[This outline is based upon the following texts: The Liturgikon: The Book of Divine Services for the Priest and Deacon (Englewood, NJ: The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 1989), 245--332; A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 2005), 89--120.]
See also, An Appreciation of the Divine Liturgy, by + Archbishop Joseph Raya, Former Archbishop of Galilee and Nazareth.
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THE PROSKOMEDIA (Office of Oblation: Preparation of the Bread and Chalice for the Eucharist)
Priest and Deacon, both vested, stand before the prothesis (table where the Proskomedia is performed), and implore God’s mercy
Priest and Deacon reverence the prothesis and uncover the chalice and diskos, priest saying opening prayers
Preparation of the bread and chalice; removal of the Lamb–portion of loaf to be consecrated; mixing of wine and water in chalice; perparation of particles from the Lamb, in commemoration of the Theotokos, the Angels and Saints, the clergy, the rulers and the faithful, living and departed, for forgiveness of the priest
Censing of the sacred vessels and the gifts, prayers of blessing of the bread
Prayers of Dismissal, censing of the prothesis, the great censing (with hymns)
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THE DIVINE LITURGY (Eucharistic Service: Liturgy of the Catechumens and Liturgy of the Faithful)
I. LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS
A. Preparation and Opening Dialogue
prayers for cleansing, preparation to act, enarxis (veneration of gospel book)
B. Opening Prayers–Litanies and Antiphons
1. Great Litany / Litany of Peace (Deacon and Choir)
prayers for salvation of our souls, peace of the world and good estate of the church, temporal goods and deliverances
2. Prayer of the First Antiphon (Priest and Choir)
adoration of divine majesty, petition for mercy, Psalm 102
3. Little Litany (Deacon and Choir)
prayer for mercy, commemoration of the Theotokos
4. Prayer of the Second Antiphon (Priest and Choir)
prayer for salvation of the church, Psalm 145 with “Only-Begotten Son and Word of God…”
5. Little Litany (Deacon and Choir)
prayer for mercy, commemoration of the Theotokos
6. Prayer of the Third Antiphon (Priest and Choir)
prayer for granting of petitions, the Beatitudes
C. The Little Entrance
1. Procession of Gospel Book
during the third antiphon, the deacon, holding aloft the gospel book, preceded by the servers, followed by priest, exits the sanctuary by the north door; they process to the solea (elevated area at eastern end of the nave), and chant the eisodikon (entrance hymn) as they re-enter the sanctuary
2. Troparion and Kontakion (First and Second Hymns of the Day)
choir chants the troparion (apolytikia), while priest says the prayer of the thrice-holy hymn, then the clergy chant the kontakion
3. Thrice-Holy Hymn (Choir)
D. Liturgy of the Word
1. Reading of the Epistle (Reader)
reader with the epistle book, from the solea, announces the prokeimenon (short introductory verse) of the epistle, title of the epistle, chants the epistle, while the priest blesses the incense and the deacon censes the altar, the sanctuary and the clergy
2. Alleluia and Verses (Reader and Choir)
3. Reading of the Gospel (Deacon)
priest says prayer before the gospel, blesses the deacon, and hands him the gospel book, the deacon prays for forgiveness, and preceded by a candle-bearer, exits the sanctuary by the north door, proceeds to the pulpit, chants the appointed gospel, re-enters sanctuary through holy doors, hands gospel book to priest, who blesses the people therewith
4. Homily (Priest)
E. Litanies
1. Litany of Fervent Supplication (Deacon and Choir)
prayers for mercy, for the clergy and all Orthodox Christians, the departed, the assembly
2. Litany of the Catechumens (Deacon, Priest and Choir)
prayers for mercy, enlightening, union with church and salvation of the catechumens
3. Dismissal of the Catechumens
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II. LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL
A. Litanies
1. First Litany of the Faithful
2. Second Litany of the Faithful
B. The Great Entrance
1. Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn (Priest)
2. Cherubic Hymn (Priest, Deacon, Choir)
3. Censing and Procession of the Gifts (Priest and Deacon)
C. The Oblation
1. Litany of Oblation (Deacon and Choir)
2. Prayer of the Proskomedia (Priest)
D. The Creed
E. The Anaphora (Canon)
