A General Overview of the Divine Liturgy
Main Idea
This teaching discusses the Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Orthodox Church, explaining its meaning, its divisions, and the rites that precede the offering of the Divine Sacrifice. The Liturgy is given this name because it includes prayers for the consecration of the Divine Mysteries, in which the bread and wine are consecrated and become the Body and Blood of Christ. It is also sometimes known as the liturgy. The teaching explains that the celebration of the mystery of the Eucharist dates back to the age of the Apostles, as is evident from the words of the Apostle Paul in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, chapter eleven.
Spiritual Message
The teaching explains that the raising of incense during the Vespers and Matins prayers symbolizes prayer ascending before God like a fragrant incense offering. Just as incense comes from a censer filled with burning coals, prayer should come from a heart filled with the love of God. Just as incense burns to offer a pleasant fragrance, a person should offer himself and live a holy life that pleases God. The teaching emphasizes the importance of preparing the heart for prayer before beginning, because preoccupation with worldly matters may cause a person to pray without concentration or spiritual attentiveness. Therefore, spiritual reading, chanting, and meditation are recommended before prayer, so that the mind may move from material concerns to spiritual matters.
Educational Lesson
The teaching explains that the Liturgy is divided into the Liturgy of the Catechumens and the Liturgy of the Faithful, and that the first part includes the Offering of the Lamb and readings from the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, the Catholic Epistles, the Book of Acts, the Psalms, and the Gospel, in addition to the sermon and readings from the Synaxarium concerning the lives of the saints. These readings aim to prepare the mind spiritually to understand the Word of God and benefit from it, while the lives of the saints help believers follow their holy example. The teaching also explains that the Church raises incense during certain readings and that the priest prays for God to open the minds of the congregation so they may understand what is read to them. It also explains the importance of the prayers of absolution, repentance, and confession, emphasizing that the spiritual benefit of these prayers is connected to a person’s sincere repentance. It further explains that the Prayer of Reconciliation precedes the Liturgy and aims to reconcile a person with God and with others, so that believers may participate in prayer and Communion in peace and love.
Practical Application
This teaching calls on believers to prepare their hearts before prayer and to avoid distraction and preoccupation with worldly matters while in church. It also encourages them to listen attentively to the readings and the sermon, meditate on the teachings of the Holy Bible, and follow the example of the saints. Believers should also practice sincere repentance and confession and seek reconciliation with God and others before participating in the Liturgy and receiving Communion. They should also participate in the Church’s prayers with reverence and attentiveness and make their daily lives holy and filled with the love of God, so that their prayers and conduct become a pleasant fragrance of incense rising before God.
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