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

in the church the chance to proclaim their personal faith, and
not to be lost in the crowd of multitudes. The proclamation
of personal faith is stronger than collective proclamation; it
has its essence and power on the soul, considering Christ’s
redemption as a personal redemption for everyone. Christ
was crucified, died, shed His Blood on the cross for me,
personally and specifically. St. Paul expressed this by saying,
"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the
life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith in the
Son of God!"
“Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians
2:20).
The priest bows his head and stretches his arms towards
heaven, praying inaudibly saying, "Our Lord, God and
Saviour Jesus Christ, given for the forgiveness of sins and
Eternal life to those who shall partake of Him." This
means that the blood is the Blood of our Lord, God and
Saviour Jesus Christ, given for the forgiveness of sins, and
eternal life to those who partake of Him.
This last sentence, "to those who shall partake of Him" is
said aloud by the priest to warn the congregation who are
still kneeling in fear and awe awaiting the invocation of the
Holy Spirit to sanctify them and to transubstantiate the
oblations. Then the congregation arises, saying, "Lord have
mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy."
‘Lord have mercy’ is repeated by the congregation to
proclaim their faith in the invocation of the Holy Spirit and
the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Holy
Body and Blood of Christ, and that these Holy Sacraments
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