Page 73 - AlNashra Year 2024 Issue 04

the past and continues into the present. In
other words, an action possesses the quality
of being present. It is an action that took place celebrated in the Eucharistic service, which is
once in history, and yet happens today and
every day, with the same effectiveness and the
same force. The Liturgy makes the mystery of
Christ present “here and now.” In the mystery
of Christ, we penetrate time and space, which
is why I said earlier that in this mystery, the
Heavens turn toward the Earth so that the
Earth is elevated toward the Heavens. The
same logic applies to the event of Nativity.
During this Feast, we also chant, “Today He
is born of a Virgin…” since Jesus, historically
born of the Virgin in the flesh more than two
thousand years ago, is born anew in each
one of us here and now. Last but not least,
in preparation for the Divine Liturgy, when
the priest prepares the Prosphora or offering
(as we commonly say), what is formed on the
paten? The following is formed: the stamp
in the middle of the Prosphoron (the Holy
Bread), which is the Lamb. The priest cuts it
out and places it in the middle of the paten.
To his right, he places the piece for the Virgin
Mary; to his left, the pieces for the ranks of
angels, saints, prophets, apostles, martyrs,
righteous, etc., and below it, the pieces for the Truth.
living and dead for whose health or repose of
souls the offerings were offered. This is the
image of the Church that is formed with and
around the Lamb. Accordingly, this liturgy is
a recollection of the Heavenly Liturgy where
Christ, the Sacrificed Lamb for us, is truly
present with us and among us. He stands at
the center and we- the living and dead, the
Militant, Penitent and Triumphant Church-
gather around Him to form the Church. This
image, as I mentioned earlier, transcends time
and space because it unites those who are
scattered. It brings together the saints from
different times and places with the dead and
the living from different places. The liturgical
services of the Church enable us to live truly
the mystery of the Cross-—the mystery of
Christ who died and rose from the dead. This
also explains the custom of Christians, from
the beginning of the spread of Christianity
until today, to cry out collectively, "Christ
is risen, He is truly risen"; it is Liturgy. In
the Matins prayer, we recite, “Having beheld
the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship
the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one…,”
meaning that, through Liturgy, we enter into
the essence of this mystery – the mystery
of the Crucified and Risen Christ – and its
In the context of this talk, I recall a book by
Father Matta El Meskeen entitled Orthodox
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