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Movements of the Metropolitan during Divine Liturgy |
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- Metropolitan leaves his Throne and stands in front of the Royal Doors:
Symbolises the descent of the Saviour to the world
- Metropolitan vests and stands outside the Holy Altar:
Symbolises the Saviour seeking in his human nature, the lost sheep, found him, carried him on his shoulder (Omophorion)
- Priests and Deacons around him:
Symbolises the angels who served the Lord after Baptism.
- Bowing the head during small entrance then lifting it up:
Symbolises death of Our Lord and His Resurrection
- Blessing of the people and entering the Altar:
Symbolises the blessing of the Lord of His disciples and His ascension to heaven.
- The incense after the small entrance:
Symbolises the descent of the Holy Spirit.
- The Dikarion:
Symbolises the glorification of the two natures of Jesus, the Divine and the Human, by the angels
- The Trikarion:
Symbolises his glorification with his Father and the Holy spirit.
- The blessing before the reading of the Gospel:
Symbolises the elimination of animosity and granting his peace to the world.
- Metropolitan sitting during the reading of the Epistle:
Symbolises that He (the Metropolitan) also participates in the receiving of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Metropolitan not exiting during Great Entrance:
Because he represents Jesus Christ. The Priests and Deacons represent Joseph and Nicodemus.
- Metropolitan bowing of the head during the recitation of the Creed:
Symbolises his participation, in the death and resurrection of the Lord.
- Metropolitan does not put on the Omophorion during the reading of the Gospel:
Because in that moment he does not represent the Lord, but he is a simple human being
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