www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Presanctified Liturgies and their importance in the Great Fast

Now maybe I'm looking at this from the audience perspective more than anything...but with the Great Fast less than a week away, and parishes hold these as early as Monday night, I think it would be a great idea for those to explain the importance of these, and how these would bring a healthy congregation (good luck with these tough, secular times).

Now, two questions come to mind right away:

1. How often during the Great Fast period should one attend Presanctified Liturgies? At least once? Once every week? As often as a parish holds them?

2. Would this help to evangelize and strengthen the Church during the Lenten season? Would this bring people in to pray and repent that wouldn't otherwise?

I'm certain that these would be good questions to answer. Now I know that the key parts to it are the Eucharistic Adoration (of course one should adore the precious and holy body and blood of Christ all the time, anyway, but especially during the holiest of holy seasons), the need for repentance and cleansing of sins, and to have deep, close prayer with the Divine Lord.

Now, having said all this, if there is anything that one should know about Presanctified Liturgies, and how important this role plays throughout the Great Fast, feel free to add anything, or correct anything about this issue. Especially if there are those that attend these coming from the Latin Rite, or those coming from other backgrounds, it is good to know what's expected. With that in mind, let's hear from our fellow brethren about this holy time of the year upcoming.

Crazy how fast it got here this year!


I think a good starting point for Great Fast observance is to attend one extra service a week (outside of Sunday). This is the advice of my spiritual father and pastor of the Ruthenian Church in San Diego. I can think of no better service than the Presanctified Liturgy to attend for that one extra a week service.



I can think of no better liturgical service in the Byzantine tradition. The beauty of the service always brings me to repentance. That being said, I am not sure that it is the first service of our Tradition that I would suggest for an inquirer. I would think Vespers or a Sunday Divine Liturgy is better for catechism and evangelism.

I also think having an adult enrichment (or catechism) class during the Great Fast, with Vespers or the ninth hour (as is the practice at my parish) does well for catechism, evangelism, and getting people to pray and repent.


This article on Orthodox Wiki [orthodoxwiki.org] gives good background on the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

If your church doesn't have pews, bring a small rug. Your knees will thank you.

Eucharistic Adoration is a key part?

No, it's not part of the Eastern Christian Tradition. Many Eastern Catholic Churches adopted it, in whole or in part, but it has been almost totally suppressed as part of ongoing gelatinization.

Best typo ever.

"Eucharistic adoration" makes many eastern Christians hyperventilate. Should you replace those words with "awe during the procession of the Eucharist" you would have received less resistance.

Glory be to Jesus Christ!!

I thought that Presanctified DL was only served on Wednesday and Friday of the Great Fast. Russian practice begins on Wednesday prior to the Sunday of Orthodoxy; Greek practice begins after Annunciation Day. I'm confused about a Monday because I've never heard of that outside of it being the Presanctified for the Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebastia.

Bob

I can't find at the moment Pittsburgh particular law regarding Presanctified DL, but here is the text from Parma's particular law as promulgated by (then) Bishop Basil:

110.1. The Presanctified Liturgy is the prescribed Liturgy for Wednesday and Friday of the Great Fast and the Divine Liturgy is not to be celebrated on these days except for a funeral.
110.2. The Presanctified Liturgy is to be celebrated at least once a week during the Great Fast (Lent) in all parishes. It may be celebrated on any weekday (Monday-Friday) during the Great Fast. (bold print is my emphasis. pb)

I trust this will be helpful.

Fr Deacon Paul

Well, in the Ruthenian tradition, the first day of the Great Fast, which is a Monday, obviously, is usually marked by an initial Presanctified DL, so that everyone is adjusted into the Great Fast.

Kind of like Ash Wednesday in the Latin Rite, that's the first day of Western/Roman Lent, and therefore, the Mass to mark the first day, receive their ashes, and begin their fast, prayer, and almsgiving after that.

I think that might be why most Ruthenian parishes will hold their first Presanctified DL on the Monday night after Cheesefare Sunday, so that we are given the reminder that the Great Fast has started, and that we are called to be holy, and solemn during that time.

LOL. Love it.

I do not believe this is the Ruthenian tradition. While many may have a Presanctified Liturgy on the first day of the Great Fast doesn't make it our Churches tradition. I would think our Church would follow the Slavic practice (or maybe even the Greek practice) of when to celebrate (traditionally) the Presanctified Liturgy.

Our parish is having Vespers on Clean Monday and will have our first Presanctified Liturgy on the first Friday of the fast. (our temple will host a Melkite Presanctified on the first Wednesday)



I wouldn't compare the Presanctified liturgy to Ash Wednesday. I would say forgiveness vespers (or the service of forgiveness at the end of the Sunday Divine Liturgy) is our entry into the Great Fast and could be compared to Ash Wednesday.

How about "gelatinization" as the opposite of "delatinization"

The 52nd Canon of Trullo ordained that the Presanctified Liturgy be offered everyday of the Great Fast but Saturday, Sunday, and the Feast of the Annunciation when Divine Liturgy would offered.

It later became custom to offer it only on Wed and Fri of Great Lent as well as Thur of the 5th week of Great Lent, Mon, Tue, and Wed of Holy Week, and Feasts of Saints of Polyeleos rank like the 40 Matyrs of Sebaste and the Finding of the Head of St John the Baptist.

The new Liturgy of the Presantified Gifts book published by the Council of Hierarchs adds the Pure Monday.

This is a new practice starting with the Council of Hierarchs 2010 publication of a new Presanctified book. Forgiveness Vespers served Cheesefare Sunday night is the first service of Great Lent.