On Forgiveness Sunday, 17 March, the beginning of Great Lent was marked in the Church of the Holy Archangels in George, by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy according to St James, the Brother of the Lord. This Liturgy is an ancient Liturgy that was served in Jerusalem in the first centuries of the Church’s life. However, because of its length it is only served on special occasions during the liturgical year. In it we see some of the oldest prayers that have been retained in the Church. It contains movements, prayers and actions that we are not accustomed to finding in the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, such as the way the faithful receive the Body and Blood separately in the same way as the priest does.
