In his 84th episode reflecting on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Tom talks about the Kiss of Peace which takes place after the celebrant declares "Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess."

Let Us Love One Another

Today Fr. Tom speaks about the importance of the offertory prayers said after the Great Entrance. In particular, he talks about how they are prayed in the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

The Offertory Prayers

Fr. Tom completes his reflections on the Great Offertory Entrance of the Divine Liturgy.

The Great Entrance - Final

When the time has come for a priest to be ordained by the Bishop, this is done during the Divine Liturgy. Since Fr. Tom is at the place of the Great Entrance in his reflections on the Divine Liturgy, he takes us through the ordination process.

The Ordination of a Priest

As he continues to reflect on the Great Entrance at the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas speaks today about the frequent use of the word "Remember."

Remember, O Lord

Fr. Tom offers a very helpful explanation of what we are actually offering in the procession of the Great Entrance in the Divine Liturgy.

The Great Entrance - Procession part 2

In this podcast Fr. Tom begins his reflections on the words and actions of the Great Entrance with the Bread and Wine to the Altar Table.

The Great Entrance - Procession

Today Fr. Tom looks at the differences in the Antiochian tradition in the way the Proskomede is done.

The Proskomede - Preparing the Bread and the Wine part 5

Fr. Tom talks about the "star" that is placed over the bread as well as the psalms and prayers that are said when both the chalice and diskos are covered with the cloth.

The Proskomede - Preparing the Bread and the Wine part 4

Remembering all the Saints. Fr. Tom takes us through his own practice of remembering the "great cloud of witnesses" when preparing the bread and wine for the Eucharist.

The Proskomede - Preparing the Bread and the Wine part 3

A series of reflections by Fr. Thomas Hopko on the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.

Sure, it may have taken Fr Tom a year or so to finally get to the &#34;Blessed is the Kingdom.&#34; That being said, this is an extremely enlightening and unique podcast. A must for anyone who wants to understand not only the Eastern Orthodox liturgy, but just worship in general.

Well worth the patience it requires.

My favorite podcast

Worship in Spirit and Truth

Fr. Tom has come to the point in the Liturgy where we sing the first of two Thrice-Holy hymns. This one is in the Liturgy of the Word: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."

The Trisagion Prayers - Part 1

The first procession in the Divine Liturgy is referred to as the "Little Entrance" where the Gospel Book is brought into the altar and the call to worship is proclaimed.

The Little Entrance

After his last episode, Fr. Thomas got a thoughtful letter from a listener challenging his remarks on female readers of the Apostolic writings in the Divine Liturgy. In this episode he reads the letter and answers the concerns raised.

Women Readers in the Divine Liturgy

Fr. Tom talks about how human beings are created by God for worship in spirit and in truth.

Created to Worship

Fr. Thomas reflects on what it means to say "In peace let us pray to the Lord." What is the significance of this peace?

The Great Litany

Just before the Gospel reading in the Divine Liturgy, the participants sing what is supposed to a very solemn "Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah." Fr. Tom explains why this is so important.

Allelujah, Allelujah, Allelujah

Fr. Thomas looks at the significance of using leavened bread and real wine for the Eucharist.

The Bread and the Wine

Just before the Apostle reading in the Divine Liturgy, verses are chanted known as the Prokeimenon. Fr. Tom explains what that is, why it is there, and how he feels it should be done.

The Prokeimenon

In this important episode, Fr. Thomas shows how the Passover Exodus pre-figures the work of Christ and how that relates to our worship today.

The Passover Exodus

Fr. Tom pauses in his series on the Divine Liturgy to address some questions he has received about the 8 tones used in Orthodox worship.

The 8 Tones

Is there a prescribed physical place where the liturgy is to be served or not served? Fr. Tom traces the history from the "house church" to the present day.

The Divine Liturgy and Physical Place

Fr. Thomas continues to talk about the Great Litany at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. In particular the "union of all men" and "the fear of God."

The Great Litany - Part 2

Fr. Thomas Hopko looks at Abel and Cain and why one offered acceptable worship and the other did not.

Worship in Genesis

What made Noah's worship a sweet-smelling savor to God?

Noah’s Worship

After 29 episodes leading up the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas begins his line by line commentary.

It is Time for the Lord to Act

The West identifies seven sacraments, but how does the Orthodox Church view such things? Fr. Tom teaches on the place of the Eucharist in the sacramental life of the Church.

The Mystery of Mysteries

In this 32nd episode of the series, Fr.Tom gets to the very opening statement in the Divine Liturgy: "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."

Blessed is the Kingdom

There are so many images of Christ, the Trinity, and our worship as Orthodox Christians in the Old Testament but perhaps none so powerful as the story of Abraham.

Abraham’s Worship

In his continuing series on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas is now at the point of the Apostle reading. He comments on how, where, and by whom it is to be read.

The Apostle Reading

How did the New Testament Church worship? Fr. Thomas shows a specific structural practice that Orthodox worship today is based on.

Worship in the Apostolic Writings

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