liturgy of the catechumens intro

1. Historical
Prospective of the Liturgy
LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS: INTRODUCTION
ipodiakonos zoran j. bobic

2. The transitional Ritual:
• …pagans had to learn the doctrine of the Church;
• …attend catechetical Synaxis;
• 2 essential things to learn before Baptism:
• Proper method of prayer;
• Major teaching of Christ;
• Instruction and prayer benefits both catechumens and baptized;
• Liturgy of the Catechumens = to create an atmosphere of faith;

3. The transitional Ritual: Until the 5th century
• It began with the reading of the lessons;
• Person was introduced to the congregation;
• Later came “introductory ritual”;
• Preparatory prayers of the priest before the iconostas;
• His entrance into the sanctuary;
• Vesting;
• Proskomidia;
• And everything up to the actual reading of the lessons;

4. The transitional Ritual: Opening
• Litany of Peace;
• 3 Antiphons (each by deacon);
• Little Entrance;
• Followed by hymns: tropars, kondaks and etc.
• Trisagion;
• The Liturgy of Catechumens are present in all Rites;

5. Initial Incensing:
• After proskomidia dismissal deacon incense:
• 3 times prosthesis
• Holy Table – all four sides
• Icon behind the Altar and other icons in the sanctuary
• Exits on North door: Royal Doors, icons on the south of iconostas then on the north
• Right and left choirs then people
• Returns through South doors: again Holy Table 3 times
• Finally celebrant 3 times
• The interval between proskomidia and beginning of the Liturgy is
taken up with incensing;

6. Initial Incensing:
• While incensing there is silent prayer;
• Psalm 50 (silently as well);
• The prayer is attributed to St. John Damascene;
• Originally it is from Holy Week service;
• Placed here in 14th century;
• Altar symbolizes Lord’s tomb;
• Placing Holy Gifts is expressing the burial of Christ;
• Psalm 50: this appeared between 13th – 16th century;
• Incensing the whole Church was established toward the end of 6th century;
• From 13th century some documents say this is done by priest some by deacon;