Sunday, November 28, 2010

Scenes from the Patriarchal Liturgy at the Pecherskoy Monastery near Kiev

November 23 (NS)

3 comments:

OrthodoxInquirer said...

Pardon the ignorance, but what exactly if going on here? It is beautiful, but I see a veiled chalice which I presume is some Orthodox version of adoration of the blessed sacrament, and I see the Patriarchal blessing.

I was confused as to whom the lay person was in the suit that flashed up a few times. Can you clue me in?

Matushka Anna said...

The man in the suit looks like Dmitry Medvedev, the president of the Russian Federation.

The clips are just that, different clips, so you're not seeing a coherent liturgy. The part in which the patriarch is holding the veiled chalice is the great entrance, when the gifts (bread and wine) are brought from the north deacon's door around to the royal doors and thus to the altar. If you're not familiar with an Orthodox Liturgy then it can look a bit confusing.

OrthodoxInquirer said...

I thought that was the Grand Entrance, but with the stuff before it that I assumed was from the same liturgy, I was confused as to what was going on.

You are right also in that that is Medvedev. I thought he looked somewhat vaguely familiar but couldn't place him.