8,921
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
After a more or less quiet exchange between the priest and deacon, if one is serving, the Divine Liturgy begins with the memorable exclamation from the priest, "Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages." The assembled faithful respond, "Amen."
The deacon (or priest, if no deacon is serving) continues with the [[Great Litany]], so called because it is longer than most litanies and its petitions touch on the needs of the world: peace and salvation, the Church, her bishops, her faithful, captives and their health and salvation, deliverance from anger and need. It is concluded, as with most litanies, by calling to the remembrance of the faithful the witness of the [[Theotokos]] and the saints. In light of that powerful witness, the faithful are charged to commend one's life to Our Lord [[Jesus Christ]]. A closing prayer is exclaimed by the priest.
There follow three [[antiphons]] which vary by day and [[:Category:Jurisdictions|jurisdiction]]. The first two anitphons are followed by a shorter litany and a prayer. The third is followed by the [[Little Entrance]], at which is sung, "O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O Son of God... save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!" "Son of God" is normally followed by an insertion, such as "risen from the dead", "wondrous in thy saints", or "through the prayers of the Theotokos", depending on the day.