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

What is the reason
First, thrice for the waters of the river to request its
abundance, in persistence. Repetition of one prayer many
times denotes persistence and knocking on God's door to
respond to the important and persistent request.
Second, while the congregation prays to God for mercy on
the waters, they do not forget the plants, herbs and air of
heaven. So three times, one for the waters, second for the
plants, third for the air as they are related to each other.
Water needs wind to carry clouds for rainfall into the Nile
sources to flood, also the plants need water and air to grow
and mature, also air needs plants to intake oxygen and the
most important constituent is water to cool and modify the
air.
All these factors are necessary for man's livelihood, for when
he is in need of nothing, he increases in every good deed,
thanking God for being generous in giving and distributing,
according to our needs.
V Prayer of the Gatherings - when the priest prays for
the church's meeting, and the deacon asks the
congregation to, "Pray for this holy Church and for
our congregation," the congregation responds, "Lord
have mercy", meaning :
• Lord have mercy on all of us, and keep us from internal
divisions that weaken and deteriorates our gathering;
• Lord have mercy on us and make us regular in attending
these spiritual meetings, "Not forsaking the assembly of
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