiving) the cup, followed by praise and dismissal.

  3. Our Lord’s Actions and Sayings during Good Thursday’s Eucharist • Second Action (Sacramental) Christ declared: The blessed bread→ His Body Wine mixed in Cup → His Blood Then He commanded His disciples to perform this mystical action in every “Love Meal” to be a “remembrance” or “zakaroun” for Him. This is considered an eternal command for the Mystery of Christ.

  4. Our Lord’s Actions and Sayings during Good Thursday’s Eucharist • Third Action (Explanatory) Christ explained the New Mystery (Sacrament). St. John recorded these explanations in his gospel (chapters 13-17, i.e. from the beginning of the supper to our Lord’s arrest; and chapter 6 which preceded the supper record. The following slide summarises Christ’s words in chapter 6 which are the essence of the Institution part of the Eucharist Liturgy:

  5. + This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. + I am the living bread which came down form heaven. + If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. + The bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. + Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. + Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. + My flesh is food indeed (true food) and My blood is drink indeed (true drink). + He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

  6. Structure of Divine Liturgy • How did the Apostles develop the structure of the Liturgy as we know it today? They used to gather “for breaking the bread” during the forty days after the Lord’s Resurrection. They used special prayers pleading for the Lord’s coming among them and transforming the bread and cup ,as He did during the Good Thursday, through His power.

  7. Structure of Divine Liturgy • Nowadays’ structure of the Eucharist This can be traced back to the time of the Apostles: Acts of the Apostles in chapter 2, verse 42: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers”

  8. Structure of Divine Liturgy • Based on Acts 2:42, the Divine Liturgy has 4 main elements: 1. Apostles’ Doctrine (Teaching)* 2. Apostles’ Fellowship 3. Breaking of Bread 4. Prayers * In Greek term = Didache , the teaching of the 12 Apostles

  9. Structure of Divine Liturgy • Apostles’ Doctrine (Teaching) Liturgy of the Catechumens (in Arabic: al-maw’oozin) a) Readings from the Pauline Epistles b) Readings from the Catholic Epistles c) Readings from the Acts of the Apostles and its extension, the Synexarion d) Psalms e) Gospels

  10. Structure of Divine Liturgy 2. Fellowship • Agape Meal and its deferral till after the Holy Communion (1 Cor. 11: 20-22). • Eulogion (Arabic: lukmat al-barakah) This is the portion of consecrated bread. It is distributed to worshippers by the priest at the end of the liturgical service.

  11. Structure of Divine Liturgy • 3. Breaking of the Bread (Institution of the Holy Communion) This is the distribution of Christ’s Body, i.e. the Holy Communion

  12. Day of Celebrating the Eucharist In the New Testament Church, the day of worship was transferred from Saturday to Sunday: “It was on the first day of the week that the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).

  13. Structure of Divine Liturgy • 4. Prayers These are the prayers which lead to the Holy Communion. They include also the preparation prayers and praises extending from the Vespers until the time of the Holy Communion.

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