Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, informally the Presanctified Liturgy, is a liturgical service for the distribution of the Holy Gifts on the weekdays of Great Lent. Because Great Lent is a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer, the Orthodox Church regards more frequent reception of communion as especially desirable at that time. However, the Divine Liturgy has a festal character not in keeping with the season. Thus the Presanctified Liturgy is therefore celebrated instead; the Divine Liturgy is only performed on Saturdays and Sundays. Although it is possible to celebrate this service on any weekday of Great Lent, common parish practice is to celebrate it only on Wednesdays and Fridays.

  
It consists of vespers combined with additional prayers and communion. The communion bread has already been consecrated and intincted with the precious Blood and reserved at the previous Sunday's Divine Liturgy. Unconsecrated wine is placed in the chalice.

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was first documented by Gregory the Dialogist (AD 540 - 604), who was the papal legate to Constantinople. At one time it was supposed that he had come up with the idea himself, but now it is generally supposed that he simply recorded what was otherwise being practiced at Constantinople. In the Presanctified Liturgy itself, he is still commemorated as its traditional author.

This Liturgy is also mentioned in the Canons of the seventh century Quinisext Council:

On all days of the holy fast of Lent, except on the Sabbath, the Lord's Day, and the holy day of the Annunciation, the Liturgy of the Presanctified is to be served (Canon 52,692).

 

 

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Visitors are welcomed and encouraged to come! Don't worry about anything. We look forward to meeting you!

Guidelines for the reception of Holy Communion:

All practicing Catholics (Roman, Eastern, and Oriental) who have received their First Communion according to the standards of their particular church and who are in good standing with their church may receive the Holy Mysteries (including Holy Communion).

All practicing members of the Eastern or Oriental Orthodox churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, or the Polish National Church who are in good standing with their church and who spontaneously request it may receive the Holy Mysteries of Repentance and Holy Communion, but they are counseled to follow the guidelines their own churches have set.

In order to receive the Body and Blood of our Savior in Holy Communion, just tell the priest your Christian name (the name you were baptized with) when you approach, then open your mouth wide with your tongue in. Father will take care of the rest!

All other guests are welcome to approach for a blessing. To do so, simply bow your head forward when you approach Father. He will say a prayer over you (or your child), asking for God to bless you.

All the following may avail themselves of this opportunity for a blessing:

-Those who have not kept the fast

-Those who have not recently been to confession

-Those who have not been practicing their faith

-Those who have not yet come to faith in Christ

-Those who are Christians of another denomination

-Those who arrived after the reading of the Gospel

-Those who have not yet received their First Communion according to the standards of their particular church

-Those who refrain from partaking of the Eucharist for other reasons.