Orthodox Church

The service is known as the Holy Liturgy.

The service is divided into two parts.

1. Liturgy of the Word

This part contains prayers and readings and a sermon.

The high point of this part of the service is the ‘Lesser Entrance’ when the priest carries the book of the Gospels above his head in procession and sings the Gospel reading.

2. Liturgy of the Faithful.

In this second part the priest stands behind the iconostasis – a great screen that symbolises the huge gap between God and humans.

The priest prepares the bread and wine and then makes the ‘Greater Entrance’ – carrying the bread and wine through the church.

The people bow as the priest passes.

The people exchange a sign of peace and then say the creed.

The great prayer of thanksgiving is said and the people say the Lord’s Prayer.

Finally the bread and wine, mixed together on a spoon is given to those people who want to receive Communion.