Saint George Greek Orthodox Church
St. Paul, Minnesota

Worship

The cycle of Orthodox worship is done to bring meaning and fulfillment and purpose to the life of each Christian. The sacramental mysteries mark significant passages in a person’s life (i.e. baptism, chrismation, holy communion, marriage, confession, holy orders, unction, monastic profession, funeral, etc.). The other cycles are meant to fill-out the daily life in between these major life events and bring the person into conscious contact and communion with the living God.

The Church is the body of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. We worship in truth and in Spirit. Worship is participation in the heavenly kingdom where the adoration of God is unending.

  1. DAILY CYCLE:
    The daily cycle begins at sunset according to the ancient Jewish observance. Thus, the Church observes the following order of services.
    1. Vespers (Esperinos) - anticipation connection to liturgy / sundown
    2. Compline (Apodeipnon) - after supper
    3. Midnight Office (Mesonuktikon) - also known as matins 1 or 2AM
    4. Lauds (Orthros) - start 2 to 5AM
    5. First Hour (Prime) - start 4:30 to 5:45AM
    6. Third Hour (Terce) - approx. 9AM
    7. Sixth Hour (Sext) - approx. 12NOON
    8. Ninth Hour (None) - approx. 3PM
    9. The Interhours (orai) during fasting periods
    10. Blessing of the Table (midday & evening)
    11. Morning & Evening Prayers


      12. Divine Liturgy is not part of the daily cycle, it is an eschatological event which breaks in upon time and transports its participants to a point outside of time to the eternal Now.
  2. WEEKLY CYCLE OF THE EIGHT TONES:
    1. Saturday (vespers) - The Resurrection
    2. Sunday - The Resurrection
    3. Monday - Angels
    4. Tuesday - John the Baptist (Forerunner)
    5. Wednesday - Betrayal by Judas
    6. Thursday - Holy Apostles
    7. Friday - The Cross
    8. Saturday (orthros) - The Dead
  3. ANNUAL CYCLE OF MOVABLE FEASTS (centered upon Easter/Pascha)
    1. Triodion
    2. Great and Holy Lent
    3. Holy Week
    4. Pascha (Easter)
    5. Pentecostarion
    6. Pentecost
    7. All Saints
  4. ANNUAL CYCLE OF FIXED FEASTS
    1. September 1 - Beginning of the Ecclesiatical (Church) Year
    2. September 8 - Birth of the Theotokos
    3. September 14 - Elevation of the Cross
    4. November 21 - Entrance of the Theotokos
    5. December 25 - The Nativity of Christ
    6. January 6 - Theophany
    7. February 2 - Meeting of Our Lord
    8. March 25- The Annunciation
    9. August 6 - The Transfiguration
    10. August 15 - The Dormition
  5. LIFE CYCLE OF MAN
    1. Baptism
    2. Chrismation
    3. Confession
    4. Holy Communion
    5. Marriage
    6. Holy Orders
    7. Unction
    8. Monastic Profession
    9. Funeral
    10. Other
Copyright 2005. Saint George Greek Orthodox Church 1111 Summit Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105
Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews- Presbyter, Phone: (651) 222-6220