The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is a central worship service in our Ukrainian Byzantine tradition. It is the most commonly celebrated form of the Divine Liturgy, which is the primary Eucharistic Liturgy. The Liturgy is named after St. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople (4th century), known for his eloquent preaching and theological writings.
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom consists of a structured sequence of prayers, readings from the Holy Scripture, hymns, and ritual actions that culminate in the celebration of the Eucharist, also known as the Holy Communion. The Liturgy is characterized by its rich theological content and its emphasis on the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Divine Liturgy consists of (a) the Proskomide (from the Greek,
meaning offering) or Prothesis (from the Greek, meaning setting forth), that is, the preparation of the gifts; the Liturgy of the Word; and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the Divine Liturgy the mystery of salvation is accomplished. This salvation is the bringing together of God and humankind in Christ (see Eph 1:10), the “building up of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12). Just as at the Mystical Supper [Last Supper] Christ first taught the apostles by his word and then led them into the mystery of his Body and Blood, so in the Divine Liturgy Christ teaches the community of the faithful, nourishes it by his Word, and then makes its members partakers of the Eucharistic banquet. The Christian enters into this mystery through listening to the Word of God and partaking of the Lord’s Body and Blood.
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