instrument, as he uses bread and wine, to enable us to approach Him. The Sacrifice of Calvary is the act that redeemed the world from the slavery of sin.

Is the Divine Liturgy also a banquet?

       Yes. In the ancient world, after sacrificing animals in the temples, some of the meat would be served at sacrificial banquets. The lambs blood saved Israel from death in Egypt. So too, Christ commanded His followers to feed on His Body and Blood under the appearances of bread and wine.

What is the relationship of the Last Supper to the Divine Liturgy?

       The Last Supper was the ancient Passover Meal, whereby God¹s people re-presented the wonders of his saving acts. This meal was the venue chosen by Christ to give us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink, except he performed this act on the day before His death. The Divine Liturgy follows the form of Last Supper (sacrificial banquet), and makes present the Sacrifice of the Cross. By Christ's passion and death, we pass-over from death to life.

 

What are the principle parts of the Divine Liturgy?

       The Prothesis (or proskomedia), the service of preparing the holy gifts, which precedes the beginning of the Liturgy proper.  The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. The Liturgy of the Word (of the Catechumens) and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (of the faithful). The Liturgy of the Word follows in the tradition of synagogue worship: God- the-Word becomes present among us in His Divine Word (Antiphons, Epistle, Gospel). Jesus is the Word of God. The Gospel is the high point of this section.

Where does the Liturgy of the Faithful (of the Eucharist) begin?

       The Liturgy of the faithful begins shortly after the reading of the Holy Gospel, with the words: "Again and again, in peace let pray to the Lord". The priest places the gospel-book in front of the tabernacle and unfolds the iliton (corporal cloth) where the Eucharistic offerings will be placed.

Why is there so much ritual at the Liturgy?

       Jesus Christ established a Visible Church on earth as a sign of salvation to all mankind. Because we are spiritual and material beings, the material-visible element of the Sacraments is essential. Jesus mediates His Divinity to us through His humanity. The expression of our humanity is our culture, which includes symbols, music, furnishings, and gestures. Over the centuries, some of the highest expressions of culture have been incorporated in sacred worship.

Are their rules for the correct celebration of the Liturgy?

       Yes. The Apostles and their successors were given the authority to bind and loose, to keep order in the faith-community. Thus, the rules for the celebration of the Eucharist are the competency of the Church hierarchy and are contained in the Liturgical books and instructions, such as the Ordo Celebrationis.

 Why does the priest face the altar and not the people?

       Early Christian churches were built with the altar at the east end. The priest, together with the congregation, faced east, towards the Lord. The priest leads his flock towards the rising sun, symbol of

the coming of the Lord. Pope Benedict XVI has written about the importance of the priest and congregation facing the same direction. See a further explanation from the Pope's book Spirit of the Liturgy.

Can the priest alter the text and ceremonies of the Liturgy?

       No, as they do not belong to him. The priest is the servant of the Liturgy and not vice-versa. Altering the Liturgy is similar to the violation of copyright, the misuse of someone else’s words. In the Ukrainian Catholic Church, liturgical changes are the competency of the Major-Archbishop together with the Synod of Bishops, with the approval of the Holy See.

 

ICONS are unique religious images.  By contemplating icons of our Lord, the saints, and those sacred events that are part of Christian Tradition, we strive to achieve a powerful and prayerful meditative mood.  We never worship the images, themselves.  Through these “windows into heaven” we direct our prayers to God Who became visible and approachable in the Son and Who, alone, we worship and adore.  Icons are found throughout the church yet our attention is specially focused on those that form the icon screen.  The "holy doors" in the middle of the screen represent the gates to the kingdom of heaven and, like the icons themselves, draw us into the heavenly mystery rather than separating us from it.

BOWING and making the sign of the cross many times during liturgy is a sign of our faith in the Christian Mystery as we receive and accept God's blessings through the Church and the ministry of the celebrant who acts in the person of Christ.  We also bow slightly and bless ourselves every time we glorify the Holy Trinity, especially at the end of prayers. We also bow deeply and sign ourselves whenever we enter or leave the church.

INCENSE is used as a sign of reverence for the sacred place and for the people who are made in the image and likeness of God.  It is also a sign of purification and preparation for something important about to happen.  It reminds us that our prayers ascend like the smoking aroma of spiritual fragrance before the throne of God.

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING is one of the beauties of liturgy as celebrated in the Byzantine Church.  As we adorn holy objects in a special way, the Word of God, related sacred texts, and inspired songs are adorned with music.  Services are sung a cappella.

LISTENING is important during liturgical services.  The scripture readings are usually chanted and not printed in our booklets.  The hymns and prayers are filled with scriptural quotes and imagery and reflections by the Church ascetics.  The booklets and supplements aid us in making the proper responses during liturgy and occasionally do not contain the full text of the celebrant's prayers or they contain additional texts that are not prayed at every liturgy.  If your place is lost in the worship aids, look to a nearby parishioner for guidance or simply listen.  It is important that the icons and other liturgical symbols are before our eyes as often as possible.

RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION which is the reception of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is also an external sign of the unity of the members of the Catholic Church.  We partake of