Historical Prospective of the Liturgy-Part V

DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

PRAYERS BEFORE THE ICONOSTAS

ipodiakonos zoran j. bobic

Preliminary steps… Preparatory prayers are in “Liturgikon” ;

These prayers must be said in Church before the iconostas;

Deacon stands at the priest’s right;

After the prayers both make three small bows;

While entering they say Psalm 5;

After entering: priest kisses the Gospel Book and hand cross; deacon: altar and hand cross;

This was introduced in the 12th century;

Even then it was uncomplicated until the 14th century;

13th century sources tells us there was only one prayer; and that priest must wash hands before venerating the sacred images;

Prayers in “Euchologia” were different from 11th-14th century an not strict;

Preliminary steps… The oldest Slav reference is from “Prague

Fragments” of a Glagolitic Missal;

In 12th-13th century five prayers were prescribed;

Many books followed Slav version of “Constitution of Philotheus”;

This was introduced to Churches of Russia and Bulgaria – 14th century;