The Order of Divine Services with Commentary for Beginners

by Priest Daniel Sysoev

Softcover: 240 pages

For many beginning believers, remaining attentive throughout the church service is no easy task. Numerous thoughts overcome the worshipper, forcing him to remain amid earthly cares. This occurs due to a lack of understanding of the language in which the services are conducted, and of the meaning of the texts read during the sacred rites.

The purpose of this book is to help those desiring to understand the essence and beauty of Orthodox worship to discover the full essence of what is taking place in the church, beginning with the remembrance of the creation of the world at the All-night Vigil, and ending with the very heart of the service, the greatest mystery of the Christian, Holy Communion, at which the believer’s soul invisibly yet palpably unites with the Lord Himself.

For what could be sweeter to the soul than the unfeigned realization of the words, “Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and chant the thrice-holy hymn unto the Life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care, that we may receive the King of all, Who cometh invisibly upborne in triumph by the ranks of angels. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia”?