Come and worship with us.

What is the Liturgy like?

At St. Ann’s we use the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on most Sundays. We call it this because the Divine Liturgy was revised by St. John Chrysostom himself in the 300s while he was archbishop of Constantinople. The Divine Liturgy is the central experience of Faith for Byzantine Catholics. Through it, we participate in the supernatural life, receive inspiration for our spiritual lives, and are catechized in a profound and foundational way.

The Liturgy is divided into three main parts: The prothesis (“Setting forth,” or preparation), the Liturgy of the Catechumens, and the Liturgy of the Faithful. The entire Divine Liturgy is chanted. You will hear frequent litanies of prayer to which the entire congregation responds “Lord, have mercy.” You will also hear plenty of scripture as we chant psalms and read selections from the Bible every week.

Please see our home page for the weekly schedule of services.

Will I have to stand the entire time?

Standing is the normal posture for prayer. In the Byzantine Catholic Tradition, standing is a symbol of the resurrection. We stand for the majority of our services. St. Ann’s does have pews if you feel the need to sit or cannot stand the entire time.

How do I follow along?

If it is your first time at St. Ann’s, we suggest simply listening and praying along with the Liturgy as you are able. If you need a book to help you, the yellow books found in every pew contain the text of the Divine Liturgy. As you become more familiar with the structure of the Liturgy, the teal books in every pew contain the music. The page numbers we will use that day are listed on a board situated at the front-left of the church.

Are my children welcome at St. Ann’s?

Yes! Children are full members of our community and are welcome at all liturgical services. Children are a gift to the parish and a reminder that St. Ann’s will be here for generations to come.

We understand that sometimes children can get overwhelmed. If your child needs a break, the St. Ann’s chapel in the back of the church is available. But please bring them back into the Liturgy as soon as they are able!

We also have faith based children’s books available in the St. Ann’s chapel for them to look at if you think that would be helpful for your kids during their time with us.

Can I receive communion at St. Ann’s?

Any Catholic may attend Divine Liturgy at a St. Ann Byzantine Catholic Church, receive Holy Communion, and fulfill their Sunday Obligation or Feast Day Obligation.

Communion is distributed on a spoon under both species (Body and Blood). To receive the Eucharist, approach the priest, open your mouth without sticking out your tongue, and tilt your head slightly back. The priest will place the Eucharist in your mouth.

Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not permitted to receive the Divine Eucharist. If you are interested in becoming Catholic, please contact our pastor.

What is the iconostasis?

The most characteristic feature of a Byzantine Catholic Church is the iconostasis. This name comes from the Greek: eikon, for image; stasis, for stand or support. It is a colorful work of art that separates the sanctuary from the nave.

The iconostasis is composed of three doors and rows of icons. The central doors are called the Royal or Holy Doors. These doors have icons of the Annunciation the four Evangelists. The other two doors, usually referred to as deacon doors, are usually adorned with the icon of some deacon saint, such as St. Stephen, or an angel. Across the top you can find the 12 Great Feasts of the liturgical year.

What is “Mirovanije”?

On some Sundays and feast days, the faithful are anointed with holy oil and receive a piece of blessed bread (prosphora) at the end of the Divine Liturgy. We call this custom “Mirovanije.” It is a remnant of two distinct practices of the ancient church: the all-night vigils held in the church and the lighting of the oil lamps in front of the icon of the feast. The priest anoints the forehead of the faithful in the form of a cross and he greets them with the words “Christ is among us!” to which they reply “He is and He shall be!”

Where can I learn more?

Please check out our livestream. If you wish to know about Byzantine Catholicism in general, check out the “Becoming Byzantine” podcast or the “Come and See” booklet put out by the Eparchy of Passaic.