Christ and the Holy Angels in the Divine Liturgy
St. Nephon, Bishop of Constantia (4th Century), was made worthy to see many divine visions,
with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, through the eyes of his
soul.
Once, in a Divine Liturgy, as soon as
the liturgist said: “Blessed is the Kingdom..”, the Saint saw
fire descending from heaven and cover the Holy Altar, without the
priest understanding anything.
Later, when the Trisagion Hymn was
begun by the people, four angels descended and chanted together with
them.
During the Epistle, the blessed Apostle
Paul appeared to direct the reader.
During the “Alleluia” after the
Epistle, the voices of the people ascended united towards heaven,
like a fiery and tightly-braided rope.
And at the Gospel, every word came out
like flames from the mouth of the priest, and ascended to the
heavens.
A short time before the entrance of the
precious Gifts, the Venerable One straightaway saw heaven open, and
an unspeakable aroma surpassing the world pour forth. Angels
descended from on high, chanting hymns and doxologies to the Lamb, to
Christ and the Son of God!
Then there appeared a totally pure and
thrice-blessed Infant!
He was held by the arms of the Angels,
who brought Him and placed Him on the Holy Paten, where the Precious
Gifts were found. Around Him was gathered a multitude of totally
radiant youths dressed in white, who approached His divine beauty
with wonder and fervor.
The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world
It was the time of the Great Entrance.
The liturgist approached to take in his
hands the Holy Paten and the Holy Chalice, and raised them up above
his head, lifting together with them, the Infant.
When the Holy Gifts exited, while the
people chanted compunctionately, he saw the venerable angels flying
over the liturgist in circles.
Two Cherubim and two Seraphim went
before him, and a multitude of other Angels followed behind, chanting
unspeakable hymns with rejoicing.
When the priest reached the Holy Altar
and placed the Precious Gifts, the Angels covered them with their
wings. The two Cherubim stood on the right of the liturgist, and the
two Seraphim on his left, without [the priest] seeing them.
The divine mystagogy continued.
They said the Creed, and reached the
consecration of the Precious Gifts.
The liturgist blessed them and said:
“...changing them by Your Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.” Then
again, the Righteous One saw an Angel take a sword and pierce the
Infant, pouring His Blood into the Holy Chalice, while His Body was
cut up and placed on the Holy Paten.
Later, [the Angel] returned to his
place again, and stood chastely with reverence.
When the liturgist lifted up the Holy
[Lamb], crying out: “The Holy Things are for the Holy people of
God”, while the people chanted: “One is holy, one is Lord...”
one of the faithful approached the Saint and asked him: “Why, O
Father, does the priest say: 'The Holy Things are for the Holy people
of God'?”
The Saint replied: “He says this for
all of us, my child, and it means: to the Holy Members of Christ, may
those who are holy approach!”
“And what is holiness, O Father?”
the man asked him again, who was very simple.
“If one is dissolute, let him not
dare to partake of this great Mystery. If you have made an enemy of
anyone, do not approach. If you have made a laughing stock of, or
angered, or judged your fellow man, stay far away from Holy
Communion. First test yourself, to see if you are virtuous enough to
approach, and if you are not, [stay back].”
In the interim, the liturgist cried
out: “With fear of God, and faith and love, draw near.”
The Saint then followed all those who
communed. Some of their faces turned black as soon as they partook of
the Divine Mysteries, while others shone like the sun.
The Angels stood there nearby and
followed the Communion with reverence. After every faithful person
communed, they placed a crown upon his head.
However, when a sinner approached, they
turned their faces in aversion. Then, the spotless Mysteries appeared
to disappear from the holy [spoon], so that the sinner might not take
within him the Body and Blood of Christ. And the sinner left utterly
black...with the disapproval of the Lord spread over his face.
When the liturgy was finished, and the
priest consumed the Gifts, then, the Infant appeared whole again
above in the arms of the Holy Angels!
Straightaway the roof of the church
appeared to split in two. From there the Angels lifted up the Child
to the heavens with hymns and doxologies, just like they had brought
Him down, and an unspeakable fragrance again filled the whole area.”
(amateur translation of text from source)
Jesus Christ depicted as an Infant on the Paten, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world (source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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