Eastern DL as a Sacrifice?

[Dave_in_Dallas]

I am assuming that the Eastern Church must also view their DL as a sacrifice also?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I am assuming that the Eastern Church must also view their DL as a sacrifice also?

Yes and no. It’s easier to answer the “no” first. I can’t speak for the other Eastern/Oriental Churches, but the Byzantine Churches view the Divine Liturgy not simply as a sacrifice, but as a celebration of the entire Paschal Mystery (Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension), indeed of the entire life of Christ. We don’t emphasize the sacrificial element to the near-exclusion of the rest of the “Christ-event” (i.e. the Incarnation, Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus). So, inasmuch as we are celebrating the fact of Christ and every aspect of his person, including the eschatological, his sacrifice on the Cross is included in what we are celebrating, but is not exclusively what we are celebrating.

 

[malphono]

In the Syriac Churches, the dual themes of sacrifice & expiation are traditionally (i.e. absent the ill-effects of post-conciliar Novus Ordo-inspired neo-latinization that infect certain of those Churches) very prominent.

 

[rowlands]

“For when He was about to go forth to His voluntary, ever memorable, and life-giving death, on the night on which He was delivered up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy and pure hands……”

The Divine Liturgy of Our Father Among the Saints,
Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.​

"Now the heavenly powers do minister invisibly with us. For behold the King of Glory enters. Behold the mystical sacrifice, all fulfilled, is ushered in.
Let us with faith and love draw near that we may be partakers of everlasting life.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.”

The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.​

“Let all mortal flesh keep silence and with fear and trembling stand, pondering nothing earthly minded. For the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords comes to be sacrificed, to give himself as food to the faithful. Before him go the ranks of angels: all the principalities and powers, the many eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim, covering their faces, singing the hymn: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.”

The Divine liturgy of James the Apostle and Brother of God.​

 

[Vico]

Terms used in Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom (Ruthenian): Prayers, supplications, and unbloody sacrafices, sacrafice of praise, spiritual sacrafice.

1. Prothesis:
   “Priest: Lord, stretch forth your hand from the height of your holy dwelling-place, and strengthen me for the service I am about to offer you that I may stand before your awesome altar without condemnation and perform the unbloody sacrifice. For yours is the power forever. Amen.”
2. First prayer of the faithful:
   “…Accept our prayer, O God, and make us worthy to offer you prayers and supplications and unbloody sacrifices for all your people. …”
3. Prayer of the Chrubikon:
   “… Yet, because of your ineffable and immeasurable love for all of us, you, unchanged and unchangeable, became man, were designated our high priest, and, as Master of all, entrusted us with the priestly service of this liturgical, unbloody sacrifice. …”
4. Prayer of preparation for the Anaphora:

“Celebrant: Lord God Almighty, who alone are holy and receive the sacrifice of praise from those who call upon you with their whole heart, accept also the prayer of us sinners. Bring us to your holy altar. Enable us to offer you gifts and spiritual sacrifices for our sins and for the people’s failings. Make us worthy to find favor in your sight that our sacrifice may be pleasing to you and that the good Spirit of your grace may rest on us, on these gifts here present, and on all your people.”

1. Anaphora:

“Response: Mercy peace, a sacrifice of praise.”

“… Celebrant: Moreover, we offer to you this spiritual and unbloody sacrifice; and we implore, pray, and entreat you: send down your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts lying before us.”

“… Celebrant: Moreover, we offer you this spiritual sacrifice for those departed in faith: the forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, preachers, evangelists, martyrs, confessors, ascetics, and for every just spirit brought to perfection in faith. Especially for our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever- Virgin Mary.”

“… We further offer you this spiritual sacrifice for the whole world, for the holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; for those who live in purity and holiness; for our government and all in the service of our country…”

 

[Chaldean_Rite]

of course.