How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Pope Kirillos Scientific Family

As the wise King Solomon wrote, "The Lord made all
things for Himself" (Proverbs 16:4), for the purpose of
giving us His love and being united with us. The Prophet
Isaiah wrote, "Whom I created for My glory, I have formed
him, yes, I have made him. This people I have formed for
Myself, they shall declare My praise" (Isaiah 43:7,21). The
Apostle Paul said, "For by Him all things were created"
(Colossians 1:16). For this reason, St. Gregory in his
contemplative liturgy pleads, "Who confirmed the standing
arrays of incorporeal creatures among men, who gave
those on earth the praise of the Seraphim, accept our voice
also with the invisible, count us with the heavenly powers.
Let us also proclaim with them, having cast away from us
every remembrance of unnatural reckonings, and cry out
with voices that are never silenced and lips that never
cease, and praise Your greatness."
The deacon then says, "Let us attend," warning the
congregation to give more reverence and attention and
quietness (Acts 22:2) in preparation for the hymn of the
Seraphim. As Zachariah wrote, "Be silent, all flesh, before
the Lord for He has aroused from His Holy habitation"
(Zephaniah. 2:13).
Then the congregation says this hymn of the Seraphim, "The
Cherubim worship You and the Seraphim glorify You,
proclaiming and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of
Hosts. Heaven and Earth are full of Your Holy Glory."
This praise was heard by Isaiah the Prophet from the mouth
of the Seraphim in his revelation (Isaiah 6). We sing it to
prove our partaking with the angels of heaven in praising
God. When the angels look and see the beauty of God and
104