At the last supper, Christ confirmed the sacrament of the Divine liturgy, which is served in the Church of Christ from the apostolic period until today, being the most important and main worship of the Church. The liturgy, which etymologically means "gift, offering, sacrifice", points to the sacrament of the liturgy of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind and the atonement of sins.
Through the Divine liturgy, the faithful become a communicant of Christ's saving graces and by receiving the Holy communion, one foreshadows the bliss of the kingdom of heaven.
The Divine liturgy is performed by a clergyman with priestly ordination and consecration, who is served by deacons and scribes. The choir represents the people.
In the Armenian Church, the Divine Liturgy consists of 4 main parts:
a. The Preparation,
b. Liturgy of the Word,
c. Liturgy of the faithful,
d. Blessing and release.
Below is the structure and brief explanation of each of these parts.
A- The Preparation
Dressing of the Vestment- The deacon dresses the Celebrant in a special order in the vestry. Dressing up as a priest symbolizes shedding the old man, dying of sins and desires and putting on Christ, shining with heavenly graces. For this reason, during the dressing, the priest prays to God to make him worthy to perform the great sacrament of the liturgy and entering heaven with a pure mind and heart, that is- the Holy Altar and serve in front of the Holy Altar of Descent.
Washing and public confession - Following the dressing, the Celebrant, accompanied by a procession, leaves the vestry and stands in front of the Holy altar: in the meantime, the choir sings the hymn "Khorhurd Khorin" "Profound mystery" by Khachatur Taronats ( 12-13 centuries). In front of the Holy altar, the Celebrant washes his hands, which symbolizes the sanctity and purity of the heart and soul. Following the cleansing, the Celebrant asks for the intercession of the Holy Mother of God, then he publicly confesses his sins in front of the people. After remission of sins, the Celebrant blesses the people and asks for forgiveness of sins for the attendees as well.
Entry - The Celebrant and the censer-bearer Deacon, alternately reciting psalms, ascend the Holy Altar: The curtain closes, the choir begins to sing the hymn appropriate to the feast or liturgical season.
Assignment - During the singing, the order of assignment is performed behind a closed curtain: the officiating Celebrant blesses the bread and wine with a special prayer, incenses the chalice following which places it in the right (north) porch of the altar.
Incense - The curtain opens and the deacons lead the priest in a procession around the altar and down into the nave. The priest offers incense to the main and side altars, the baptismal font, the sacred icons, and all the people. This incense symbolizes the descent of Jesus Christ from heaven, walking around the world and ascending to heaven again.
B- Liturgy of the Word
This part of the Divine liturgy begins with the proclamation of the kingdom of God. Then it is followed by blessings to God and a special request to bless the spiritual class and the believing people with heavenly mercy. The Celebrant asks for the Lord's grace and mercy for everyone. Then the hymn of the sacrament of the day and "Yereksrbean" ( three holies) are sung, which are followed by prayers for the peace of the world, the stability of the Church, the spiritual class, the lay leaders, and the souls of the dead.
Midday readings - At this moment the Holy Book is read: first passages from the Old Testament, then from the apostolic epistles of the New Testament. Afterwards, the deacon sings and reads the Gospel of the day, through which God speaks to us again.
Christian creed or "symbol of faith" - Following the reading of the Gospel, the deacon and all the servants at the altar turn to the Holy Altar and recite the confession of faith with crossed hands, which is a summary of the Christian faith. Then it is followed by a series of requests asking for peace and forgiveness of sins, for protection and strength, for the grace to remain steadfast in true faith and love. At this moment, the Celebrant asks the Lord to communicate the divine gifts to the believing people: forgiveness of sins and find the acceptance of the Holy Spirit.
C- The Liturgy of the Eucharist
At the beginning, the exhortation of the deacon addressed to those who are preparing for Baptism and those who have not been baptized, skeptics, the penitents, those in penitence is sound, to go to the vestibule, because the actual sacrament of the Divine Liturgy begins. The prayers and songs that will be heard from now on refer to the Lord's sacrament of salvation, through which He reconciled man with the Father and opened the doors of heaven.
Regarding and presenting of offerings - the Deacon, offering incense at the Holy Altar, approaches the altar, incenses, takes the sacred offerings and presents the chalice to the Celebrant while singing psalms and hymns. During this time, the latter covertly prays so that God will make him worthy to preside over this sacrament and to worship the life-giving body and blood of Christ. After taking the chalice and placing it on the Holy Altar, the Celebrant incenses the offerings and then washes his hands as a sign of purity.
Then the deacon addresses the people with a sermon, urging them to stand before God's altar with great fear, perfect faith and love and pray. The priest kneels in prayer to God the Father, asking him to change the offered bread and wine into the body and blood of His Only Begotten Son, as an immortal medicine for those who partake of it.
The Kiss of Peace - Immediately after the presenting of the offerings, the deacon urges the people to greet each other with a holy kiss, adding that those who are not ready to receive communion, leave the prayer hall, because touching each other with a greeting of love has a direct connection with the sanctification of Christ's body and blood and the union of the Church. During the liturgy, not only the bread and wine are sanctified, but also the believers, and the most distinctive aspect of sanctity is the union of love. During the singing of the hymn "Christ has appeared to us", the believers convey each other the "Kiss of Peace" conveyed from the altar.
Gratification - After the greeting of love, the believing people become like the angels who are constantly contented and glorifying the Creator with holy awe. In this part of the Divine liturgy, the deacon's sermon urges to rededicate one's mind to God with great wisdom and caution and to be satisfied with Him with all one's heart. At that time, the Celebrant praises God, who gave the grace to praise boldly with the seraphims and cherubims. "Holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory; blessing in the highest, blessed are you who came and will come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”
Memory - After the singing of the hymn, the Celebrant states the Lord's words of confirmation of the sacrament said at the Vernatoun: "Take, eat, this is My body...", "Drink all of this, this is My blood of the New Covenant..."
Revocation of the Holy Spirit - After accepting the guarantee of reconciliation with the Father through the liturgy of the Son, the Celebrant boldly asks the Father to send from the creature the Holy Spirit, so that by Him the bread and wine are changed into the Lord's body and blood. He begs with fear that for those approaching the Holy Communion, it should not be a condemnation, but an atonement and forgiveness of sins.
Commemorations - the living body and blood of the Lord appear on the Holy Altar not only as spiritual food, but also as a reason for blessing the whole universe and especially the Church of Christ. The Celebrant asks that through him there be love and peace in the world, that the Church remains steadfast and that rest be granted to all the people who have fallen asleep in Christ. On the right side, the servants of the altar commemorate the saints: apostles, martyrs, hermits, patriarchs, kings and all believers, and on the left side, the Patriarch of the day, the diocesan leader, the Celebrant, asking for freedom for the captives and mercy for the whole people.
Lord's Prayer - Now that the people are well aware of what sacrament they are facing and are ready to receive the graces of the Holy Spirit; turns to the Heavenly Father, singing the "Lord’s Prayer". Then the deacon exclaims "Proskhume," which means "Be attentive," for at that moment the priest raises the communion bread and the acolytes sing: "Only the Holy One, only the Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen."
Praise - At this moment the Holy Trinity is praised: First, every Person of the Holy Trinity is blessed, then all three together.
Dipping - The Celebrant, worshiping on the Holy Altar, kisses it, takes the communion bread, dips it into the wine, praying to honor the Holy Communion and forgiveness of sins. Then the priest turns to the people, saying: "Let us partake with holiness of the holy and honorable body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which, coming down from heaven, is distributed among us. This is life, hope, resurrection, atonement and forgiveness of sins..." Then the curtain of the altar is closed, the deacons and the choir alternately sing the song "Lord, have mercy" by Catholicos Simeon of Yerevan.
Refraction - At the conclusion of "Lord, have mercy" the deacon urges the scribes and other servants to sing psalms and bless the Lord. Meanwhile, the Celebrant prays covertly, preparing for the distribution of the Holy Communion, the acolytes sing the hymn "Christ is distributed among us through the liturgy".
Holy Communion - The curtain of the altar is opened and the deacon loudly invites the people: "Come forward with fear and faith and communicate with holiness." Believers approach one by one and taste the true body and blood of Christ. At the end of the Holy Communion, the scribes sing: "Our God and our Lord appeared to us: blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord", and the priest blesses the people with a chalice, saying: "Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thy inheritance, shepherd and exalt them henceforth and forever."
Thanksgiving - The curtain closes again and the scribes sing: "We were filled with Your blessings...", during which the Celebrant, saying the prayer of thanksgiving, washes the chalice and hands, and the deacons clean the chalice and paten, and return all the liturgical vessels to their proper places. After the singing, the exhortation of the deacon is heard to be satisfied for receiving the holy, heavenly, immaculate and incorruptible sacrament, and the acolytes sing on behalf of the name of all the participants: "We are pleased with You, Lord, that You have fed us from Your immortal table, sharing Your body and blood for the salvation of the world..."
D- Blessing and release
Conclusion of the Divine Liturgy - Now that all the worthy have been communicated and the Divine liturgy has come to an end, the deacon calls: "Bless, Lord", and the Celebrant states St. Hovhan Voskeberan's prayer: "Blessing those who bless You, O Lord, and sanctifying those who hope in You, save Your people and bless Your heritage. Keep the integrity of Your Church. Sanctify those who welcomed the enjoyment of Your house with love. Glorify us with Your divine power and do not forsake those who hope in You." After each request of this prayer, the scribes chant "Amen."
The priest asks God for protection and blessing, power and peace for the Church. The scribes conclude the prayer by chanting: "Blessed be the name of the Lord from now until forever", and the Celebrant, with the Gospel in his hand, descends to Holy Altar and says: "Our Savior Christ God, You are the completion of the prophets and laws, who fully fulfilled Your paternal administration, fill us with Your Holy Spirit.
The Last Gospel - Before the release, the Celebrant reads the Holy Gospel and blesses the people with the "Protector" prayer.
Blessing of release - The Divine liturgy concludes with the blessings delivered to the Savior by the ministers of the church and the people: the deacon exclaims. "Every hour I will bless the Lord, every hour His blessing is on my lips" (Ps. 33: 2). The priest blesses the people and says: "Be blessed with the graces of the Holy Spirit. Go in peace, and may the Lord be with you all. Amen." And the scribes continue to sing the remaining parts of Psalm 33, during which the portion is distributed to the people. The latter is for those who have not been able to receive Holy Communion.