Movements of the Metropolitan during Divine Liturgy

  • 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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