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Sanctuary rwendt 2022-01-24T16:35:16+00:00

Sanctuary

The sanctuary (the “holy place” or “holy of holies”), at the opposite end of the nave from the narthex (see below), represents heaven and the heavenly liturgy. In contains a square table, the holy table or altar, at which the sacrifice of the Eucharist is offered. The holy table has many layers of symbolism, and represents both Christ and his empty tomb. The Gospel book, a cross, and a tabernacle containing the Body and Blood of Christ (kept for distribution to the sick or dying) are placed on the holy table, along with candles for illumination.

The sanctuary is usually a semicircular space (called an apse) containing chairs or benches for the clergy along the wall behind the holy table, with a central throne for the bishop. Like the nave, the sanctuary may be richly adorned with icons. Also within the sanctuary is the table of preparation or prothesis, at which the bread and wine for the Eucharist are prepared for liturgical use.

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The Nave

Byzantine church plan

The most ancient plan of Christian architecture is probably the basilica, the large rectangular room used for public meetings, and many Byzantine churches today are organized around a large liturgical space, called the nave (from the Greek word for a ship, referring to the ark of Noah in which human beings were saved from the flood). The nave is the place where the community assembles for prayer, and symbolically represents the Church “in pilgrimage” – the Church in the world. It is normally adorned with icons of the Lord, the angels and the saints, allowing us to see and remember the “cloud of witnesses” who are present with us at the liturgy.

In many church buildings, the nave opens upward into a dome, with the icon of the Pantokrater (Christ as “ruler of the universe”) above the congregation. The nave is also provided with lights – candles, chandeliers, or other illumination – so that at specific times the church interior can be brightly lit, especially at moments of great joy in the services.

The nave need not be rectangular; some churches are round, representing the endlessness of eternity. The principal church building of the Byzantine Rite, the Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople, employed a round plan for the nave, and this was imitated in many Byzantine church buildings, while others use a cruciform (“cross-shaped”) layout to represent the cross of Christ by which we are saved.

In traditional church architecture, there are no pews or permanent seating, to allow worshipers to move freely within the church buildings; portable chairs may be used, with benches for the elderly or infirm. Even where there is permanent seating in the nave, there are normally side aisles left clear so that processions may take place around the nave.

The Narthex

If the nave represents the gathered assembly of Christian believers, the narthex (“entry room” or vestibule) represents that part of the world which awaits redemption. In ancient times, those were were not yet baptized, or those who had committed grave or public sins, would go no father than the narthex, and ask the prayers of those who made their way into the temple.

The initial portions of the baptismal and wedding services take place in the narthex, and during feast-day Vespers, a procession may take place to the narthex to pray for the needs of the world. Doors usually mark the boundary between the narthex and nave, and choosing to cross this boundary brings us deeper into the presence of God.

Divine Liturgy Schedule

Sunday, May 22:
8:30 AM: Divine Liturgy, Sunday of the Man Born Blind, Coffee and Doughnuts in the Center following

Wednesday, May 25:
6:00 PM: Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Ascension of our Lord

Sunday, May 29:
8:30 AM: Divine Liturgy, Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Coffee and Doughnuts in the Center following

Saturday, June 4:
9:00 AM: Divine Liturgy, Fifth All Souls Saturday, Hramoty, Panachida

Sunday, June 5:
8:30 AM: Divine Liturgy, Pentecost Sunday, Coffee and Doughnuts in the Center following

Sunday, June 12:
8:30 AM: Divine Liturgy, Sunday of All Saints, Coffee and Doughnuts in the Center following

Time TBA: Blessing of Graves at Mount Olivet Cemetery

Ongoing & Upcoming Events: 

Pirohi Sales:

Will return in September. Thank you for your support!

 

Flea Market:

Flea Market 2022

“You fought the good fight with faith, O George, Martyr of Christ.”
(Troparion of St. George)

A MORNING RULE OF PRAYER

Upon awakening, stand before the holy icons, make the sign of the cross, and pray:

O God, be merciful to me a sinner.
O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
O Lord, forgive me; for I have sinned without number.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to You, our God, Glory to You.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth,
You are everywhere present and fill all things.
Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life,
come and dwell within us,
cleanse us of all stain,
and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,
have mercy on us. (3 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us;
O Lord, cleanse us of our sins;
O Master, forgive our transgressions;
O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your
Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God
have mercy on us. Amen.

Lord, have mercy (12 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Psalm 94:6 Call to Worship

Come, let us worship the King, our God.
Come, let us worship Christ, the King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before the only Lord Jesus Christ,
the King and our God.

Psalm 50 Prayer of Repentance

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your great mercy.
And in the abundance of your tender mercies,
blot out my offense.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my iniquity,
and my sin is always before me.

Against you alone have I sinned,
and I have done evil before you,
so that you may be justified in your words,
and may prevail when you are judged.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities,
and in sins did my mother bear me.
For behold, you have loved truth;
the unseen and hidden things of your wisdom you have made manifest to me.

You will sprinkle me with hyssop,
and I shall be cleansed.
You will wash me,
and I shall be made whiter than snow.

To my hearing you will give joy and gladness,
and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.

Create a clean heart in me, O God,
and renew an upright spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your face,
and take not your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and strengthen me with your guiding spirit.
I will teach the unjust your ways,
and the wicked shall return to you.

Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation,
and my tongue shall extol your righteousness.
O Lord, you shall open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

For if you had wanted sacrifice, I would have given it,
but with whole-burnt offerings you would not be delighted.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit.
A broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not despise.

Act kindly, O Lord, in your good will toward Zion,
so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
Then you will delight in a sacrifice of righteousness, oblations, and whole-burnt offerings;
then they shall lay calves upon your altar.

The Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. (150 times)

It is truly proper to glorify you,
who have borne God,
the Ever-blessed, Immaculate, and the Mother of our God.
More honorable than the Cherubim,
and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim,
who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word,
you, truly the Mother of God, we magnify.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God,
have mercy on us. Amen.

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

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