The Work of the People

OBJECTIVE

  • Define "Liturgy"
  • Define "Rite"
  • Explain the Origins of Liturgical Rites
  • Explain the importance of Liturgical Prayer

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

The word Liturgy comes from a Greek phrase which means "the work of the people." The church uses this phrase to refer to most of its communal prayers, generally those dealing with the Mysteries (Sacraments). Each Liturgical Prayer contains specific rites which are the system of the service, its order, its prayers and the worship movements and gestures that have spiritual bearing. All of these liturgical prayers can be referred to as "The Rite of the Church". Each Church has its rite (i.e., The Coptic Rite in the "Church of Alexandria," the Byzantine Rite in the churches of Jerusalem, Antioch and Constantinople, and the Latin Rite in the churches of Rome and Carthage). The rite of the Coptic Orthodox Church is followed in each and every church of the See of St. Mark, all over the world.

The word "Liturgy" in addition to being a general title given to the Sacramental Rites of the Church, is also used more specifically to refer to the Eucharistic rites more commonly known as "The Liturgy/The Divine Liturgy".

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 25 Minutes

The Origin of Liturgical Rites

Rites are very ancient and can be observed throughout the Bible. When God created Adam, He gave him the order of offering, when he covered him with "tunics of skin" (Gen. 3:21). This order was observed by Abel, not by Cain; therefore the latter's offering was not accepted.

There were also altars in the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, upon which blood sacrifices were offered. There was also the order of Aaron, who served in the Tabernacle that was built according to the pattern given to Moses: "And let them make Me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it" (Exo. 25:8, 9).

David also organized the order of service (1 Chr. 16:4 and 1 Chr. 24). An order of service was set by Nehemiah (Neh. 12:24). Esther imposed fasting for her people (Esther 4:16). Judas the Maccabean imposed The Feast of Dedication on his people. They preserved this, and was even observed by our Lord Himself (Jn. 10:22.23). There was also the order according to Melchizedek, in his offering of the bread and wine, which was a type of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rites are not exclusive to the Old Testament; in the New Testament, Christ established rites for us to follow in our worship. The most apparent of these rites is the rite for the mystery of the Eucharist. In the Gospels Jesus institutes the mystery of the Eucharist then after completing its rites, He instructs His disciples saying "do this in remembrance of Me" (Lk. 22:19). We know that the disciples kept Christ's command, and preserved the rite of the Eucharist, since it is mentioned numerous times throughout the Acts and Epistles. Following the disciples, the church fathers preserved the rite of the Eucharist and explained it in more detail. For example the first apology of Saint Justin Martyr contains a complete description of the celebration of the rites of the Eucharist. The same rites have been transmitted throughout the ages and are still preserved by our Church today.

It is important to note that not all of the church's rites will be found within the Gospels. The Gospels are not a complete account of Christ's ministry, and they do not claim to be so. Saint John concludes his gospel by saying "and there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." (Jn. 21:25). All of the Church's rites however have their root in Christ's teachings and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Importance of Liturgical Prayers

In liturgical prayers the whole congregation joins together, united in one spirit, worshiping God. As mentioned earlier, most of the liturgical prayers accompany a mystery, this is not a coincidence; the liturgical prayers and their rites are the visible and intellectual part of our sacramental unity with God. We can examine that closely by looking at the Divine liturgy during which we all partake of the Eucharist (the visible) in unity with Christ (the invisible).

It is important to understand that the Coptic rites are not meaningless movements and recitations, but rather all of the rites have deep spiritual meanings that help us unite with God and live a joyful and heavenly life. In the Rites of the Mystery of Crowning (marriage) all focus is on the heavenly crown and the spiritual marriage between God and His saints. It is crucial for the couple to understand that their mirage is an image of the greatest mystery, "The union of Christ with His Church." "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Eph. 5:32).

The Rites of the church also have an educational role. The Church presents all the Christian dogmas, the concepts of faith and spirituality, within its rites in a very simple way that benefits all of its members regardless of age, gender, education, class, or rank. The child understands it, the theologian is satisfied with it, the priest, who is burdened with pastoral care, finds his comfort in it, and the spiritual ascetic finds it very nourishing to his soul. For example, by signing the cross, children acknowledge the trinitarian dogma, and the divine incarnation and through venerating the icons, they understand the extension of the Church as the body of Christ.

The church organization and structure with all its details has a deep spiritual message that is focused on the unity between man and God and guides us to join the heavenly choir.

The Church rites utilize all of the human's capabilities. It doesn't ignore the body, but joins the body together with the soul in worship. The Rite is an expression that comes out of the body interacting with the depths of the inner soul.

Through the rites of the church, the whole creation shares in glorifying the Creator. In other words, the believer, realizing the sanctity of the creation, appears before God offering incense, wood (icons), bread, wine, etc. to God, declaring that all the creation glorifies God. This concept is in accordance with the words of the "Psalmody" in the Fourth Canticle: "Praise the Lord, from the earth ..., fire and hail, snow and clouds ..." (Psa. 148).

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

The Rite is an integral part of the life of the Church. It reflects our worship, our faith, our spirituality and our asceticism if it is practiced spiritually and with understanding, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If the Rite is practiced as a duty, as routine work, or performed literally without understanding, it becomes an obstacle to the evangelical spiritual life. In other words, the Rite is not a mere order, an outer organization, or sets of laws that rule the life of the Church, but it is, in its essence, a living spirit that we receive through the ages. This Rite has its body, i.e. the visible order, and it also has its spirit, i.e. the innermost thought. Whoever accepts the body of the Rite without its spirit, accepts a corpse, a burden, that should be buried. If we accept the body with the spirit, we enjoy life that has its effect on the congregation and on every individual.

DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

How are each of the Mysteries linked to the Liturgy and Eucharist?

  • Baptism and Chrismation: Done before or within liturgy, followed by the Eucharist. The old man is put off and we are washed, consecrated to God, then joined to God.
  • Marriage: Although many crowning ceremonies in our modern times are performed separately, this Mystery is supposed to be performed within the liturgy after Matins.
  • Priesthood (Holy Orders): Done within the liturgy, in which the man is consecrated to God to a different extent than Chrismation.
  • Unction of the Sick: This is done before liturgy on the last Friday of the Great Fast and/or under special circumstances for the sick. This must be accompanied by fasting.
  • Repentance (Confession): Must be completed before partaking of the Holy Eucharist.

Where are church rites derived from, and what are their biblical roots?

  • Old Testament: Adam and his sons (the order of offering), Isaac and Jacob (blood sacrifices), the order of the Tabernacle shown to Moses, David's order of service, Nehemiah's order of service, Esther and the Jews' fasting, etc.
  • Nes Testament: Christ's institution of the Eucharist and its preservation by the apostles
  • Church fathers: E.g., St Justin Martyr

Why is personal prayer alone insufficient? What is the purpose of congregational/liturgical worship?

  • While personal prayer is an essential and imperative part of Christian life, we also need communal prayer. The orthodox liturgical worship is the "straight way" (orthos=straight, doxa=teaching/way) of glorifying God. Liturgy connects us to the times past, present, and future as the angels and departed souls in paradise join us in celebrating the liturgy. In the Acts of the Apostles, we repeatedly read instances of the apostles praying together, being in one accord, and breaking bread together (Eucharist).
  • We need liturgy because it is through the Eucharist that we are united as the one Body of Christ in a way that nothing else can. During the liturgy, we examine ourselves and our hearts for any disunity with others, and must resolve those before partaking in the Eucharist.

SERVANT RESOURCES

  • CCE130 Liturgical Studies
  • Christ in the Eucharist by Rev. Fr. Tadros Malaty