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

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

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LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS OR<br />

DOCTRINAL LITURGY<br />

Donning <strong>the</strong> Service Vestments :<br />

The liturgy of catechumens begins with <strong>the</strong> priest blessing his<br />

vestments and <strong>the</strong> vestments of <strong>the</strong> deacons. This is done<br />

three times with <strong>the</strong> sign of <strong>the</strong> cross. Then <strong>the</strong> priest and <strong>the</strong><br />

deacons start donning <strong>the</strong>ir beautiful white vestments which<br />

symbolise purity of <strong>the</strong> heart and life. During this process, all<br />

pray Psalm 29, “ I will praise you, O Lord....” and Psalm<br />

92, “ The Lord reigns, He is clo<strong>the</strong>d with majesty....”.<br />

The above mentioned Psalms embraces many befitting<br />

statements for donning priestly vestments and preparation for<br />

ministering <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> divine Sacraments. For example, in Psalm<br />

29, it is written:-<br />

V “I will praise you, O Lord, for You have lifted me<br />

up...” As this is said, all <strong>the</strong> servants are thanking <strong>the</strong><br />

Lord before entering His Holies and serving His<br />

Sacraments, thanking <strong>the</strong> Lord for making him worthy <strong>to</strong><br />

serve Him, despite his unworthiness. Thus, he is praising,<br />

glorifying and blessing <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> Lord.<br />

V “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in <strong>the</strong><br />

morning.” This Psalm speaks about weeping for<br />

repentance and remorse for all sins and confessing <strong>the</strong>m<br />

before <strong>the</strong> priest of God <strong>the</strong> night before, so as <strong>to</strong> be<br />

prepared for <strong>Holy</strong> Communion. In <strong>the</strong> morning, all enter<br />

<strong>the</strong> Sanctuary in joy as <strong>the</strong> Psalmist says, "Then I will go<br />

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