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Hello, Is there a complete Liturgy tutorial video that is geared towards Altar Servers? Like a training video on what they should do in service during the Divine Liturgy? Thanks

It seems not. Perhaps we should put one together?

Christ is in our midst!!

There is no video, but there was a good descriptive text at the website of St Elias Church, Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Just checked--their website has changed a bit since the first that leveled their temple.

Bob
Moderator

Having served for both Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox parishes, I can't say there would be much to cover. Some Byzantine Catholic parishes wouldn't harp on guidelines that strictly. I'm learning as I go, in my OCA parishes.

You have to learn by doing, there is no way around it. That is how I learned in the Greek rite. Where I attend now, a ROCOR parish, the deacon is constantly directing the altar servers -- all young and older boys of the parish seem to be altar servers.

Jordanville sells a book of all 3 liturgies for altar servers on their website for 10 dollars.

I agree with Mark R. you have to learn by doing...I was an altar (boy)server(now Acolyte) for 5 years and became a sacristan 30 yrs ago.Some of the best years of my life as painful as sometimes may have been...keeping that candle at eye height for 15 or more minutes is no joke. No matter what you may be taught it will change almost every service. Even teaching new servers was on eye movements. you can tell them and show them all day long but you just have to do it to get(feel) it. Really a great priest can instruct while doing mass, and it makes you feel better to be instructed by your leader.

A few years ago I arranged for a Knights of Columbus honor guard for the liturgy when our bishop visited.

After asking the bishop, I instructed them to sword salute during the Anaphora.

Not an uncommon request at all--but next time, I'll point out to any Knight in his late 60s just how much longer that is than most of the Roman Eucharistic Prayers . . .

Oh I bet DocHawk! I have been in some most beautiful liturgies. I have been frequenting a Catholic online seminary site, for theology and found a very truthful video on Altar service. It may be Roman Catholic but it still gets the point across:

http://catholic-link.org/2013/09/18...rce=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Maybe for someone this will help.

I could never understand the wearing of weapons in church. But actually drawing them?! No thank you!

I used to be part of a colour guard unit which used swords. They were never brought into church. At the consecration we'd come to attention and dip the flags. Oh, and even though we were 'under arms' our berets were tucked under our epaulettes, not on our heads, while in church.


Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I don't think they're real weapons. I doubt the bishops would allow that. I always thought it was cool that they did that because soldiers do that for royalty and Christ is the highest king of all.

I don't think they're real weapons. I doubt the bishops would allow that. I always thought it was cool that they did that because soldiers do that for royalty and Christ is the highest king of all.

Amen! All Glory to God in the Highest: Hosanna in exlcesis!!!

Returning to topic of Altar service I am beginning to fabricate
my own cassock. I am looking forward to sharing it with you all.
I will begin a new thread and post for anyone that may have tips or want to try it as well. I am looking forward to serving at the altar.

KofC regulations actually prohibit edges on swords.

And, yes, that is much of it, and also for Roman kneeling: if something was due an earthly king, surely it was due the King of Kings.

Also, any salute is act of submission, either acknowledging authority (almost all modern salutes) or surrounding the ability to attack (driving a sword into the ground, or the exchange of [shellless] volleys by warships before pulling alongside each other [from a day when the gun had to be pulled back in to reload]).

(historical note: warships alternated guns, just to be sure--unless one was Royal Navy, after smashing the Armada--the Royal Navy was entitled to have the other ship discharge all guns before firing any of its own)

Is there any book or video that step by step explains the Divine Liturgy? My wife and I attended DL once and I was very impressed. She was less so. But we were and are both very VERY ignorant of the Divine Liturgy. I'm hoping to find a book we can read and study together to help her especially, but help both of us better understand and appreciate the Divine Liturgy.

There's a pretty good video on YouTube. Just search divine liturgy explanation and it should be the one with a woman standing in front of an iconostasis.