Homily 32 #
On the Saturday of the Third Week of the Fast: A Teaching of Our Holy Father Gregory the Theologian on the Holy and Divine Liturgy
In the early days, the holy fathers once gathered around Saint Gregory the Theologian and said to him, “Father, tell us about the mystery of the Holy and Divine Liturgy.”
And the holy Gregory answered them, saying, “Listen, holy fathers, and I will tell you what the Holy and Divine Liturgy is, and how precious it is in the sight of God.” And he began to speak to them.
“When the priest enters the church, having vested himself in his liturgical garments, he goes into the sanctuary and there prepares the Holy Lamb, offering the prosphora. Taking up the censer, he says: ‘Let us pray to the Lord for the precious gifts now set forth…’ And at that moment I heard a voice from heaven saying: ‘As you lay the offering of your heart before the church, so is the beginning of grace given.’ Then the angel of the Lord descends from heaven and stands at the doors of the church.
And when the priest says, ‘Bless, Master…,’ stand in fear.
When the first antiphon begins—“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High…”—then I heard the angel saying: ‘Be blessed, all of you, be strengthened, and stand in fear in the church of God.’
When the second antiphon begins—“The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty…”—I heard the angel cry aloud: ‘Rejoice and be glad, all you faithful, for Christ our God reigneth forever: for the devil is now bound and the evil ones tremble.’
And when the third antiphon is sung—“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the God of our salvation…”—then the angel strengthens everyone present in the church by the Holy Spirit.
And when the priest proceeds for the Little Entrance and the people say, ‘O come, let us worship and fall down before Him…,’ then the angel of the Lord descends from heaven upon the celebrant, takes him by the hand, and leads him into the Holy of Holies to the holy altar. Entering the sanctuary, the angel places the Holy Gospel upon the holy table, that is, the altar. That same angel strengthens the celebrant and says to him, ‘Take heed to yourself, for you now stand before the dread throne of God.’
Then all who are in the church must stand in peace and in the fear of God, as if they were in heaven. Let no one speak to his neighbor, nor entertain evil thoughts in his heart against another—neither brother against brother—but let all stand together with one mind, in peace, just as the Lord has given you His peace.
And when the prokeimenon is sung, listen to how the Prophet David instructs you. And when the Apostle is read, hear how the Apostle Paul teaches you, saying: “Examine yourselves before God.”
And when the Holy Gospel is proclaimed, give heed, honorable fathers and Christ-loving brethren, to how our Lord Jesus Christ Himself teaches you.”
And when the celebrant says, “As many as are catechumens, depart…,” I saw a demon standing at the doors of the church, holding his tongue in his teeth like a sharp arrow. His eyes were like flames, fixed with fury upon the faithful who stood within the church, and he gnashed his teeth at them with rage.
And again, when the celebrant says, “Let no catechumen remain—only the faithful…,” I saw an angel descend from heaven, seize the demon, and cast him into eternal fire, saying to him, “Why standest thou here, O accursed one, having no wedding garment?”
And when the Cherubic Hymn begins—“We who mystically represent the Cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving Trinity, let us now lay aside all earthly care, that we may receive the King of all, invisibly borne aloft by the angelic hosts…”—then let all stand with fear, bowing their faces to the earth, and each one pray to the Lord for his own sins. For at that moment, angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, stand invisibly beside the priest with awe, covering their faces with their wings, unable to gaze upon the mystery.
Then the veil of the church is opened like the heavens, and each person’s prayers rise like flashes of lightning up to heaven.
And when the celebrant approaches to make the sign of the cross over the Holy Gifts and to begin the Great Entrance, I heard an angel cry out, “Holy Father, send forth the angel who ministers at the Divine Liturgy.”
At once, I saw two angels coming forward. And as “We who mystically represent the Cherubim…” is sung, I saw the two angels descend and overshadow the priest with their wings, and they led the celebrant to the altar, saying, “Take heed to yourself—how you serve the Divine Mysteries!”
And when the priest says, “Let us stand well, let us stand with fear…,” truly this is a fearsome thing.
And when he says, “Singing the triumphant hymn, crying, calling out, and saying…,” then I saw the veil of the church opened, and heaven appeared, and a flame of fire came down, with multitudes of angels following upon it. And after the angels, I saw radiant faces, whose beauty was indescribable—like flames burning brightly.
Fiery angels stood around the altar, and the six-winged beings stood around the holy table. In the midst of them stood a young Child, and a flame of fire fell upon the priest.
And when he began to say, “Our Father, which art in heaven…” I heard an angel declare: “O priests and faithful, if anyone has slept with his wife on the night before—whether knowingly or even in a dream—he is not worthy of the most pure Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
And when the priest says, “Let us attend: The Holy Things are for the holy…,” I saw an angel holding a knife, and in his hand was the Child, whom he sacrificed, pouring His Blood into the holy chalice, and His Body, as it was offered, became the Bread. And that Bread became truly the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then the worthy among the people came forward and received the Holy Body and Blood, truly for the cleansing of sins.
And when the deacon says, “Let us depart in peace…,” I saw the divine powers ascending again into heaven, and I was filled with fear and awe at such a mystery.
This, brothers, is a hidden mystery made manifest, so that we might be mindful of how we receive the Divine Mysteries. How can we, living like beasts with our wives, approach them unworthily? Truly, Paul writes, saying: “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself” (1 Corinthians 11:29).
Let us not approach in such a manner. For it is truly not mere bread and wine, but the very Body and Blood of Christ, which consumes our sins, purifies and sanctifies our souls.
Let us therefore receive it worthily—cleansed from every defilement and every evil thought—so that we too may become heirs of His heavenly Kingdom, glorifying the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.