Fr. Thomas explores the significance of the way the bread is cut and laid on the diskos during the preparation for the eucharist.

Fr. Thomas begins today some reflections on the rite of the preparation of the bread and the wine to be offered on the altar in the ritual called the Proskomede.

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

We now come to the time in the Divine Liturgy when the Cherubic Hymn is sung admonishing us to lay aside all earthly care and receive the King of all!

As he continues his series on the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Thomas Hopko talks about the Antimension or Altar Cloth that is on every altar in the Orthodox Church. Learn about its importance in verifying the authority of the parish to offer the Holy Gifts.

Fr. Tom now gets to the offertory procession with the Bread and the Wine which will be offered and then consecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Eucharistic Anaphora of the Divine Liturgy.

Fr. Tom transitions now to the second half of the Divine Liturgy with the Litany of the Faithful.

Fr. Tom goes through the various translations of the Litany of the Catechumens and also continues his thoughts on the departure of the catechumens.

Fr. Thomas begins a difficult discussion about the beginning of the Liturgy of the Faithful. Who should stay and who should go? This is sure to generate a lot of conversation!

In the last episode, Fr. Tom was talking about the Litany of Fervent Supplication and emphasizing the need to pray for everyone, not just Orthodox Christians. Today, he reads from Homily 6 of St. John Chrysostom's commentary on I Timothy which affirms tha