The Litany and the Great Entrance

NKJV (Orthodox Study Bible New Testament) · Verses 25 and 28; the intervening exchange is in the full reading

A Canaanite woman asks Jesus to free her daughter from demonic affliction. She persists through His silence and the difficult exchange about Israel, bread, and crumbs, trusting that His mercy can reach her daughter.

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The mother’s appeal, Christ’s answer, and her daughter’s healing show prayer offered on behalf of another person. Bring that trust and concern for others to the Church’s intercessions.

NKJV (Orthodox Study Bible New Testament)

Jesus speaks to His disciples about prayer and forgiveness.

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

As the Liturgy turns toward the offering of the gifts, consider how forgiving another person belongs to our preparation for prayer.

SAAS (Orthodox Study Bible Old Testament) · Verse 4; read the complete vision in chapter 10

St. Ezekiel sees the cherubim beside the house and the Lord’s glory filling it. Later in this vision, given in the setting of judgment, the glory departs from the house.

Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherubim into the inner court of the house. The cloud filled the house, and the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory.

The cherubim, the cloud, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory give substance to the language of heavenly worship in the Cherubic Hymn. The vision is a prophetic encounter with God’s glory; its connection with our worship is a theme to contemplate.

SAAS (Orthodox Study Bible Old Testament) · Verses 1–3; the full reading continues through verse 8

St. Isaiah sees the Lord enthroned in glory and hears the seraphim praising Him. The vision continues with the prophet’s cleansing and calling.

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. The house was full of His glory. Around Him stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

The throne, the Lord’s glory, and the seraphim’s praise help us understand the heavenly worship to which the Cherubic Hymn directs our attention. Isaiah names seraphim; Ezekiel’s vision names cherubim. These prophetic visions invite us to join in praise of God.

SAAS (Orthodox Study Bible Old Testament)

The psalmist addresses the Lord in prayer.

Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

The comparison of prayer with incense and raised hands helps us notice the censing and prayer before the Great Entrance.

NKJV (Orthodox Study Bible New Testament)

The penitent criminal crucified beside Jesus asks to be remembered in His kingdom.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

The request to be remembered in the kingdom helps us hear the remembrance made during the Great Entrance. In the next verse, Jesus promises Paradise.

NKJV (Orthodox Study Bible New Testament) · Intercession clause of verse 26

St. Paul explains that we do not know how to pray as we ought. In that weakness, the Holy Spirit helps us and intercedes for us; verse 27 continues with God’s knowledge of the heart and His will.

[T]he Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The passage places our prayer in dependence on the Holy Spirit. As we pray with the Church before the offering, we seek God’s help rather than relying only on our own ability to find words.

NKJV (Orthodox Study Bible New Testament)

The passage identifies Jesus, the Son of God, as the great High Priest who understands our weakness. It then invites us to approach God.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Approaching the throne of grace means seeking mercy and help through Christ. Read verses 14–16 together to hear why we can approach with confidence.

SAAS (Orthodox Study Bible Old Testament)

After Abram has rescued Lot, Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, meets him.

Now Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

Verses 19–20 continue with Melchizedek’s blessing. Consider the bread, wine, and priestly service beside the offering of the gifts.

NKJV (Orthodox Study Bible New Testament) · Opening clause of verse 40; the full burial narrative is verses 38–42

After Jesus’ death, Joseph of Arimathea receives permission from Pilate to take His body. Nicodemus brings myrrh and aloes. Together they prepare the body and place it in a new tomb in a nearby garden.

Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices.

The linen and spices make the reverent care for Christ’s body visible in the passage. Consider that care beside the preparation and covering of the gifts. St. Symeon’s explanation below draws attention specifically to Christ’s divinity hidden in His earthly life.