A Warm Welcome to
St. Anthony The Great Byzantine Catholic Church

Join Us For Divine Liturgy
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Thank you for visiting our website! We warmly invite you to join us for one of our liturgical services. Whether you’re new to the Byzantine rite or a familiar face, we’re excited to share the beauty of the East. Our vibrant liturgy engages the whole person—body, mind, and soul—in the worship of God. At St. Anthony The Great Byzantine Catholic Church, you’ll also find a friendly community where faith is lived and shared in meaningful ways.

Please plan on joining us for fellowship after Divine Liturgy.

What Is the Divine Liturgy?

“The church is an earthly heaven in which the supercelestial God dwells and walks about. It represents the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ.”
– St Germanus of Constantinople1

The Divine Liturgy is the central act of worship in the life of the Church, and the Byzantine Rite is deeply rooted in its ancient traditions. During the liturgy, we ask for Jesus’ intercession and mercy, hear the Word of God in Scripture, and participate in the heavenly banquet of the Eucharist, where we recieve Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity.

“The Divine Liturgy has a double nature like the dual nature of Christ, who is both God and man. The Divine Liturgy is a commemoration of an event which took place in a particular space and time, the death and resurrection of our Lord… [But] the Liturgy is more than simply a commemoration. As the deeds of our Lord are remembered, they are also truly present in a mystical way.” – Light For Life: The Mystery Celebrated2

The Divine Office

The Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours as it is also called, is the Church’s daily prayer that sanctifies the day through psalms, hymns, and readings, uniting the faithful in worship. Within this rhythm, the Divine Liturgy is the most profound expression of prayer. In the East, Vespers begins the liturgical day, recalling creation and anticipating Christ’s resurrection, while Matins proclaims the resurrection with hymns and psalms, preparing for the Eucharistic celebration. In the Byzantine rite these liturgies have remained public and communal within a parish. Together with the Divine Liturgy, the Divine Office forms a continuous cycle of prayer, connecting the Church to the heavenly liturgy. 3

Everyone is welcome to our liturgical services! Join us for Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., with Matins at 9:30 a.m. and Vespers on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Features of Byzantine Worship

Rich and symbolic liturgical practices characterize the Byzantine Rite. It is deeply rooted in Scripture and the Traditions of the Church. Within the Ruthenian tradition, chanting plays a pivotal role. The particular chant of the Ruthenian church is called Prostopinije – a form of congregational singing that developed within the Carpathian Mountains. Instead of the chants being solely sung by a cantor or choir, this type of chanting emphasizes the active participation of the whole congregation and highlights the communal nature of worship.4

Visiting Catholics

If you’re Roman Catholic or from another Eastern Catholic Church, attendance at the Sunday Divine Liturgy fulfills your obligation to attend Sunday mass, and you’re welcome to receive Holy Communion. For children, it is recommended that they follow the norms of their particular rite. For Roman Catholics, if your child typically receives Holy Communion, they are welcome to do so at the Divine Liturgy.     

For more, watch Fr. Tyler Strand of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, MN, discuss the differences between the Eastern and Western Rites of Catholicism.

For Non-Catholic Visitors

During the Divine Liturgy, you’ll experience ancient prayers, chanting, incense, and a deeply symbolic form of worship rooted in early Christianity. We encourage you to participate as much as you feel comfortable.

While the reception of Holy Communion is reserved for baptized Catholics in good standing, you may come forward during Communion and ask the priest for a blessing if you would like to receive a blessing.

Don’t hesitate to attend fellowship and ask questions after the liturgy!

Resources

  1. Taken from St. Germanus of Constantinople On the Divine Liturgy. Translated by Paul Meyendorff and published by St Vladimir’s Seminary Press 1984.
  2. Taken from Light for Life: The Mystery Celebrated, published by God With Us Eastern Catholic Formation 2023.
  3. Paraphrased from The Daily Cycle of Services, published by the Metropolitan Cantor Institute (https://mci.archpitt.org/liturgy/DailyCycle.html).
  4. Paraphrased from Prostopinije, published by the Metropolitan Cantor Institute (https://mci.archpitt.org/prostopinije/Prostopinije.html).