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

In the past, one deacon asked the saintly Father Barsonofius
(Sixth Century saint), "Father, as you are ordaining me to
serve around the holy altar, tell me what to think about
while standing in front of God and helping serve with the
priest, especially if I am holding the Holy Chalice And
should I have a specific garment for the altar service"
The Saint answered, "My son, these are spiritual matters as
the deacon must be like the Cherubim, all eyes and mind
thinking about heavenly matters. This should be done in awe
and fear praising God while carrying the blood of the
eternal King. He is like the Cherubim who proclaims the
TASBEHA guarding the fearful sacrament like what the
angels do in heaven with their wings. Remember those wings
signify the enlighting of the mind from the heavy earthly
matters to blissful heavenly matters, crying without fatigue
in his inner self, proclaiming the TASBEHA of victory for
the majestic glory of God, praying reverently saying: Holy,
Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, Heaven and Earth are full
of your Holy Glory."
From the voice of this awesome preaching, the devil falls and
escapes in fear from the mention of God’s name, his hosts
also escape shamefully and the soul becomes free from their
dominion. Thus, then the soul can recognise the TRUE
LIGHT and know Gods beauty and splendour. It then yearns
to be filled with His Holy Body and Blood to enjoy the voice
of David the prophet : "Taste and see that the Lord is
good." Then the soul rejoices and glorifies the Lord, as one
has become purified by the precious Body and Blood of
Christ, which protects the soul from all pain and anguish.
Thus, when you stand to serve the Holy Sacraments, or are
carrying the holy censor, or are folding the altar garments, or
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