This Divine Liturgy is a reconstruction of a Marcionite form of Christian worship. No complete order of the ancient Marcionite Eucharist has survived. The present rite, therefore, does not claim to reproduce, word for word, the liturgy celebrated by Marcion or by every congregation of the early Marcionite Church.
This Divine Liturgy forms part of the Litourgicon, the liturgical service book of the Marcionite Church. The name Litourgicon is the Church’s Latinized form of the Greek leitourgikon, meaning “liturgical book” or “service book,” from leitourgia, the common worship and service of the Church. The Litourgicon gathers the ordered rites by which the Church celebrates Holy Communion, administers the sacraments, and conducts its common life of prayer. Within that larger book, this Divine Liturgy serves as the simple foundational order for the Church’s regular Eucharistic worship.
The reconstruction draws upon the earliest surviving pre-Nicene traditions of Christian worship. These ancient elements have been selected, arranged, and adapted in accordance with the Scriptures, sacramental discipline, and theology of the Marcionite Church.
The Divine Liturgy is intentionally simple. It may be celebrated in a church, chapel, or private home wherever a celebrant and at least two communicants are gathered. It provides a basic order for the proclamation of the Gospel and the Apostle, the offering of prayer and thanksgiving, the celebration of Holy Communion, and the fellowship of the Holy Lovefeast without requiring an elaborate building, choir, or ceremonial establishment.
This order should be regarded as a basic form and model rather than an exhaustive limit upon Marcionite worship. Appropriate psalms, hymns, prayers, intercessions, readings, and ceremonial actions may be added according to the season, feast, needs of the local church, or local custom, provided that they remain consistent with the Evangelicon, the Apostolicon, the Psalmicon, the faith and sacramental teaching of the Marcionite Church, and the orderly and reverent character of Christian worship.
Nothing should be added merely for ornament, novelty, or imitation of another tradition. Any expansion should serve the proclamation of Christ, the edification of the communicants, the unity of the Church, and the worthy celebration of Holy Communion.
THE PREPARATION FOR THE DIVINE LITURGY
The Fast and the Ritual Preparation
The Divine Liturgy is ordinarily celebrated on the Lord’s Day by a celebrant.
The Divine Liturgy may be celebrated in a church, chapel, or private home wherever a celebrant and at least two communicants are gathered.
In these rubrics, “the celebrant” means the bishop or presbyter presiding at the Divine Liturgy. “The communicants” means the fully initiated Christians admitted to participate in the rite and receive Holy Communion.
At the ninth hour on Saturday, the communicants recite the Lord’s Prayer three times. The Eucharistic fast begins after the third recitation and continues until they receive Holy Communion on Sunday.
Before the Divine Liturgy, all the communicants wash their hands and faces.
The Footwashing
The celebrant washes the feet of the communicants. The communicants may also wash one another’s feet.
The Posture, Language, and Dress of the Celebrant and the Communicants
Men worship with their heads uncovered. Women cover their heads during the Divine Liturgy and whenever they pray or prophesy.
The Divine Liturgy is celebrated in a language understood by the communicants.
The celebrant and the communicants pray facing west. When space permits, they stand with their arms extended in prayer.
The Preparation of the Bread and the Chalice
The celebrant prepares either leavened or unleavened bread upon the holy table.
The celebrant prepares a chalice of wine mixed with a few drops of water, recalling the blood and water that came forth from the side of the Lord.
I. THE ENTRANCE
The Sign of the Cross
The celebrant and the communicants make the Sign of the Cross.
The celebrant and the communicants say:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Opening Proclamation
Celebrant:
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever.
Communicants:
Amen.
The Hymn of Christ
The communicants kneel and sing:
Who, being in the form of God,
Thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation,
And took upon him the form of a servant,
And was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man,
He humbled himself,
And became obedient unto death,
Even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
And given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
Of things in heaven,
And things in earth,
And things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord,
To the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
II. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Pauline Prayer
The communicants stand. The celebrant extends his arms and says:
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The God of peace be with you all; and the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Communicants:
And with thy spirit. Amen.
The Reading from the Gospel
The communicants sit.
Celebrant:
Let us attend unto the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The appointed passage from the Evangelicon is read.
At the conclusion:
Celebrant:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Communicants:
Praise be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ.
The First Psalm
The celebrant and the communicants sing or read an appointed psalm from the Psalmicon responsorially.
The Reading from the Apostle
Celebrant:
Let us attend unto the words of the Apostle Paul.
The appointed passage is read from one of the following books of the Apostolicon: Galatians, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, Romans, I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, Laodiceans, Colossians, Philippians, or Philemon.
At the conclusion:
Celebrant:
The word of the Apostle.
Communicants:
Thanks be unto God.
The Second Psalm
The celebrant and the communicants sing or read an appointed psalm from the Psalmicon responsorially.
The Homily
The celebrant gives a homily based upon the readings and applies them to the faith and life of the Church and to the needs and circumstances of the communicants.
The Intercessions
The following intercessions may be offered. Other petitions consistent with the Scriptures and the needs of the Church may be added.
Celebrant:
Let us make our requests known unto God with prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving.
For the Marcionite Church, for her bishops and presbyters, for all communicants, and for all who preach the Gospel of Christ:
Communicants:
O God our Father, hear our prayer.
Celebrant:
For rulers and all who bear authority, that they may do that which is good, and that peace may abound among all men:
Communicants:
O God our Father, hear our prayer.
Celebrant:
For the sick, the afflicted, the poor, the imprisoned, and all who suffer in body or soul:
Communicants:
O God our Father, hear our prayer.
Celebrant:
For all communicants, that they may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and may abound in faith, hope, and charity:
Communicants:
O God our Father, hear our prayer.
Celebrant:
O God our Father, who art able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, receive these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Communicants:
Amen.
III. THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
The Pauline Creed
The communicants stand.
Celebrant:
Let us attend and confess the faith delivered by the Apostle.
The communicants say:
But to us there is but one God, the Father,
Of whom are all things, and we in him;
And one Lord Jesus Christ,
By whom are all things, and we by him.
And no man can say that Jesus is the Lord,
But by the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Holy Kiss
Celebrant:
Let us salute one another with an holy kiss.
The celebrant and the communicants exchange the Holy Kiss with those nearest to them, reverently kissing one another on the cheek.
The Presentation of the Gifts
The celebrant presents the bread and mixed chalice upon the holy table.
Offerings for the Holy Lovefeast and the relief of the poor may also be presented.
IV. THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
The Great Thanksgiving
Celebrant:
The Lord be with you.
Communicants:
And with thy spirit.
Celebrant:
Lift up your hearts.
Communicants:
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Celebrant:
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
Communicants:
It is meet and right so to do.
The Thanksgiving to God the Father
The celebrant extends his arms and says:
We give thanks unto thee, O God our Father, through thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, whom in these last times thou didst send unto us to save and redeem us, and to make known unto us thy good and gracious will.
He is the image of the invisible God, in whom thou wast well pleased; through whom thou madest all things, and without whom was not any thing made that was made.
He fulfilled thy will and purchased for thee an holy people. When he suffered, he stretched forth his hands, that he might deliver from suffering them that believe in thee.
When he was delivered up to the suffering which he willingly chose, that he might destroy death, break the bonds of the devil, tread down hell, enlighten them that believe, establish the testament, and manifest his resurrection, he took bread into his holy hands.
The Words over the Bread and the Chalice
The celebrant takes the bread and says:
Giving thanks unto thee, he blessed it, brake it, and gave it unto his disciples, saying:
Take, eat: this is my body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me.
Communicants:
Amen.
The celebrant takes the chalice and says:
Likewise also, after supper, he took the cup, wherein wine and water were mingled; and when he had given thanks, he gave it unto them, saying:
This cup is the testament in my blood, which is shed for you. This do in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Communicants:
Amen.
The Memorial and the Offering
Celebrant:
Wherefore, calling to remembrance his death and resurrection, we offer unto thee this bread and this chalice.
We give thanks unto thee that thou hast accounted us worthy to stand before thee and to minister unto thee.
The Invocation of the Holy Spirit
The celebrant bows over the bread and chalice.
Celebrant:
We beseech thee, O God our Father, send down thy Holy Spirit upon this offering which thy holy Church maketh unto thee.
Sanctify this bread, and make it the holy body of thy Christ.
Communicants:
Amen.
Celebrant:
And make this cup the precious blood of thy Christ.
Communicants:
Amen.
Celebrant:
Unite all who receive thereof, and fill them with thy Holy Spirit, that their faith may be strengthened in the truth.
Grant that all who partake thereof may receive the body and blood of Christ unto the remission of sins, the sanctification of soul and body, and everlasting life.
That we may give unto thee praise and glory through thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in thy holy Church, now and ever, and unto all ages.
Communicants:
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
The celebrant and the communicants make the Sign of the Cross.
Celebrant:
As children of God, and as those who have received the Spirit of adoption, let us pray in the words which the Lord delivered unto us.
The communicants say:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Let thy Holy Spirit come upon us,
And cleanse us.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
As in heaven, so on earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins;
For we also forgive every one
That is indebted to us.
And suffer us not to be brought into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
The celebrant breaks the consecrated bread into portions for the communicants.
The Communion Proclamation
The celebrant takes the chalice and says:
Celebrant:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The celebrant takes the broken bread and says:
Celebrant:
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Communicants:
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Amen.
V. THE HOLY COMMUNION
The Invitation to Communion
Celebrant:
In faith and charity, draw nigh.
Those admitted as communicants must have received Trinitarian credobaptism by full triple immersion and must have been sealed through Confirmation or Holy Chrismation.
Catechumens and other visitors may remain for the Eucharistic rite, but they are not numbered among the communicants and do not receive Holy Communion until their initiation is complete.
The Communion of the Celebrant
The celebrant first receives the consecrated body and blood of Christ.
The Communion of the Communicants
The communicants approach in order. Each communicant kneels before the celebrant.
The celebrant dips a portion of the consecrated bread in the chalice and places it directly upon the communicant’s tongue.
The celebrant says to each communicant:
The body of Christ, given for thee, and the blood of Christ, shed for thee.
The communicant answers:
Amen.
After receiving, each communicant reverently returns to his or her place.
VI. THE THANKSGIVING AND THE DISMISSAL
The Thanksgiving after Communion
Celebrant:
O Lord God Almighty, Father of Christ thy blessed Son, thou hearest them that call upon thee in sincerity, and knowest the petitions even of them that are silent.
We thank thee that thou hast accounted us worthy to partake of thy holy mysteries, which thou hast given for the strengthening of our faith, the preservation of godliness, and the remission of our sins.
For the name of thy Christ hath been called upon us, and we are joined unto thee.
Thou hast separated us from the fellowship of the ungodly: unite us with them that are consecrated unto thee in holiness.
Establish us in the truth by the continual visitation of thy Holy Spirit. Supply those things wherein we are lacking, and preserve those things which we have rightly received.
Keep thy bishops and presbyters blameless in thy service. Strengthen the deacons, deaconesses, acolytes, teachers, and all who labour in thy Church.
Grant peace unto rulers and justice unto magistrates. Comfort the afflicted, support the weak, and strengthen all who are fainthearted.
Supply the need of thy saints according to thy riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Make us fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthen us with all might unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.
Sanctify thy people. Preserve them that live in virginity, and keep them that are joined in holy matrimony faithful one unto another.
Bring our children unto maturity. Strengthen the newly baptized.
Instruct the catechumens and make them ready for initiation. Restore the penitent unto the fellowship of thy Church.
Gather us all into the kingdom of God, and unite us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Unto thee be glory, honour, and worship, through thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto all ages.
Communicants:
Amen.
The Hymn of Victory
The communicants sing:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin;
And the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God,
Which giveth us the victory
Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Prayer for Perseverance
Celebrant:
Let us beseech the good God earnestly, that we may confess his name unto the end, and that we may emerge unscathed and glorious from the snares of this world and the darkness thereof.
As we have been joined together in charity and peace, and have together withstood persecution, so may we rejoice together in the kingdom of God.
Communicants:
Amen.
The Blessing
Celebrant:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Communicants:
And with thy spirit.
The Dismissal
Celebrant:
Go forth in peace, continuing steadfastly in faith, hope, and charity.
Communicants:
Thanks be unto God.
The celebrant and the communicants make the Sign of the Cross.
The celebrant and the communicants say:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
VII. THE HOLY LOVEFEAST
Following the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant and the communicants participate in the Holy Lovefeast, a communal and sacramental meal.
Each household or communicant contributes according to ability. The food is gathered and shared without preference for the wealthy over the poor. No one begins before the others are ready, but all wait for one another.
The Blessing of the Holy Lovefeast
Before the meal, the celebrant and the communicants make the Sign of the Cross.
Celebrant:
The Lord be with you.
Communicants:
And with thy spirit.
Celebrant:
Let us give thanks unto God.
O God our Father, we give thee thanks for this food and for the fellowship of thy holy Church.
Grant that we, being many, may be one bread and one body in Christ; that we may tarry one for another; and that none may hunger while another hath abundance.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Communicants:
Amen.
The celebrant and the communicants share the meal in charity and peace.
The Distribution to Absent Communicants
When appropriate, a portion of the Holy Lovefeast meal may be reserved for an absent communicant who could not attend because of sickness, infirmity, imprisonment, distance, or another serious necessity.
The celebrant or a communicant appointed by the celebrant may carry it to that person as a sign that he or she remains joined to the fellowship of the Church.
