The Liturgy is a Conversation Between God and Man
The Divine Liturgy is a conversation between man and God: The priest addresses God in his prayers, and God answers through the grace of the Holy Spirit He sends down, and this is how God and man meet.
Part 8A
Warrior saints. Fresco from Psača Monastery in North Macedonia. Photo: byzantine-art.com
After the choir sings the First Antiphon, the deacon reads the litany:
Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.
We discussed these petitions in previous talks.
While the deacon is proclaiming the litany, the priest is in the altar reading the Prayer of the Second Antiphon:
O Lord our God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, preserve the fullness of Thy Church, sanctify them that love the beauty of Thy house; do Thou glorify Them by Thy Divine power, and forsake not us that hope in Thee.
“O Lord our God, save Thy people and bless those who inherit Thy Kingdom…”
You see, Christ is called the leader of the people. He is the God-Man, and therefore, as our Intercessor before God, He stands at the head of His people and prays for the salvation of Christians (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5). After all, it is we Christians who are now the chosen people of God—certainly not the people of Israel. Israel was the chosen people until the hour of Christ’s Crucifixion.
It’s not because this people was something special in and of itself, but because this people was to give birth to the Most Holy Virgin Mary—the most perfect of women who alone was capable of giving birth to and bringing God into the world. After the 
The Crucifixion of Christ, Part 1We have reached the lesson on the Crucifixion. I will be talking to you today about the history of the Crucifixion, what it entailed, as well as some of the spiritual insights the Fathers have for us on the Crucifixion.
Crucifixion of Christ, the New Israel is the Church of Christ. No matter what nationality we are—Greeks, Turks, Arabs, Russians, Americans—if we’re members of the Church of Christ, then we’re all the people of God and brothers by grace.
Preserve the fullness of thy Church.
In other words, protect by Your grace all Christians, who are members of Your Church. By becoming members of the Church, we join the ranks of its army. We’re spiritual warriors and must fight against the opposing forces that try to crush the work of the Church. Just as soldiers fight in lines across the battlefield, so we Christians wage a spiritual battle, each in his own place: some at work, others at home, others at school—anywhere. A warrior of Christ has to repel attacks from his neighbors, from his coworkers, from his wife or from her husband, from his children, from his classmates or teachers. This war is waged in words, in deeds—in various ways. Sometimes those around us don’t have a conscious desire to be hostile towards Christians. Nevertheless, by freely engaging in sin, they show hostility against those who bear the name of Christ and desire to love God. Nowadays, sin is not only freely committed, but also advertised in every way, which is also a war against us. Young people in particular join this battle every day. We labor and make every effort to resist temptation and reject sin, while our neighbor boasts of his sins and success in evil daily. To refuse sin in such a situation is a great feat to which we’re called.
Hence, we beseech the merciful God to shield the members of His Church from falling into the trap of sin that lurks before them constantly.
Let us contemplate on this matter further. It is evident that the Church includes in its prayers all those who appreciate the magnificence of God’s abode. There are individuals today who advocate for plain and unadorned church interiors, questioning the necessity of chandeliers and candlestands.
Certainly, a church remains a sacred place even without lavish decorations. The Church was established and thrived in humble caves and catacombs. Stone churches are not essential; divine services could be conducted in a modest shelter. In Africa, many churches are simple huts with thatched roofs, which is perfectly acceptable. However, we, as believers, desire our churches to be adorned, for God’s dwelling to exude a special splendor, and for churches to be sanctuaries that aid individuals inherently.
It is apparent that the Church has its own distinct characteristics: unique architecture, music, decoration, aroma, and taste. These elements have been passed down through the ages by the saints and were also revealed by God. When Moses constructed the Tabernacle, God Himself instructed him on the precise details, emphasizing the importance of following His instructions diligently.
The purpose of constructing grand churches is to create an environment where individuals can sense God’s presence, offer prayers, and receive blessings. It is crucial for people to feel at peace and find solace within the church’s walls. Through the efforts of human hands, churches are built to provide a sacred space that radiates beauty and warmth. We offer our prayers for the builders of holy churches and all those who appreciate the beauty of the house of God. One saint, known for his simplicity, would always choose the cleanest coin when buying a candle in church, even going as far as to clean it with a handkerchief if it was slightly dirty. This act symbolized offering the best and purest to God. Let us glorify those who serve God with their hands and offer sacrifices, may they be blessed with the glory of His Divine power. And may we, who place our hope in God, never be abandoned. For the dominion, kingdom, power, and glory belong to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. To be continued…
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