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Deacon Seraphim on the Liturgy of the Catechumens and St. Maximus's Eschatological Reading
52:22
Deacon Seraphim continues his walk through the Divine Liturgy from the Little Entrance to the dismissal of the catechumens. He explains the Prayer of the Trisagion, which addresses God as Lord of Sabaoth, acknowledges the creation of man in God's image, and asks that the thrice-holy hymn be accepted from sinners and joined to angelic worship.
The Trisagion hymn itself, "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal", is traced to a child taken to heaven during a procession in Constantinople who brought back the words of heavenly worship.
The Prokeimenon, a scriptural refrain usually from the Psalms, prepares the assembly for the Epistle and Gospel readings. Deacon Seraphim recommends reading the full Psalm at home to see its relation to the readings. Before the Gospel, the priest prays for the "incorrupt light of divine knowledge" to shine in hearts and for the "eyes of the mind" to be opened, since recognizing words differs from understanding Christ's preaching.
The Gospel is chanted so the text carries itself with reverence and clarity, removing the temptation to impose interpretation through vocal emphasis.
After the Gospel, the Fervent Litany prays for the whole Church, civil authorities, the departed, and specific needs, with the priest asking God to measure His response by the abundance of His mercy. The Litany for Catechumens entrusts those preparing for baptism to Christ as Teacher and Good Shepherd, asking for the laver of regeneration, forgiveness of sins, the robe of incorruption, and incorporation into the Catholic and Apostolic Church.
According to St. Maximus the Confessor, everything up to the dismissal of the catechumens corresponds to the incarnation, life, and teaching of Christ and the Church Age culminating in the Last Judgment; what follows takes place in the Age to Come. The dismissal creates a boundary before the Eucharist, read as a type of the last judgment warning all to live into their baptismal gift.
Key moments
- The lesson continues from the Little Entrance, asking heavenly powers to join the congregation's worship and moving toward the life of the age to come.
- The Prayer of the Trisagion addresses God as Lord of Sabaoth, acknowledges He created man in His image and adorned him with every gift, and asks that He accept the thrice holy hymn from sinners and join their worship to the angels'.
- The Trisagion hymn "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal" came from a child taken to heaven during a procession in Constantinople, bringing the very words of heavenly worship into the service.
- The Prokeimenon is a scriptural refrain (usually from the Psalms) that prepares the people for the Epistle and Gospel; Deacon Seraphim recommends reading the full Psalm at home to see how it relates to the readings.
- Before the Gospel, the priest prays for the "incorrupt light of divine knowledge" to shine in hearts and for the "eyes of the mind" to be opened, because recognizing words is not the same as understanding Christ's preaching.
- The Gospel is chanted so the text carries itself with reverence and clarity, removing the temptation for the reader to impose interpretation through vocal emphasis.
- The Fervent Litany follows the Gospel with renewed urgency, praying for the whole Church, civil authorities, the departed, and specific needs, while the priest asks God to measure His response by the abundance of His mercy.
- The Litany for Catechumens entrusts those preparing for baptism to Christ as Teacher and Good Shepherd, asking for the laver of regeneration, forgiveness of sins, the robe of incorruption, and incorporation into the Catholic and apostolic Church.