The Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy is at the heart of the Orthodox liturgical life.  It is the service where the faithful receive the Body and Blood of Christ.  There is no debate about whether it is, or whether it is not real.  No one really debates how it is, or how it comes to be.  It is considered a mystery, and people just leave it at that.  

It was developed by St. James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, and then it was tweaked in the fourth century, first by Basil the Great, and then by John Chrysostom.  It is amazing to realize that when you attend and participate in the Divine Liturgy  you are participating in a service that goes back to the first century.  You are actually worshipping the way that the early church did.  

And, it also means that wherever you are in the world, whatever the language,  if you are attending a Divine Liturgy you always know what is going on.   We were once in Florence at a Russian Orthodox Church where the service was being done in Italian, Russian, and Greek.  Yet, we knew exactly what was going on.  It's an amazing experience.

The other important thing about this service is that you  don't just  show up and partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.  You are expected to fast from at least midnight the night before.  This means that you don't eat or drink anything (including water), and you are expected to  spend time in preparatory prayer starting the night before.   

And, by partaking in faith, you are receiving something that is life giving and life sustaining.   It is not just a memorial.  It is not just a symbol.