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Dear Friends:

Yuhannon's recent post on "How do Catholics hear the Gospel" has given the final inspiration I needed to finish a draft of a project I've been working on.

For anyone interested, I have just completed a document logging the extensive references to Christ's Real Presence in Holy Communion from the Armenian Divine Liturgy (Soorp Badarak). It is my contention that "One visit to our Soorp Badarak (literally translated “Holy Sacrifice”), which is our Divine Liturgy or worship service, will leave a visitor with absolutely no doubt of our faith that in Holy Communion we are receiving Christ's true, mystical Body and Blood." Not only this, I would humbly submit that I know of "no ancient Liturgy which is more explicit and emphatic about the faith of Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharistic Communion than that of the Armenian Church."

The text can be found at either of these two links:

The New Apologetics Page: Click on : The Eucharist is truly Christ's Body and Blood

http://www.geocities.com/wmwolfe_48044/apologetics.html

or

My Articles on the Armenian Church page: Click on "Kreesdos ee mech..." under the new essays section at the bottom of the page.

http://www.geocities.com/wmwolfe_48044/Articles1.html

I am grateful and interested in any input someone might have on this project.

In Christ's Light,

Der-Ghazarian

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Good stuff! I did a little survey too on the Byzantine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Ruthenian Catholic)...

#1: Priestly Prayer Before the Cherubic Hymn:

Priest: "Therefore, I beseech You, Who alone are gracious and ready to hear me; look favorably upon me, Your sinful and unprofitable servant, and cleanse my heart and soul of an evil conscience, and by power of Your Holy Spirit, enable me, clothed with the grace of the priesthood, to stand before this Your holy altar, and offer the sacrifice of Your sacred and most pure body and precious blood."

#2: Anaphora-Epiclesis:

Priest: "Again we offer to You this spiritual and unbloody sacrifice, and we implore and pray, and entreat You, send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts here present. And make this bread the precious body of Your Christ. And that which is in this chalice, the precious blood of your Christ. Having changed them by Your Holy Spirit."

#3: Prayer at the Bowing of the Heads:

Priest: "Look down from heaven, O Lord, upon those who have bowed their heads unto You, for they do not bow to flesh and blood, but to You, the awesome God."

#4: Prayer Before Communion Hymn:

Priest: "Look down, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, from Your holy dwelling place and from the throne of glory of Your kingdom, and come to sanctify us, You Who are seated on high with the Father, and dwell here invisibly among us, and deem it proper to impart to us, with Your mighty hand, Your most pure body and precious blood, and through us, to all Your people."

#5: Prayer Before Communion:

People: "O Lord, I ... believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly Your most precious Body and Your life-giving Blood, ..."

#6: What the cleric prays while giving communion to each communicant:

Priest: "The servant of God N . . ., partakes of the precious, most holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ for the remission of his (her) sins and for life everlasting. Amen."

Joe Thur

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Shlomo Der-Ghazarian,
Thank you for your words they made me smile. If I did not mention it I use to go to St. Vartan's back when it was on Greenfield in the 1980's if I was late for my Liturgy at St. Maron. My step-father was Armenian (my last name is Dorisian) so I have a special place in my heart for Armenians.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

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Joe T,

Thanks for these texts. It would be interesting to see something similar from all the different Divine Liturgies celebrated by the ancient Churches. It would just underline the universality and Orthodoxy of the Faith that Communion is the true Body and Blood of Christ. We in these Churches we are so very blessed to receive Christ on any given Sunday.

Yuhannon,

I did not know this. I think that's wonderful that you are familiar with our Divine Liturgy and have a step-father who's Armenian. Were you able to follow the Badarak very well?

I have read that historicly Armenian Catholics and Maronites have been very close, especially back in Lebanon. Your Church was of great assistance to ours when we first reconciled with Rome. Therefore, I have a special appreciation for Maronites also. May God bless your Church for its hospitality.

In Christ's Light,

Der-Ghazarian

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Shlomo Der-Ghazarian,
Yes, I was able to follow the Badarak. I got a translation of the Liturgy of St. Basil and talked with the priest who was very kind in explaining what was going on.

In my love of everything Eastern Catholic, Deacon Connor sent me a copy of the book: "Armenian Nation and the Armenian Catholic Church". It is a very nice little text (a little over a hundred pages). If you have not read it, get it. There are a few typos, but over all very informative.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

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Dear Der-Ghazarian,

Could you please tell me about the way Armenian Catholics give holy comunion during "Sourp Badarak". I have attended Divine Liturgy at the Armenian Orthodox (Apostolic) Church in the city I live many times, but I have just attended once Holy Liturgy in an Armenian Catholic Church, in Saint Gregory Iluminator's Church (Athens), where I was given H. C. under both kinds, That is the rule or the exception?. I observed some diferences between the Armenian "Orthodox" and "Catholic " liturgy: priest did not use mitre but he used shoes (Armenian Orthodox priest and servers don ware shoes at the altar)! There was no separate altar for the Offering nor procesion with the gifts around the Holy Table, and finally, I observed that the catholic priest did not put the body of O.L.J.C. into the chalice during the prayer "Let us taste in holiness the All-Holy and Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord ..." and that at the end of the Liturgy the faithful do not receive "mas" (antidoron, blessed bread). I also know that Armenians celebrate procesions with the mostration. That is the common practice in the Armenian Catholic Chuch? Do you know if there is any movement inside the Armenian Catholic Church for the restoration of the ancient liturgical traditions common to the "Orthodox" brethern? As far as I know Metzchitarist fathers in Venice use to celebrate Holy liturgy according to the ancient traditions, do not they? Finally, as Armenian, can you explain why on earth so few faithful receive communion in the Armenian Orthodox Church? In the armenian parish I visit from time to time most times nobody aproach to receive holy communion, in the great celebrations only few christians (2-5)receive holy communion? That's a particular problem of this parish or a general problem in the Armenian Orthodox Church?
Do you know why they (Armenian Orthodox) ussually do not read the profecies or the apostle found in Armenians lectionaries but only the Gospel during Holy Liturgy? .Orhnyal eh Haydnootyoonun (Khach?)Krisdosi . Francisco.

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Yuhannon,

I have read the book and found it very informitive. Like yourself, I share a great love for the many Eastern expressions of the Faith. After all the faith was born in the East. smile Is there a particularly good Maronite web-site I can go to to learn more about your Church?

-----------------------------------
Fancisco,

I wrote a reply to your post and unfortunately lost it as I was experiencing difficulties accessing this forum. So, I'll try it again. Forgive me if I'm kind of brief this time.

"Could you please tell me about the way Armenian Catholics give holy comunion during Sourp Badarak. I was given H. C. under both kinds, That is the rule or the exception?."

reply: That's the rule: Intinction of the Immaculate Body into the Precious Blood.

"I observed some diferences between the Armenian "Orthodox" and "Catholic " liturgy:"

reply: There should be no differences except that we mention the Pope of Rome in the Dyptychs and they do not.

"the priest did not use mitre but he used shoes (Armenian Orthodox priest and servers don ware shoes at the altar)!"

reply: Armenian priests should wear the mitre (called "Tak" in Armenian which means "crown.") Sometimes they're too expensive. This is why my pastor doesn't have one... yet. The liturgical slippers are the proper Armenian Tradition for those who serve at the Altar. Many have lost this tradition. Incidently, Egyptians all take off their sandals before recieving Holy Communion. This is a sign of respect and many can't imagine themselves receiving Communion with their sandals on.

"There was no separate altar for the Offering nor procesion with the gifts around the Holy Table,"

reply: We only use one Altar. The other two on the sides are only used if that particular altar is dedicated to a certain Saint. On that Saint's day, that altar may be used. Otherwise it is not used. The procession during the Trisagion may be omitted during Lent (I think).

"and finally, I observed that the catholic priest did not put the body of O.L.J.C. into the chalice during the prayer 'Let us taste in holiness the All-Holy and Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord ...'"

reply: I don't think that he is suppose to dip it there. The priest only raises up high the Body and Blood of Christ close together as he recites the words of the prayer facing the people.

"and that at the end of the Liturgy the faithful do not receive "mas" (antidoron, blessed bread)."

reply: This I do not understand this. All take the mas whether they recieved Holy Communion or not. They also take the mas for those who may have missed the Soorp Badarak.

"I also know that Armenians celebrate procesions with the mostration. That is the common practice in the Armenian Catholic Chuch?"

reply: The monstrances in the Armenian Church do not contain Holy Communion. When we inherited them from the Latins during the Crusades, rather, we put relics in them. They are called "Radiances" in the Armenian Church. I've never heard of them being carried in procession in our Church. They are just decoritive or symbolic of Christ's radiance. Using them in procession is apparently a latinization.

"Do you know if there is any movement inside the Armenian Catholic Church for the restoration of the ancient liturgical traditions common to the "Orthodox" brethern?"

reply: Absolutely. Although we never strayed too far from our authentic heritage. Little corruptions have crept in. And these vary from parish to parish. But a movement is underway at the call of Vatican II, Pope John Paul II, our own Armenian Church hierarchy to eventually eliminate the corruptions to ensure the Badarak is celebrated in its fully majesty and grandeur.

But we should remember, as some have attested on this forum, this is not just an Eastern Catholic problem. Eastern Orthodox themselves have allowed corruptions into their liturgies. We all have more or less work to do.

"As far as I know Metzchitarist fathers in Venice use to celebrate Holy liturgy according to the ancient traditions, do not they?"

reply: The Mekhitarist Fathers are in many ways the saviors of the Armenian Church's Liturgy, Language, History and Scholarship. All Armenians recognize the debt we owe to their work on behalf of the Armenian People. This is a major reason why Armenians in Communion with Rome did not stray too far from our authentic Divine Liturgy and Traditions. In some ways, we are leading the way in restoring them.

"Finally, as Armenian, can you explain why on earth so few faithful receive communion in the Armenian Orthodox Church? In the armenian parish I visit from time to time most times nobody aproach to receive holy communion, in the great celebrations only few christians (2-5)receive holy communion? That's a particular problem of this parish or a general problem in the Armenian Orthodox Church?"

Actually this is not a problem but a tradition of all the Eastern Churches and even that of the Latin Church up until about a century ago. To explain, allow me to quote from a passage in a book by a Byzantine Catholic Deacon, Lawrence Cross.

"The reverence of Eastern Christians toward the sacraments is much deeper than their Catholic counterparts, at least externally. Before approaching the Holy Eucharist an Orthodox lay person will fast for three days, go to confession and eat and drink nothing from the midnight before Communion. ... Reception of the Eucharist is also much more infrequent: Easter, Christmas, Our lady's Assumption and one's own feast day. The modern Catholic attitude of frequent Communion seems rather casual to the Orthodox. Childern are the exception in the East. Children are admitted to Communion and are encouraged to go very often. Of course there have been various movemneets in the East to encourage older Chirstians to receive Communion more frequently, but things change slowly in Eastern sacramentaal practice." (Eastern Christianity: The Byzantine Tradition, p.68

Not all of this applies to our Church but the general attitude towards Holy Communion historically does. Traditionally our five major feast days were the usual time to receive Holy Communion. Whether this is a problem or not all depends on how you look at the question of frequent communion. I think there are merits to both approaches.

"Do you know why they (Armenian Orthodox) ussually do not read the profecies or the apostle found in Armenians lectionaries but only the Gospel during Holy Liturgy?"

reply: It is customary to read the Epistle and Gospel in the Badarak. But I really think this varies from parish to parish in both the Apostolic and Catholic Armenian Churches.

"Orhnyal eh Haydnootyoonun (Khach?)Krisdosi . Francisco."

This means "Blessed is the Revelation of Christ" (Orhnyal Haydnootyoonun Kreesdosee). It is a traditional response during the "Nativity and Theophany" liturgical season. One says, "Kreesdos Dznav yev Haytnetsav" (Christ is Born and Manifested" and this is when you get the reply you mentioned.

You obviously have a very good knowledge of the Soorp Badarak. Are there many Armenians living in Spain? Thanks for your questions.

In Christ's Light (St. John 1:4-5),

Der-Ghazarian

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I love things Armenian. There was just an armenian conference at St. Nerses Seminary in New Rochelle yesterday and today. I was unfortunately too busy to go. I did run into Fr. David Petras from Byz Cath Seminary in our bookstore, however, buying books on liturgy of course.

When I attended a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, I was amazed. It was beautiful. At communion time, many people went up to communion. I was given permission to go as well, which I did and was quite happy to do.

Long live Armenians!

in Christ,

anastasios

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Dear Der-Ghazarian,

Thak you very much for your answer and for all the time you have devoted to answer me. Thank you very much.
After seing the pictures of the pontifical Divine Liturgy in Detriot of (Emeritus) Patriarch Hovanes Bedros in your website I certainly though that holly communion was give in the Latin "traditional" (well not certainly according to the ancient tradition of the Latin Church) way. I am very glad to hear that intiction is the rule for the communion of the faithful in the Armenian Catholic Church.

When I said "There was no separate altar for the Offering nor procesion with the gifts around the Holy Table,"I meant the small place in the wall of the apse where the priest blesses the offerings of bread and wine at the beggining of the Liturgy. In Athens the catholic priests make the first offering of the bread and wine (in Byzantine tradition "poskomidi" or "prothesis")in the main altar, and they do not make the procesion around the table during the Trisagion nor transfer the offerings from the side Altar to the main Altar at the beggining of the Liturgy of the Faithful. Well, that is no so important in fact.
About mostrances: I saw years ago a picture of Archbishop of Alepo wearing the mostrance during the celebration of Corpus Christi feast. In the translation of the Holy Liturgy into Italian of the Mekhitarist fathers ther is a hymn for the exposition of the Holy misteries with the mostrance.

The intiction in the Armenian Orthodox Church takes place during the prayer 'Let us taste in holiness the All-Holy and Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord' before the communion of the priest and not during the communion of the faithful.

About the frequency of Holy Communion: I do not aprove what you say "frequent" (I would say "masive" or "automatic" or even "preparation-less" in some cases communion)in the Latin Church. Well, I am living know in Greece, and Orthodox Christians (at least those who go to church regularly who are very few in fact) receive Holy Communion much more frequently than Armenians (Greeks do fast too). I remember that on Easter Vigil in Soor Astbatzatzin Armenian Orthodox Church in Thessaloniki some years ago the priest had prepared more breads than ussually thinking that almost all the faithful would receive Holy Communion, he gave the genaral absolution before the communion, but only five faithful aproached, he told the altar boys to take communion too but they refused...well I felt so desolated as probably the parish priest...Any way!!!

Please do not take these observations like some kind of criticism against Armenian People's devotion, you have proved your love to Christ and his Chruch with your blood!

Well, the Armenians in Spain are very few, there are two Armenian restaurants in Madrid and they have no church (in Easter some of them go to the Greek Orthodox Chuch). Years ago the Armenian Community in Spain (president Tony Keutskerian?) wrote a letter to the papers about Karabak problem. Centuries ago there was an Armenian colony in Cadiz. Someone told me that the last king of Armenia found refuge in the Spanish Court, who knows?

Well I am living now in Greece and there are a lot of Armenians here. In Thessaloniki and Thrace you can find Armenian colonies from the Byzantine times. Others came to Greece in the First World War and in 1922 toguether with the Greeks that were forced to leave their homes in Minor Asia. Greece receive the Armenians refugees like if they would be Greeks too, after all they had sufurred so much toguether ...Some of them have just come from the former Soviet Armenia looking fowards a better life in Europe. For more information about the Armenins in Greece please go to http://www.armenianprelacy.gr/, you will find there also a picture an the brief history (in Greek) of Saint Gregory's Armenian Catholic Church.

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This is in no way comprehensive, but is rather a cursory look at references to the Mystery of the Eucharist in the Syrian Liturgy of Saint James. As you know, there are many anaphorae in use among us, and so I won't look at all of them, but this should be useful to some, I hope.

From a Proemion, one of a few used on Sundays:

"Glory to the Good Lord Who broke His Body and gave us to eat and blended His Blood and gave us to drink and made us inherit His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory, honor and worship at this time of the celebration of the Divine Eucharist and at all feasts, seasons, hours, times and all the days of our life and forever."

From the Proemion used on Sundays between the Epiphany and Great Lent:

"Praise be to the true Shepherd with Whose Body His flock is sustained and with Whose Precious Blood the thirst of His Church is quenched. The kind One with Whose Body all mouths are sanctified and lips are sweetened, Whose honor is worshiped by all the crowds and His glory sung by all the nations; at this time of the celebration of this Divine Eucharist and at all feasts, seasons, hours, times and all the days of our life forever and ever."

From the Sedro used on Sundays in Lent:

"I am ready, O my Lord, to offer Your Son before You, and to eat His Body and drink His Blood, for there is no other sacrifice that You would offer on my behalf, nor do I have sins that are hard unto Your will. Remember not my sins, O my Lord, and let them not remain unpardoned. Have compassion on me, a sinner. Sanctify me by Your Holy Spirit. Make Your people worthy to receive Your Holy and Life-giving Mysteries in purity and holiness. As for me, make me pure and spotless and worthy to always appear before You without sins so that I may thank Your Holy Name, O God the Father and Your Only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit, now, always and forever."

From the Sedro used during Pascha:

"We beseech You, O Most High and Infinite God, with the fragrance of this sweet incense, asking of Your indescribable love towards mankind to grant us to understand how great it is to stand before Your holy altar, while You grant us intellectual eyes to behold You, spiritual ears to hear Your commandments, a pure heart that sincerely makes supplication to You, clean thoughts that may be well-pleasing to Your Godhead, pure hands that administer Your Mysteries, lips that praise and give thanks to Your mercies, innocent tongues that glorify Your Name, holy mouths that partake of Your Body and spiritual palates that enjoy Your Blood. May our hunger be ever satisfied with Your richness and our thirst be quenched with the sweetness of Your fountain."

From the Sedro used on Sundays from Pentecost to Qoodosh 'Idto:

"O Christ our God, Who is received by the communion of His Mysteries and is eaten by taking His Body, the Bridegroom of the truth Who invited the peoples to the banquet of His passion and invited the nations to the feast of His death, the Good Shepherd Who gave Himself food for His flock and mixed His Blood a drink for His sheep, the Table of immortality Who spread Himself before the hungry to eat Him, the Fountain of incorruptibility Who, of His own will, made Himself flow for the thirsty to drink Him, the absolving Incense Who burned Himself to be smelled by those who were corrupted by sin, the Divine Eucharist (Margonitho) Who is distributed by the priest in the churches, the Cup of Salvation from which the peoples and the nations drink, but is never depleted, the heavenly Bread Who gave Himself to be broken at all times that He might satisfy our hunger and the Drink of delight Who humbled Himself that He might quench our thirst...grant that we may approach to receive Your atoning Body and Blood with purity and holiness and unite us with Your fellowship..."

The Deacon's acclamation at the lifting of the chalice veil:

"Barekhmor. Let us stand well, let us stand with fear, let us stand with modesty, purity and holiness and let us all stand, my brethren, in love and true faith. Let us intelligently behold, with the fear of God, this awesome and Holy Eucharist which is being set before us by this reverend priest who, in peace and tranquillity, offers this living sacrifice on behalf of us all to God the Father, Lord of all."

The Epiclesis:

"So that, by His indwelling, He (the Holy Spirit) may make this bread the life-giving Body +, the Redeeming Body + and the Body + of Christ our God...And may He (the Holy Spirit) perfect this cup into the Blood + of the New Covenant, the Redeeming Blood + and the Blood + of Christ our God."

From the priest's silent prayer before the first diptych:

"We offer You, O Lord, this bloodless sacrifice on behalf of Holy Zion*, the mother of all Churches, and on behalf of Your Holy Church throughout the whole world, that You may grant her the gift of Your Holy Spirit."

One of the hymns that can be sung during the Fraction:

"I was a lost and wandering sheep.
The Church responded, saying:
I was scattered and dispersed,
Lo! My Shepherd went out in search of me, and found me.
He carried me and put me on His shoulder,
And brought me into His fold of life,
He set before me the table of life:
His atoning Body and Blood,
So that, wherewith, my children and I together be always sustained.
Therefore, my children and I, with one accord,
Cry out unto Him, saying:
Holy, holy, holy are You,
O Son, Who gave us His Body and Blood.
Holy are You, O Son of God;
Blessed be Your honor from Your dwelling place."

The prayer of the Fraction:

"Thus truly the Word of God did suffer in flesh, and was sacrificed and broken on the Cross, and His soul separated from His Body, while His Godhead never separated neither from His Soul nor from His Body. And He was pieced in His side with a spear, and there flowed out of Him blood and water, the atonement of the whole world. And his Body was stained with them. And for the sin of the whole world, the Son died on the Cross, and His Soul came and united with His Body. And He turned us from the work of the left to that of the right. And by the Blood of His Person, He reconciled, united and combined the heavenly with the earthly, the people with the gentiles and the Soul with the Body. And on the third day, He rose from the tomb. One is Emmanuel, and cannot be divided into two natures after the indivisible unity. Thus we believe and thus we confess and thus we confirm that this Flesh is of this Blood and that this Blood is of this Flesh."

From a homily of Mar Yaqub recited by the priest at the Fraction:

"O Father of truth, behold Your Son, the well-pleasing sacrifice unto You, Accept You Him Who died for me, and may I be forgiven through Him. Receive this offering from my hands and reconcile with me. And remember not the sins I committed before Your greatness. Behold His Blood is shed on Golgotha by the wicked, and it is pleading for me."

From a hymn that can replace the Quqalya when needed:

"The heavenly hosts stand with us in the sanctuary and exalt the Body and Blood of the Son of God Who is sacrificed before us. Come near, O faithful, partake of Him for the remission of offenses and sins, halleluiah, halleluiah, halleluiah, O Christ the King, halleluiah."

The prayer before Communion:

"Make me worthy, O Lord to partake of You with holiness and, by eating Your Holy Body, may my worldly desires be put away and, by drinking Your Living Cup, may my passions be suppressed. And by You, may I be worthy of the remission of debts and forgiveness of sins, our Lord and our God, forever."

When the priest administers Communion to himself:

"I am holding You, Who uphold the boundaries of the world; I am grasping You, Who rule the depths. You, O God, I put in my mouth. By You I shall be delivered from the unquenchable fire and be worthy of the forgiveness of sins, like the sinful woman and the thief, O our Lord and God, forever.

By Your Living and Life-giving Blood which was shed on the Cross, may my offenses be pardoned and my sins be remitted, O Jesus the Word of God, Who came for our salvation and will come for our resurrection and for the restoration of our kind, forever and ever. Amen."

When giving Communion to others:

"The atoning gmourto of the Body and Blood of Christ our God is given to the faithful for the remission of offenses and for the forgiveness of sins in both worlds forever and ever."

During the first procession with the Holy Mysteries:

"Stretch out, O Lord God, Your invisible right hand and bless this congregation of Your worshipers who are prepared to receive Your Precious Body and Blood for the remission of debts, the forgiveness of sins and confidence in Your presence, our Lord and our God, forever."

During the second procession, after Communion:

"Glory be to You, glory be to You, glory be to You, our Lord and our God, forever. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, let not Your Holy Body, which we have eaten, and Your Atoning Blood, which we have drunk, be unto us for judgment nor for revenge, but for eternal life and for the redemption of all of us, and have mercy upon us."

A post-Communion hymn of Mar Yaqub:

"The Lord Whom the seraphs fear to look at,
The same you behold in bread and wine on the altar.
The lightning clothed hosts are burned if they see Him in His brilliance.
Yet the contemptible dust partakes of Him with confidence.
The Son's Mysteries are fire among the heavenly beings,
Isaiah bears witness with us to have seen them.
These Mysteries which were in the Divinity's bosom,
Are distributed to Adam's children on the altar.
The altar is fashioned like the cherubim's chariot,
And is surrounded by the heavenly hosts.
On the altar is laid the Body of God's Son,
And Adam's children carry it solemnly on their hands.
Instead of a man clad in linen, stands the (priest),
And distributes alms (the Eucharist) among the needy.
If envy existed among the angels,
The cherubim would have envied men.
Where Zion set up the Cross to crucify the Son,
There grew up the tree that gave birth to the Lamb.
Where nails were driven in the Son's hands,
There Isaac's hands were bound for an offering.
Welcome, priest, who carries the Mysteries of his Lord,
And with his right hand distributes life to men.
Welcome, priest, who carries a pure censer,
And with its fragrance makes the world sweet and pleasant.
Welcome, priest, whom the Holy Spirit did raise up,
And on his tongue bears the keys to the house of God.
Welcome, priest, who binds man in the depth below,
And the Lord binds him in heaven on high. Halleluiah.
Welcome, priest, who unbinds men on earth,
And the Lord unbinds him in the highest. Kyrie eleison.
Praise be to the Lord. His mercy upon you and absolution for me.
And good commemoration to Mor Jacob the malphono."

When cleansing the Paten:

"If there be a particle remaining, it remains to Your knowledge that created the worlds; if there be a remaining portion, O God, be its Guardian and to me be the Absolver and Forgiver."

And while consuming the remaining Holy Mysteries within the chalice:

"O Christ our God, may the living fire of Your Body and Your Precious Blood quench the flames of fire and the dreadful and violent tortures from my limbs and from the souls and bodies of the faithful departed who have been clothed with You from water and the Spirit. Call and raise them on the last day and make them stand at Your right-hand side, our Lord and our God, forever."

A hymn after the cleansing of the vessels:

Verse: Our Lord Jesus Christ:

Let not, O Lord, Your Body and Your Blood which we have received, be for us unto judgment and vengeance, but for pardoning of sins and for a standing at Your right-hand side, halleluiah, with confidence.

Verse: And You shall give them to drink of the pleasant water of Your spring.(Psalm 36:8)

Your Body which we have received, and Your Living Blood which we have drunk with faith, may they be a bridge and a passage wherewith we may be delivered from the fire and from hell, halleluiah, and inherit life.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

To You, O Christ the King, oblations are offered by the priests, Your servants. Accept them, O Good Lord, through Your compassion. And be reconciled with us by Your grace, halleluiah, and may we be pardoned by them.

From eternity to eternity. Amen.

The hands that stretched out their palms** to receive the pledge from You, O Son of God, let them not be restrained by the vehemence of the flame on the last day, halleluiah, because they solemnly carried Your Body.

While putting on his cassock after taking off the priestly vestments:

"If by the blood of animals, Moses gave life to Reuben who had sinned, how much more will the faithful departed be pardoned by the living sacrifice that has been offered on their behalf."

While kissing the holy table before leaving the altar:

"Remain in peace, O holy altar. Remain in peace, O pardoning table.

Remain in peace, O majestic throne that carries its Master. May the Body and the Blood that I have received from you be for the remission of my offenses, for the forgiveness of my sins and for the everlasting new life, now and forever and ever. Amen."

And last, but not least, the propers of Holy Thursday:

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Proemion

Glory to that Substance which is exalted over all substances, thanksgiving to the Goodness that surpasses all goodness and is the Giver of perfect gifts. Worship to the Godhead of Three Persons and One in essence, the Lordship of holiness, by Whose radiance the conceivable and perceptible hosts are enlightened and by Whose glory they advance in priestly hierarchy; that Perfecter of pontiffs, Adorner of priests, Giver of grace, Who is full of the Mysteries of Life. That Godhead Who is thrice hallowed by the heavenly orders in the three divine companies by the chanting of the Trisagion in the heavenly Church, and Who is honored, praised, glorified, exalted and extolled by high priests and deacons in the earthly Church. To Him we offer praise and adoration at this time of the celebration of the Divine Eucharist and at all feasts, seasons, hours, times and all the days of our lives forever.

Sedro

O God, Who is good by His nature and gives holiness to the holy by His grace; Who broke His absolving Body for His holy disciples and mixed His precious Blood for the atonement of all the faithful, and commanded and admonished His disciples, saying to them: "This you do in remembrance of Me." Even now, O Lord, by the mercies of Your goodness, You have called and drawn me near to this spiritual service, although I am not worthy, and by virtue of Your kindness, You have made me worthy to offer up this divine and atoning sacrifice by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, while considering this divine and spiritual sacrifice, we celebrate with spiritual gladness, and say: This is the divine sacrifice which is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world and is bestowed upon us for our salvation. This is the divine sacrifice by which our spots and stains are made white. This is the divine sacrifice through which those who are perfect ascend on high to heaven. This is the bloodless divine sacrifice which is offered for the life of the world. This is the divine sacrifice which Abel, the high priest, depicted by his acceptable offering. This is the divine sacrifice which was given to us, the redeemed faithful, as a pledge of heavenly promise. This is the divine sacrifice that was granted an armor of salvation to our souls and bodies. This is the divine sacrifice by which the offenses and sins of the penitents are absolved and forgiven. This is the divine sacrifice which was made manifest by David the prophet of the Holy Spirit who said: "Taste and see that the Lord is good." This is the divine sacrifice through which the high priest Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, took off his filthy garments. This is the divine sacrifice which has been depicted by all the just and the righteous through their hidden mysteries. This is the divine sacrifice which was committed in trust to the prophet Isaiah by the tongs of fire. This is the divine sacrifice that was depicted by the bread and wine which the high priest Melchizedek offered. This is the divine sacrifice which the prophet of the Lord made its glorious image manifest by the lamb that was slain in the evenings. This is the divine sacrifice which the fathers of ancient times expected to see, but did not see clearly. This is the divine sacrifice through which the nations, who were born again, have their sins absolved, their stains cleansed and their shortcomings forgiven. This is the divine sacrifice that gives the faithful the Life-giving Body and the Absolving Blood. This is the divine sacrifice which was depicted by Moses the chief prophet by the shewbread that was kept on the altar. This is the divine sacrifice before whom the fiery cherubim stand trembling and the awesome seraphim shaking. This is the divine sacrifice on which the Holy Spirit, Who is equal to the Father and to His Only-begotten Son, descends and sanctifies. This is the divine sacrifice which the heavenly Father fulfilled, the beloved Son perfected and the Holy Spirit sanctified. This is the divine sacrifice which the Trinity of the Godhead made perfect by the sufferings of His Person. We make supplication and offer petition, by this sweet incense, that He may wash our defilements by His mercies, absolve our guilt by His compassion and forgive our transgressions and shortcomings by the abundance of His heavenly gifts. May He be with us and among us, and may He make us and our faithful departed worthy of His Majesty's glory, that of His Blessed Father, Who sent Him for our salvation, and that of His Holy Spirit, now, always and forever.

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Maybe all of this is more than you wanted, but I hope it helps. smile

*We still offer the Liturgy in the first place for our Church, the Church at Jerusalem, the mother of all Churches...it's one of our many ties to Jerusalem.

**Didn't Saint Cyril talk about receiving the Eucharist in the palms of one's hands? Perhaps this remains from a time when this actually was our practice in Jerusalem?

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Why does the Armenian Church give communion with unleavened waffers like the Latins?

I've also seen pictures of Armenian priests using the leavened bread, but also "hosts"
Is it an influence from the Latin Cruzaders?

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Mor Ephrem,

"...let not Your Holy Body, which we have eaten, and Your Atoning Blood, which we have drunk, be unto us for judgment nor for revenge, but for eternal life and for the redemption of all of us, and have mercy upon us."

Wow! These are very, very beautiful texts you have shared with us. Just reading and being exposed for the first time to the Syrian Divine Liturgy made it worth it to me to write what I wrote about ours. Thank you so much. Btw, how much of an influence did St. Ephrem have on your Divine Liturgy? Are there many prayers directly attributed to him in your Liturgy or is his influence felt more in just a general theological way and style?

In Christ's Light,

Der-Ghazarian

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Dear Remie,

Actually it is the Armenian Tradition to use unleavened bread and not unleavened wafers. Its appearance is very much like what most Americans call "pita bread." And from what I have read and understand, this is one practice of ours which can't be blamed on latinization. Actually, there is evidence of our using unleaved bread earlier than the Latins. I beleive there is evidence all the way back to the 6th or 7th century of our using it. So the use of unleavened bread is our Tradition, our use wafers IS a latinization (which unfortunately my own parish practices frown ).

In Christ's Light,

Der-Ghazarian

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Quote
Originally posted by Der-Ghazarian:
Btw, how much of an influence did St. Ephrem have on your Divine Liturgy? Are there many prayers directly attributed to him in your Liturgy or is his influence felt more in just a general theological way and style?
Well, Saint Ephrem is known as the "Harp of the Holy Spirit" because of his extensive hymnography. To this day, the bulk of the hymns we use were authored by Saint Ephrem. You don't see it as much in the Divine Liturgy as you see it in the Divine Office, however.

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Dear Francisco,

you said:

About mostrances: I saw years ago a picture of Archbishop of Alepo wearing the mostrance during the celebration of Corpus Christi feast. In the translation of the Holy Liturgy into Italian of the Mekhitarist fathers ther is a hymn for the exposition of the Holy misteries with the mostrance.

reply:

This is the kind of latinizations which are being cleaned up in an effort to return to the authentic Armenian tradition. I do not deny these things have existed in the past or may still in some places. Thanks for sharing this with me. By the way, have you ever come across an Armenian Divine Liturgy in Latin? Just curious.

you said:

The intiction in the Armenian Orthodox Church takes place during the prayer 'Let us taste in holiness the All-Holy and Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord' before the communion of the priest and not during the communion of the faithful.

reply:

You are absolutely correct. I did not realize that this was taking place at this point. But after looking it up, it is indeed happening here. The priest recieves communion after this.

As far as the frequency of receiving Holy Communion goes, all I was trying to state was that many, if not all of the ancient Churches have had a much more guarded approach to receiving Communion. This is changing in many Churches in many countries. But there are still some who follow the former approach. As I said before I think their are merits to both views on how often we should recieve and there are short-comings to both views.

Thanks for the information about Armenians in Greece. Some of my own relatives were saved from the Turks by Greeks and stayed in Constantinople for some time. What drew you to attend and learn about Armenians?

In Christ's Light,

Der-Ghazarian

p.s. I have to say, you have excellent English. I'm curious as to how you leaned it so well?

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