Divine LiturgyPreparatory Activities

+ Repentance & Confession+ On the Way to Church+ Entering the Church+ Vespers Tasbeha, Raising of Incense & Doxologies+ Midnight Prayers, Tasbeha & Morning Doxologies+ Morning Raising of Incense

Vespers Tasbeha

• Shorter than that of Midnight• Beautiful Hymn of Ps. 117• Fourth Hoas• Psalia of the day or feast or both• Theotokia of the day• Lobsh, Tarh (Commentary) & Conclusion

The Rite of Raising Incense

• Biblical : Separate Altar in OT Tabernacle, Malachi 1:11, and NT in Revelations.

• Before every Liturgy during Vespers (except Lent) and Morning Prayers.

Raising of Incense Prayers

• The Thanksgiving Prayer• Prosterations&Entering/Exiting Holy Sanctuary• Mystery of Incense Prayers (5 spoonfuls

represent 5 OT acceptable offerings: Abel, Noah, Melchizadek/Abraham, Aaron, Zachariah)

• Mystery of Vespers & Morning Incense• Three Circuits of Incense around the Altar• Litanies followed by Procession of Incense

Raising of Incense Prayers, cont.

• Incense Circuit outside the Altar• Five Inspiring Contemplatory Verses• Mystery of Confession• Vnou] nainan (God Have Mercy on us)• Litany of the Gospel• Five Minor Litanies• Absolutions, Blessing, and Dismissal