In the Name of the Father and the Son and The Holy Spirit, One God Amen

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”
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– John 6:53 54
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We would like to continue our spiritual series titled, “Eucharist is Life” being derived from the Divine Liturgy. This month I would like to conclude this series by sharing with you the mysteries and beauty of the Liturgy of the Faithful and Distribution. This section of the Divine Liturgy is of utmost importance in which the believers gather under one roof and unite as the one body of Christ. Therefore, in the Coptic Orthodox Church, there is only one oblation chosen on the altar and all believers consume the whole body of Christ to be united with God and with one another. During earlier times, this section of the Liturgy would be announced, and the doors closed and locked until the conclusion of the Mysteries. Hence its name, Liturgy of the Believers. Even catechumens, or non believers on the path of knowledge that have not been baptised, would be excused from the assembly and the Liturgy begins.

Below are a few stations in this part of the worship:

1. Reconciliation with God and offering of peace with one another
2. Story of Salvation, from Adam to the Ascension
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit on the gifts that then become the Body and Blood of Christ
4. Prayers for the peace of the world, clergy, church and assemblies, vegetation and weather
5. Commemoration of the Saints and departed
6. Fraction prayers
7. Distribution of Mysteries

In the Orthodox Church we do not provide terms or method of how the gifts are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ for it is divinely done, as such the Church calls it a mystery; the work of the Holy Spirit that merges the unseen world with the seen. Fr Alexander Schmemann says in his book called ‘The Eucharist’, “The Liturgy is served on earth, and this means in the time and space of ‘this world’. But if it is served on earth, it is accomplished in heaven, in the new time of the new creation, in the time of the Holy Spirit”. When we attend the Liturgy, we remove ourselves from the passions of the world and enter into a sacred space here on earth yet mimicked in heaven. Hence it is a sanctuary that allows a person to unite his/her own body with their soul and enter into the beauty of the presence of God on the altar and offer a sacrifice of praise.

Many would often ask why there are frequent Liturgies and partaking of the mysteries in the Coptic Orthodox Church. Of course, when we look at the early Church, the Liturgy was only on Sunday’s as it is the day of the Lord. But nowadays we have daily Liturgies in most locations. This does not take away from the seriousness of the Sacrament but rather emphasises its importance. St Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. All three aspects are present in the Liturgy; rejoicing for the Lord has accepted our offering, praying for the remission of our sins, and giving thanks being the meaning of the word Eucharist. The Church then makes it easier for the believers to pray unceasingly through the constant Liturgical attendance. The other reason is to purify oneself from their sins for the Priest would say, “to be given for us for salvation, remission of sins and eternal life to those who partake of Him”.

Pope Cyril VI used to pray the midnight praises and a Liturgy every single day. He says about the Liturgy, “During the Divine Liturgy, stand humbly. Do not just listen to sweet voices. Remember you are standing before the Lord, and he expects you to ask him for grace and blessings of which he will give you freely.” Then he continues and says, “Nothing in this world can distress or perturb me, for I take refuge in the impregnable fortress of the Church. I am reassured in the bosom of God's mercies. Comfort and blessing continuously flows from Him. The Lord's grace flutters its wings and casts away all sadness and heals the heart with its indescribable balm. Oh, how sweet it is! No one can withstand the trials of this world without His care or power”.