When there is a prayer, the believer bows his head in a sign of humility and reverence, makes bow and earth bows, may prostrate himself with his head bowed to the ground. The believer does all these obeisances while knowing the charter of the church for a reason and not when he pleases. Everything in the service is endowed with meaning and has both external and internal sides. For example, the bow of the earth with the head touching the earth and immediately following this uplift has a deep symbolic meaning: because of sin we fell to the earth and thanks to the atonement of Christ we again have the opportunity to be taken to heaven. Among all prayers and services, Sundays are special services, festive.
The meaning of Sunday prayer services
It is important to know, for example, that in the church there are days when the earthly obeisances do not, moreover, they are prohibited by the charter. This is due to the meaning of the celebrated event. First of all, these are Sunday prayers, polyeleon days, from the feast of Christmas to Baptism itself, the whole Pentecost from Easter to the day of the Holy Spirit and the days before which the polyelein solemn all-night vigils pass. The prohibition of bows these days was already agreed upon at the first Ecumenical Council, which clearly states that this rule applies to the whole church, and prayers on these days should be performed while standing.
Council ordinances
The church attaches great importance to the fulfillment of the rule of prayer in services and at home. This can be seen from the fact that the decree on how to perform Sunday prayers, spend the days of polyeleos and Pentecost is repeated in a number of rules. The Sixth Ecumenical Council also clarifies in the 90th rule on abstention from the earthly bow from the Saturday evening entrance to the Sunday evening entrance. This symbolizes the joy and veneration of the resurrection of Christ.
Basil the Great in his works “On the Holy Spirit” (rule 91) says that at the beginning (1 day) of the week, Sunday prayers must be performed standing upright and directly, because of the resurrected Christ and our future resurrection, our responsibility to seek the highest. Therefore, on Sunday, standing directly in front of God during prayer is a reminder to us of the grace bestowed. This day is called the single eighth day, symbolizing the time following the present - eternity, an endless century. The church teaches its parishioners to perform Sunday prayers while standing, in order to often remind them of the endless life, not to rejoice in the repose of it.
Purpose of Church Prayer
Celebrating the victory of life over death, Christ over the devil, the church on Sunday builds a service accordingly. Therefore, prayers on Sunday kneeling on these days are unacceptable, this will contradict the whole meaning of the holiday.
Church service has an edifying goal for believers in reading the psalter and hymns. It is important to know about the true teaching of Christ, to become disposed to prayer and repentance. Moreover, it is important in worshipers to evoke a feeling of gratitude to God for everything. It is important to feel the praying need for an intensified prayer for further mercies to us and to receive peace of mind.
Morning Sundays in the church differ from home prayers in that they are performed by priests who are lawfully in the church, ordained through the sacrament of the priesthood. Through prayer, the Christian enters into a mysterious fellowship with God, and through the sacraments he receives from God graceful powers for a righteous life.
Church prayers are connected in a special way. They include the reading of psalms, the Holy Gospel. Throughout the service, a certain thought develops consistently.
The essence of Sunday prayer
The article can describe only a few points that reveal the meaning of Sunday prayer. The text of the full liturgy should be sought in special sources.
- At the liturgy, along with the priests, while singing “You Sing,” you need to pray with reverence and fear of God for the sending of the Holy Spirit to all those who stand in the church. At the same time, the troparion of the third hour is uttered to themselves, and then: "Build your heart purely in me, God ...". And again the troparia is pronounced by itself with the following words of the verse: "Do not cast me aside from thy face ...". Once again the prayer is read and the troparion is repeated: “Lord, Like Your Most Holy Spirit ...” All these prayers are done silently, to oneself and with tenderness.
- When the Holy Gifts are sanctified at the altar, the Holy Spirit descends, the present members of the church will come together to receive sanctification and renewal. Then the Holy Spirit is invoked with humility.
About Sunday elephants and troparia
The verses of the resurrection refer to God removing the soul from the dungeon. Turning to Christ, the prayer speaks of His great victory over hell, of death on the cross, of the liberation of the dead. The soul of the repentant sinner prays to Christ, the source of life, to have mercy on her and to grant the prayer to abide with the righteous. He calls from the bottom of his heart to the Lord and asks to hear him, the sinner, a voice. The soul cries out to God and rejoices in the Resurrection of Christ!
Sunday troparia speaks of angelic powers and Mary seeking Christ in the tomb. But He is not there - He is risen!