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The establishment of the Great Mystery of the Divine Eucharist is the fruit of the complete and perfect love of our Lord Jesus Christ towards His Apostles (who would continue His work), and all those throughout the ages who would believe in the Gospel and be baptized.
On many occasions, the Lord expressed His sacrificial love towards His Disciples, both in word and deed. Let us recall some of these words of our Lord, which were said with great tenderness to his Disciples on Holy Thursday: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you...Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends“ (John 15:9,13). It is here that the Lord expressed what He Himself would do shortly after on Calvary. Addressing His Father, Jesus prays: "Father, You are united with Me and I am with You; my desire is for all who will believe in Me ... to be united with Us" (see John 17:21). "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am" (verse 24).
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In our holy churches, there are various Divine Services served daily. Hymns and Old Testament Psalms are read or sung, as well as the prayers and supplications recited by the priest. Additionally, there are hagiographic readings. The established Divine Services are as follows:
-The Vespers is served every afternoon and with it begins the cycle of Divine Services of the given day. During Vespers, the wonderful ancient evening hymn "O Gladsome Light” is sung.
-The Nocturns or Midnight Service is normally served at midnight, and the following hymn is chanted: "Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night...".
-The Matins normally begins before sunrise, and at the end of the service the Great Doxology is sung: "Glory be to Thee who showed us the light...".
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The Divine Eucharist, which is sanctified during the Divine Liturgy, is the greatest of the Holy Mysteries of the Church. It is the Eucharist that sanctifies and spiritually renews the Christian who participates. It is a gift of divine Grace, as well as an entrance into communion with His Holy Church, with the divine-human Sacred Body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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The greatest and most blessed event in the history of mankind was the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth for His salvific work. Many of us may envy the people who lived at that time in Galilee and Judea, because they were privileged to see our Lord Jesus Christ-God Himself, with their own eyes. They witnessed the sick being healed of incurable diseases, and men being freed from demonic forces. It truly would have been wonderful to be alive in those times, being able to see Christ ourselves!
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The prayer of bowing the head at the Vespers service ends with the petition: “Oh Lord our God … protect us … from any adverse action coming from the devil, from any vain thoughts and evil memories.” Satanic actions, thoughts and evil memories are attempting to infect the soul and body of the Christian. We hear this petition, with various other expressions, repeated in almost all the holy Services of our Church, daily.