Category Archives: Our Liturgy

Liturgical Participation – What does it mean? By B. D. Kennedy, B.A., M.Div., Th.M., B.Ed. Protodeacon, Eparchy of Toronto, UGCC   First we need to be clear about what the liturgy is. Liturgy is the glorification of God the Father … Continue reading →

Bows and Prostrations When people are moved in other Christian traditions, they might sing, ”Halleluiah,” or shout “Amen,” or drop to their knees in worship, or raise their hands in praise. In the same way, we use movement to express our praise, … Continue reading →

Standing To Pray It is the custom in our Churches that we stand in worship during the Divine Services.   Anyone who has visited the churches and cathedrals of western Europe knows it was the custom of all of Christiandom … Continue reading →

Children and Church: Sewing and Nurturing the Seeds of Faith By I. Galadza   Reflecting on the responsibility and challenges of parenthood can be quite sobering. In this age of moral confusion and conflicting values, it is important for parents … Continue reading →

Listening and Liturgy Adapted from a work by Protodeacon David Kennedy   The following are some reflections on how one might fully, consciously and actively participate in liturgical services, especially the Divine Liturgy. These thoughts are not primarily about doing … Continue reading →

Pious Behavior in Church Adapted from a work by Archpriest Victor Potapov, 2002   First of all, one must come to the realization that everything externally taking place in church is an expression of our internal feelings, and must be … Continue reading →

The Bible in Our Liturgy This is the text of our entire liturgy along with Biblical references for almost every line.   The Divine Liturgy Begins Deacon/Priest: Bless, Master!   Priest: Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and the … Continue reading →

Why do you use liturgical worship? Christianity is a liturgical religion. The Church is first of all a worshipping community. -Fr. Georges Florovsky (One Church, vol. XIII, p. 24) Volodymyr, the eleventh century great prince of Rus’, sent out emissaries to find true … Continue reading →

Outline of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Below is a brief outline of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is the liturgy we use most of the year.   Like any Eucharistic liturgy in the Christian tradition, … Continue reading →

The Liturgies We Use We have four eucharistic liturgies that can be used in our Church, each named after the saint to whom the anaphora (eucharistic prayer) is attributed. These four liturgies have different purposes and are used at different … Continue reading →