Christian liturgy

Christian liturgy refers to a structured pattern of worship.

It is used by Christian congregations or denominations on a regular basis. The term originates from the Greek word for "public work." This signifies that when Christians meet, they perform a collective service to God. Most denominations hold their primary service on Sunday. They refer to this first day of the week as the Lord's Day. Some traditions hold liturgies daily, including the offering of Eucharistic liturgies. These services may be led by clergy or by lay leaders.

One major category is the communion liturgy. These services specifically celebrate the Eucharist.

In the Roman Catholic Church, this is known as the Mass. The name comes from the Latin word "Missa." This word was taken from the dismissal at the end of the service: "Ite, Missa est." In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Byzantine Rite uses the term "Divine Liturgy." Some Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches use this same name. Other traditions, like the Syriac Churches, call it the "Holy Qurbana," meaning "Holy Offering."

Different denominations use various names for these services. Lutheran churches in Europe often use the term Mass. In North America, Lutherans may use "Divine Service" or "Holy Communion." The Anglican tradition uses terms like "The Lord's Supper" or "Holy Eucharist." Many Protestant traditions, such as the Methodist or Reformed denominations, use "orders of worship." Some groups, like Pentecostal or non-denominational churches, follow a fixed order but vary more from broader traditions. In the mid-to-late 20th century, the Liturgical Movement helped many "Mainline" Protestant traditions develop similar patterns. These groups often draw from ancient sources to find a unified pattern of Word and Sacrament.

Many Western liturgical churches share common elements.

A service might begin with a procession involving a cross, acolytes, deacons, and a priest. It often includes an invocation using the Sign of the Cross. Common parts include the Confession, the Absolution, and various hymns or chants. Liturgical readings often culminate in a reading from the Gospels. The service may also include the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and intercessory prayers for the church and earthly rulers. Many services also involve the use of incense.

A central part of many liturgies is the Eucharist. This section is often divided into two halves. The first half is usually open to all members of the church. The second half is the celebration of the Eucharist proper. This is often open only to baptized believers in good standing. During this time, the priest performs the Consecration. The priest says an "anaphora," which is a eucharistic prayer or "great thanksgiving." This prayer asks God to manifest the bread and wine as the Body and Blood of Christ. The anaphora also includes expressions of sacrifice in remembrance of the crucifixion.

Another significant practice is the Divine Office. This is the act of marking the hours of each day with prayer. In the Western Catholic Church, this is called the Liturgy of the Hours. Historically, there were eight specific hours for prayer. These were Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. In monasteries, Matins was held before dawn. Sext was held at noon, and Compline was said before bedtime. The Second Vatican Council eventually ordered the suppression of the Prime hour. Anglican churches simplified these into Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer.

The Byzantine Rite also follows a daily cycle of seven non-sacramental services. This cycle begins with Vespers at sunset. Other services include Compline, the Midnight Office, and Matins, which ends at dawn. The cycle also includes the First, Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours. In the Maronite Church, the liturgical day begins at sundown. Their first office is the evening office of Ramsho. This is followed by the night office of Sootoro and the morning office of Safro. These various systems allow believers to sanctify different parts of their daily lives through prayer.