As in the Latin Church, no alternative form is ever used.[1] Secondly, almost alone in the East,[2] they use unleavened bread. They believe this to be an original national custom. It is certainly a Latin infiltration. Thirdly, alone of all old Churches, they mix no water with the wine.[3] The liturgy is celebrated on Sundays and feasts only, as a rule. At a solemn celebration by a high prelate there may be as many as six deacons.
The celebrant and ministers vest in the sacristy and wash their hands, saying psalms and prayers. Meanwhile the choir sings a hymn.[4] They come to the sanctuary and say (Latinized) preparatory prayers, including the Iudica psalm (xliii.) and the Confiteor. The large curtain is closed and they prepare the bread and wine at the prothesis. Only one loaf is used. The offertory is made at this point; the gifts are covered. Meanwhile a (variable) hymn is sung. The curtain is drawn back, the celebrant incenses the altar and all the church. Here begins the Enarxis. A hymn is sung (generally the Monogenes); there are one or two prayers and another hymn. The Liturgy of the Catechumens begins with the Trisagion.[5] Then the (chief) deacon chants a litany (synapte) of the usual Byzantine type with the answer, "Lord have mercy," to each clause. There are three lessons, a 'Prophet,'[6] 'Apostle' and Gospel; before each is sung a verse ((
Greek characters)), the one before the Gospel consisting of Alleluia twice and a verse. The catechumens are not formally dismissed. At once, after the Gospel, begins the Liturgy of the Faithful with the Nicene Creed,[7] said by the people; the celebrant
- ↑ Once they had other anaphoras, "of St. Gregory the Illuminator," "of St. Gregory of Nazianzos," "of St. Cyril of Alexandria," "of St. Sahak the Great" (p. 408). See Baumstark: Die Messe im Morgenland (Sammlung Kösel, 1906), p. 64. They have no liturgy of the Presanctified. On days of Lent (except Saturday and Sunday) there is no Eucharistic service at all.
- ↑ The Maronites are the only other Eastern Church which uses azyme.
- ↑ This custom is said to have begun as a reaction against heretics (enkratites), who consecrated only water.
- ↑ These hymns (sharagan), which occur repeatedly during the liturgy, are an Armenian speciality. They are supposed to come from Syria; many of them are certainly very beautiful. As a specimen see Brightman: op. cit. 412-414.
- ↑ With the so-called Monophysite clause (which varies; see p. 191, n. 3).
- ↑ Any Old Test. lesson.
- ↑ Including the anathemas.
