Gospel

:For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music.

Liturgical usage

In many Christian churches, all Christians present stand when a passage from one of the Gospels is read publicly, and sit when a passage from a different part of the Bible is read.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Usage in Eastern Orthodoxy liturgy

The Gospel book, usually decorated in an elaborate metal cover, is normally kept in a central place on the altar. The only things that are permitted to occupy this place on the altar are the chalice and discos for the celebration of the Eucharist or, on certain feasts, a Cross. During the Little Entrance, the Gospel is carried from the altar, through the nave of the church, and back into the altar. For the Gospel reading itself, the Gospel is brought from the altar to the ambo, and afterwards returned to its place.

Related Topics:
Altar - Chalice - Discos - Eucharist - Certain feasts - Cross - Little Entrance - Nave - Ambo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Gospel passage is read in the Divine Liturgy on every Sunday or feast, and at daily services during the week. The reading is determined according to the annual liturgical calendar. (If a feast falls on a Sunday, the reading for that feast will often be included after or in place of the Sunday reading.) The cycle of readings begins with Pascha and the Pentecostarion (between Pascha and Pentecost), continues with the Sundays after Pentecost, and concludes with the Lenten Triodion and Holy Week. The number of Sundays from one Pascha to the next varies from year to year; in some years, not all the passages for Sundays after Pentecost will be read, while in others, some weeks will have to be repeated.

Related Topics:
Divine Liturgy - Sunday - Feast - Pascha - Pentecost - Lenten Triodion - Holy Week

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The entirity of the four Gospels is read in the course of the liturgical year, beginning with John 1:1-17 at the Paschal Matins Ressurrection Service. The readings from John end on the Sunday of Pentecost, followed on Holy Spirit Monday by Matthew, starting in Chapter 4 (the Genealogy of Christ through the Nativity is read during the services for Christmas). From the 12th Monday through the 17th Friday after Pentecost, the readings are from the Gospel of St. Mark, with readings from Matt. Ch. 25 on Saturday and Sunday of the 17th week. The 18th Monday after Pentecost begins the readings from Luke, ending on the 29th Sunday. During the remaining weeks, 30-32, the weekday reading are from Mark, the weekend from Luke. This same pattern continues throughout the preparatory weeks from the Lenten Triodion, the Orthodox service book containing texts for the services of Great Lent and Holy Week.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Once Great Lent begins (during the service of Vespers on Forgivness Sunday), there are no Gospel readings on weekdays; instead, three Old Testament reading are appointed, one each from Genesis, Isaiah, and Proverbs (note: the Lenten services are structured differently to allow this arrangement of reading without the Gospel; see Presanctified Liturgy). On Saturdays and Sundays, a Gospel is read with a message applicable to what the theme of that Sunday is (e.g. St. Mary of Egypt, the Cross, Holy Icons). This practice continues through Holy Week, with the exception of Matins of Great and Holy Friday, during which the 12 Passion Gosples are read, and ther service culminates with a prossesion with a large wodden replica of the Cross, borne by the Priest to the ambo, and Christ is symbolically crucified on it. There are no other Gospel readings until Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday, and then the Ressurectional Gospel at Midnight, Pascha Morning.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Typically, the Gospel is publicly read by a deacon after he receives a blessing from the celebrating priest or bishop. If there is no deacon present, the priest will read the Gospel himself. Passages from the Old Testament and the Epistles are usually read by a reader or a designated lay person. As in other churches, all stand while the Gospel is being read.

Related Topics:
Deacon - Blessing - Priest - Bishop - Old Testament - Epistle - Reader

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the Sunday Matins service, after the reading of Gospel by a priest, the faithful kiss the Bible and the Cross and then receive the benediction from a priest.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~