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According to the liturgical books, the olive and palm branches should be blessed at Orthros. Orthos is the Morning Prayer that is properly celebrated before the Divine Liturgy. These two Blessing of Palm and Olive Branches text is in two books. These books are published by the Eparchy of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, MA), United States. These books are available from Sophia Press, Eparchy of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States).
The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 21, verses 1-17 is read. At this point the olive and palm branches are blessed. In most cases, this is done just before or after the Liturgy: in those cases, go immediately to the Idomela after Psalm 50. The priest incenses the palms crosswise, then prays: Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord, have mercy. Priest: Lord our God, You are seated upon the throne of the Cherubim, and by Your sublime power, You have sent Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save the world by His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. And when He entered Jerusalem to suffer the crucifixion by His own free will, the people sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death took branches of olive and palm trees as the symbols of victory and proclaimed beforehand His Resurrection. Therefore, O Lord, as we imitate these same people, preserve and keep us while we carry in our hands palms and branches of trees on this vigil of the Feast. And like the crowds and children who shouted to You, "Hosanna!" make us worthy through our praises, chants and spiritual hymns, to see the glorious Resurrection on the third day by the same Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom You are blessed together with Your all-holy good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. R: Amen. Then the priest sprinkles the palms with holy water, saying: These palms are blessed by the grace of the all-holy Spirit, through the sprinkling with holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. R: Amen. (Three times) When the olive and palm branches are blessed after the Gospel during the Divine LiturgyWhen the olive and palm branches are blessed after the Gospel during the Divine Liturgy, the people come forward to kiss the Gospel Book after the prayer, "O God, save Your people..." Where are the Olive and Palm Branches PlacedThe custom is that the olive and palm branches are placed near the ikon of the . Some times the flowers are made into a round wreath. Some times the flowers are made into a rectangular border for the ikon. Some times the flowers are placed into vases. Sometimes the flowers are placed below the ikon of the Dormition of The Theotokos in vases. Who Provides the FlowersSometimes, the parish provides the flowers. Sometimes, the people provide the flowers for their families. The Flowers are Taken HomeThe custom is that the flowers are taken home by the people to remember the sweet-smelling flowers found in the empty tomb when the Apostles took Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas there to say farewell to The Theotokos. .Web Site Home - Theology Home - Hierarchy Home - Locations Home - Education Home - Stewardship Home - Links Home - Vendors Home - Alphabetical Index Home - Thesaurus Home - Sitemap Home - Arabic fonts Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Martha Liles Web URL address: Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center or https://www.mliles.com/melkite/ E-mail: mliles@mliles.com or mliles@mliles.com Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is
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