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The Meaning of Liturgy

Liturgy means corporate action in which everyone participates.

The members of a symphony orchestra take part in a liturgical activity when they perform but the audience does not. The audience simply observes. In the Church there are no simple observers. Everyone is called to take an active part. This is one reason why at Ss. Constantine and Elena we have a large open space in the center of the Church where we can stand and participate in the prayers, rites, and movements of the liturgy. Through this active participation we learn to become witnesses to Christ in our private and public life, responsible members of the Church, and Christians in the full meaning of the word.

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Why are we called to active participation? The basic element of liturgy is prayer. Indeed, prayer is the means and the ends of liturgy. The Orthodox Fathers teach that prayer is the art of arts and the science of sciences. Anyone who has studied either art or science knows the importance of practice.

Science is the study of natural phenomena through both theory and practice. Therefore the laboratory is indispensable. The same can be said for art. An artist dose not simply study art, but practices it, and produces art. The artist’s studio is essential. In the same way the Church’s liturgy is the laboratory and studio of prayer to which all Christians are called.