I. PRECOMMUNION SERVICE – (30 years of our LORD’s Life) Sanctuary remains veiled – The period before the Incarnation of Christ. Prefatory Prayers – Morning Prayers (Namasakaram) Entrance into Chancel Sanctuary unveiled Celebrant enters – South side – Sanctuary veiled. Shubkono1, Washing of hands1 Thuyobo – Preparatory Rites – Celebrant Read more…
“Seven Times a Day I Praise You” – The Shehimo Prayers, contains liturgical prayers, Psalms and hymns, written beginning around the fourth century. This contains the daily prayers of the Holy Church, according to the Liturgical tradition, that observes the seven offices of prayers for each of the seven days Read more…
Christ is certainly coming into our midst. This is what His entry at Jerusalem signifies. The kingdom is in an important sense inaugurated when Christ entered Jerusalem. But Christ will also come into our own midst unexpectedly, amidst our own lives, and in connection to the hour of our departure Read more…
Webster’s dictionary gives the following definition of Trinity: “The union of three divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in one divinity, so that all the three are one God as to substance, but three Persons.” Synonyms sometimes used are triunity, triune, and triality. The term “trinity” Read more…
“There is no life without prayer. Without prayer there is only madness and horror. Worship is the most profound activity of the people of God. The soul of Orthodoxy consists in the gift of prayer.” Our Church year opens and our Church calendar begins with Koodosh Eetho (Church New Year), Read more…
Orthodox Worship proclaims the Centrality of Christ, expresses and represents the salvific events of Christ’s Incarnation, Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension to heaven and Second Coming. The aim of all Christian living – worshipping, praying, studying, working and resting, is to bring us before the awesome and renewing reality of Read more…
Clergy of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church follows the West Syriac tradition and therefore have the same vestments of the Orthodox Syriac Church. The vestments worn by the clergy vary with their hierarchical order in the priesthood. The deacons, the priests and the bishops have distinct liturgical vestments. 1. THE Read more…
God is present every where. He can hear our prayers, from wherever we pray. Then, why should we go to Church to worship? Such questions are normally put forward by many students. A humble attempt is made to answer this question. We will see certain Biblical proofs as to why Read more…
The ordinary attire and ceremonial vestments of clergy have symbolic meanings and have sacramental significance. As outward things are expressive of the inward reality, so also is true about people’s clothes. The beliefs, ideas, and moods of vestments we wear, when we offer Holy Sacrifices have three-fold significance. They represent Read more…
Bread – Lahmo – The Eucharistic bread Bread is a sign of life. When we offer bread, we offer our lives to God. The bread used for Holy Qurbana is made of five outstanding, essential ingredients of life, representing four elements of the universe. 1. Wheat flour, 2. Water, 3. Read more…