Worship in Spirit and Truth

In his 84th episode reflecting on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Tom talks about the Kiss of Peace which takes place after the celebrant declares "Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess."

Today Fr. Tom speaks about the importance of the offertory prayers said after the Great Entrance. In particular, he talks about how they are prayed in the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

Fr. Tom completes his reflections on the Great Offertory Entrance of the Divine Liturgy.

When the time has come for a priest to be ordained by the Bishop, this is done during the Divine Liturgy. Since Fr. Tom is at the place of the Great Entrance in his reflections on the Divine Liturgy, he takes us through the ordination process.

As he continues to reflect on the Great Entrance at the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas speaks today about the frequent use of the word "Remember."

Fr. Tom offers a very helpful explanation of what we are actually offering in the procession of the Great Entrance in the Divine Liturgy.

In this podcast Fr. Tom begins his reflections on the words and actions of the Great Entrance with the Bread and Wine to the Altar Table.

Today Fr. Tom looks at the differences in the Antiochian tradition in the way the Proskomede is done.

Fr. Tom talks about the "star" that is placed over the bread as well as the psalms and prayers that are said when both the chalice and diskos are covered with the cloth.

Remembering all the Saints. Fr. Tom takes us through his own practice of remembering the "great cloud of witnesses" when preparing the bread and wine for the Eucharist.

Fr. Thomas explores the significance of the way the bread is cut and laid on the diskos during the preparation for the eucharist.

Fr. Thomas begins today some reflections on the rite of the preparation of the bread and the wine to be offered on the altar in the ritual called the Proskomede.

Fr. Thomas looks at the significance of using leavened bread and real wine for the Eucharist.

We now come to the time in the Divine Liturgy when the Cherubic Hymn is sung admonishing us to lay aside all earthly care and receive the King of all!

As he continues his series on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas Hopko talks about the Antimension or Altar Cloth that is on every altar in the Orthodox Church. Learn about its importance in verifying the authority of the parish to offer the Holy Gifts.

Fr. Tom now gets to the offertory procession with the Bread and the Wine which will be offered and then consecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Eucharistic Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy.

Fr. Tom transitions now to the second half of the Divine Liturgy with the Litany of the Faithful.

Fr. Tom goes through the various translations of the Litany of the Catechumens and also continues his thoughts on the departure of the catechumens.

Fr. Thomas begins a difficult discussion about the beginning of the Liturgy of the Faithful. Who should stay and who should go? This is sure to generate a lot of conversation!

In the last episode, Fr. Tom was talking about the Litany of Fervent Supplication and emphasizing the need to pray for everyone, not just Orthodox Christians. Today, he reads from Homily 6 of St. John Chrysostom's commentary on I Timothy which affirms that requirement.

Following the Scripture readings and the sermon, there are prayers that are skipped in some churches. These prayers are part of the Litany of Fervent Supplication, and Fr. Thomas feels they are very important.

Today Fr. Thomas talks about the actual delivery of the sermon and how best to fulfill the purpose of it.

Giving the sermon is more than just standing and talking in front of the congregation. It requires a knowledge of the people, the events of the day, the Holy Scripture readings, and much more.

Fr. Thomas begins his reflections on the point in the Divine Liturgy when the Gospel is read. In particular he talks about the important connection between the Bible and the bishop.

Fr. Tom pauses in his series on the Divine Liturgy to address some questions he has received about the 8 tones used in Orthodox worship.

Fr. Thomas reflects on the prayer read by the priest or bishop just before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy.

Just before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy, the participants sing what is supposed to a very solemn "Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah." Fr. Tom explains why this is so important.

After his last episode, Fr. Thomas got a thoughtful letter from a listener challenging his remarks on female readers of the Apostolic writings in the Divine Liturgy. In this episode he reads the letter and answers the concerns raised.

In his continuing series on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas is now at the point of the Apostle reading. He comments on how, where, and by whom it is to be read.

Just before the Apostle reading in the Divine Liturgy, verses are chanted known as the Prokeimenon. Fr. Tom explains what that is, why it is there, and how he feels it should be done.

As the Little Entrance is concluded a transition is taking place to the proclamation of the Word of God. Today Fr. Tom comments on that transition as well as the choice of readings for the Divine Liturgy.

Fr. Tom concludes his comments on the Little Entrance and the singing of the Trisagion Hymn when a bishop is present.

Fr. Tom continues to talk about the "Little Entrance" but now how it is done when a bishop is present.

Fr. Tom continues to talk about the Little Entrance and how it is done when a priest is presiding as opposed to a bishop.

Fr. Thomas continues to describe the "Little Entrance" in the Divine Liturgy when the Trisagion hymn is sung. In this episode he talks about the hymn and prayer when a priest is presiding.

Fr. Tom continues to talk about the Trisagion Prayers - "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us" - and talks specifically about the recipient of this prayer. Is it Christ or is it the Holy Trinity?

Fr. Tom has come to the point in the Liturgy where we sing the first of two Thrice-Holy hymns. This one is in the Liturgy of the Word: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."

Virtually every liturgical service in the Orthodox Church includes this call to worship: "Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ." Fr. Tom takes us to the source of that call in the Psalms.

The first procession in the Divine Liturgy is referred to as the "Little Entrance" where the Gospel Book is brought into the altar and the call to worship is proclaimed.

After the hymn, "O Son of God," the next antiphons are sung in the Divine Liturgy. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

In his continuing series on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas reflects on the hymn sung at every Liturgy with its origins attributed to Sts. Justinian and Theodora in the sixth century.

Moving on from the Great Litany, Fr. Tom talks about the antiphonal verses and how they are treated in the Divine Liturgy by the various jurisdictions. He also talks about the Psalms and how the Church reads them.

In this final reflection on the Great Litany, Fr. Thomas talks about the exclamation made at the end. He also talks about silent prayers and audible prayers in the Divine Liturgy.

Calling to remembrance - let us commend ourselves. Fr. Tom speaks about the liturgical use of the word "remember" and how it relates to God and our salvation.

Continuing his look at the first Great Litany of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Tom explores what it means to pray concerning wrath, danger, and need. Also included is a helpful reflection on the most frequent phrase in the Liturgy: "Lord, have mercy."

Fr. Thomas reviews the important elements of the last episode and then begins talking about the prayers in the Great Litany for "seasonable weather." Don't miss his little side trip when he talks about God's role in storms, tragedies, and disasters in light of our prayers.

As he continues to look at the Great Litany which begins the Divine Liturgy, Fr.Tom examines the petitions for the president, the country, those in civil authority, and our armed forces.

As he continues his commentary on the Great Litany, Fr. Thomas reflects on the prayers for the bishops, presbyters, and deacons.

Fr. Thomas continues to talk about the Great Litany at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. In particular the "union of all men" and "the fear of God."

Fr. Thomas reflects on what it means to say "In peace let us pray to the Lord." What is the significance of this peace?

Fr. Tom talks about the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Faithful which comprise the worship of the Church from the very beginning.