Liturgical Handbook

This section contains instruction on all matters relating the the performance of the Proskomedia (service of preparation prior to the Divine Liturgy).

This section contains instruction and guidance on all practices relating to the celebrations of the Divine Liturgies of St John Chrysostom and St Basil the Great (for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, see the separate Lenten Services section of this Handbook).

This section contains guidance on the peculiarities and variations to the Divine Services when they are concelebrated together by more than one Priest.

This section contains rubrics, notes and practical guidance relating to Hierarchical Services (at which one or more Bishops preside), and also contains more general instruction on comportment of Services when a Bishop is present (even when not serving).

This section contains guidance for Deacons, and for Priests at services where a Deacon is serving. It also contains more general guidance for Diaconal practices.

Liturgical peculiarities related to the Divine Services of the Great Fast (and additional lenten periods), includings its special services and rites.

This section contains general guidance on how Clergy and servers are to comport themsevles in the Altar, as well as instructions on more general activities therein that are not specific to any one Divine Service.

This section contains specific guidance regarding the practice of making prostrations, as well as kneeling, during the Divine Services and at other times within the Temple.

This section contains instructions relevant to monastics during the Divine Services, as well as to all others serving together with monastics or in monasteries.

This section contains guidance on the placement of icons in the temple and their liturgical employment in the Divine Services, as well as related matters such as the veneration of relics, the adornment of the temple, etc.

This section contains guidance for tonsured Readers, as well as all (whether tonsured or lay) who are blessed to read during the Divine Services.

May 2020: A major update to the Handbook has taken place in the present month, including a re-formatted overall presentation of its pages, as well as the introduction of many photographs and illustrations to entries where such visual aids may be helpful. Nearly 75% of the already-existing entries have been edited or expanded; and to these, a host of new entries have been added:

• In the Clergy Vesting and Entrance Prayers section:
  • What colour vestments are worn for each feast and liturgical season of the year?
  • Are head coverings worn during the entrance prayers?
  • At which services is it permissable to wear an epitrahil but not the cuffs?
  • Within our Diocese, may Greek-style ryassas be worn?
• In the Proskomedia section:
  • In what manner are particles removed from prosphora for commemorations? (illustrated)
  • May Altar servers read the names on commemoration lists sent into the Altar?
  • How, precisely, are the Lamb and various ranks and commemoration particles to be arranged on the diskos? (illustrated)
  • How is the Lamb to be prepared and removed from the first prosphora? (illustrated)
• In the Divine Liturgy section:
  • When non-celebrating clergy receive Holy Communion, what is the order for them doing so?
• In the Hierarchical Services section:
  • How many additional prosphora are required on the oblation table when the Bishop serves?
  • When and how is the Bishop's zapivka prepared?
  • What is done with the central icon in the church when a Bishop serves?
• In the Monastics and Monasteries section:
  • What are the occasions when a monastic Priest serves in his mantia, whereas a married Priest would serve in his phelon?
  • When a monastic wears is mantia, does he also wear his ryassa beneath it?
• Additionally, a new Icons, Church Adornment and Practical Matters section has been added, with the following new entries:
  • When is it appropriate for an icon or relics to be placed in the middle of the church?
  • When coming forward to venerate the Cross at the end of the Liturgy, should the faithful also venerate the icons?
  • How are the faithful to be instructed regarding the veneration of icons as they approach the Chalice to receive Holy Communion?
  • Which books may be lain upon the Holy Table?
  • Apart from the customary items (Gospel book, antimins, cross, etc.), what other sacred items may be placed on the Holy Table?
  • Which items may be kept on the table of oblation? And who may tend to these items?
  • What type of oil should be used in church lamps?
  • If a vestment or other liturgical item falls to the floor, what is to be done?
  • When an antimins is being transported by a Priest from one place to another, how is this done?
  • When various foods are blessed as part of the Divine Services (e.g. kutia, grapes, eggs, fruits), which of these are permitted to be brought into the Altar?