Hierarchical Liturgy / Synodal Liturgy (A Liturgy in which an Eparchs entire synod takes part)
Service celebrated by a Bishop(s).
When we gather as an Orthodox family for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy we gather as unique individuals with unique responsibilities in the life of the Church. Each of us, by the virtue of our role in the Church, is a member of the Eucharistic community. In this light, each of us is an invaluable steward to the Church, offering much with his/her ministry.
Early in the history of the Church, each community had a presiding bishop who was assisted in the services with the presbyters and deacons. After the churches began to increase to meet the needs of growing number of faithful within a particular diocese, the presbyter was appointed by the bishop, as the chief celebrant in a local community, the parish. Even so the concept of the Church is understood not in terms of the presbyter, but in terms of his diocesan bishop.
When the bishop is in our midst, celebrating the Divine Liturgy it then becomes a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, he is the chief celebrant of the assembly of the faithful. On account of his presence we add seemingly unique phrases and hymns making the service hierarchal.
In the hierarchal Divine Liturgy, we commemorate the hierarch as celebrant. Additionally, the celebrating hierarch commemorates his presiding bishop, demonstrating the local parishes unity to the greater Orthodox community. And, ultimately as stewards with unique ministries, the presbyter(s) and the laity under the direction of the bishop, offer up all glory to God. Also known, as Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, if a Patriarch/Metropolitan or an Archbishop is the main celebrant., Synodal Divine Liturgy, when a Bishops entire synod takes part in the Liturgy.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy:
When we gather as an Orthodox family for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy we gather as unique individuals with unique responsibilities in the life of the Church. Each of us, by virtue of our role in the Church, is a member of a particular 'ordo' within the Eucharistic community. In this light, each of us is an invaluable steward to the Church, offering much with his/her ministry.
More often than not though, we gather without the president of our Eucharistic assembly, that is, we celebrate the liturgy without the bishop! Early on in our history, each community had a presiding bishop who was assisted in the service by a college of presbyters and deacons. Shortly thereafter as the number of churches increased to meet the needs of the growing number of faithful within a particular diocese, the presbyter was then appointed by the bishop, as the chief celebrant in a local community, the parish. Even so, the concept of the Church is understood not in terms of that presbyter, but in terms of his diocesan bishop.
When a bishop is in our midst, celebrating the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, the Liturgy of Saint Basil, the Presanctified Liturgy, or the Liturgy of Saint James, the Brother of our Lord, he is the chief celebrant of the assembly. On account of his presence we add seemingly unique phrases and hymns making the service hierarchical. The phrases and hymns that we add may seem foreign to us or even unimportant because of their infrequency, yet these additions offer us the true flavor of the hierarchical liturgy. In the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, we commemorate the hierarch as celebrant. Additionally, the celebrating hierarch commemorates his presiding bishop, demonstrating the local parishs unity to the greater Orthodox community. And, ultimately as stewards with unique ministries, the presbyter(s) and the laity under the direction of the bishop. Offer up, all glory to God., Also Known as Patriarchal Divine Liturgy if a Patriarch/Metropolitan or an Archbishop is the main celebrant
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy:
A "Hierarchical Divine Liturgy" is a Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Bishop (who is also known as the "Eparch" or "Hierarch"). The Eparch is the ruling Hierarch of an Eparchy (i.e. area over which he is pastorally responsible, a.k.a a "diocese" in the Latin Churches).
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is served whenever the Bishop is present. Nowadays the Eparch usually "visits" on special occasions in the parish, e.g. ordinations, a big parish anniversary, or the parish "Praznyk"/Yiorti (the patronal Feast day of the parish). But, from a theological and liturgical viewpoint, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is actually the basic and normal Divine Liturgy of the Church. Technically, it is only "by exception" that any Divine Liturgy is served without the Eparch. Since the Bishop is the "Shepherd" of his Church, he should preside at all his Church's celebrations. And he did in the early Church when the Christian Community was small. Nowadays it is impractical the Bishop be present at every Service in the Eparchy. However, the Eparch is still present at each Service by means of various symbols, which remind us of our unity with the Bishop, and through him the entire Church both local and universal.
E.g. any celebration of Liturgy requires an "Antimins", a small cloth icon of the Burial, which is signed by the Bishop, representing his presence and thus the authorization of the entire Christian Community. Just, as each, Divine Service should be served by a Priest, and the Service obviously "limps" without the ministry of the Deacon. Even more so does the Service "limp" when the Bishop is absent. Clearly in the early Church, the Bishop presided at every Divine Service. And in Cathedrals, esp. the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) our mother Church, where our Liturgy developed, the presidency of a Bishop was normative. When the Bishop is present, the entirety of the Church is present. The Eparch represents in his office, the Christian community (both Laity and Clergy) geographically in the local and particular Church - being the representative of both laity and clergy (cf. his election and the Triple Axios of clergy and laity). By his Apostolic Succession, he also makes present the Church historically stretching back to the Apostles.
And by his Communion with:
The Patriarch, the college of Bishops and all those with whom the Patriarch is in Communion, e.g. the other Patriarchs, Metropolitans, and Archbishops,. The Eparch, makes present the entirety of the Orthodox Catholic Communion. You may notice that every so often during the Hierarchical Services, suddenly the language will change into Greek: e.g.: "Eis polla Eti, Dhespota"; "Ton Dhespotin...", or "Agios o Theos/Trisagion...". As Rus'-Ukraine, was evangelized by Byzantine missionaries, the first Bishops and Metropolitans of our Church were Greeks. (Applicable, If in a Russian/Ukraine/Carpatho-Russian Orthodox parish)., Thanks to Saints Cyril and Methodios, equal to the Apostles and Teachers of the Slavic Nations, the Holy Scriptures and Liturgical Texts, etc. were translated into the local vernacular. Nevertheless, in gratitude to their missionary bishops who had to leave their homeland to minister to our Church and in remembrance of our connections with our mother Church, certain portions of the Service will be taken in Greek.
There are rules governing the serving of Divine Liturgy
 Only a Bishop or priest may celebrate the Liturgy
 It may be served every day of the year except in Great Lent, on Great and Holy Friday, and a few other days of the year.
 It may not be said more than once a day by the same Priest on the same Altar, upon the same Antimension, in one day.
 It can be celebrated at any time between dawn and midday. In the days of the Apostles and the Early Church, the Liturgy, like the Last Supper, was celebrated in the evening and the Vigil lasted well into the night. When all late meetings were forbidden by Roman law, it took place at dawn.
Letter to the Church of Smyrna by Saint Ignatius, Patriarch of Antioch and Successor of Peter
8:1 Do ye all follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ doth the Father... Let no one, apart from the bishop, do any of the things that appertain unto the church. Let that eucharist, alone be considered valid which is celebrated in the presence of the bishop, or of him to whom he shall have entrusted it. 8:2 Wherever, the bishop, appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful either to baptize, or to hold a love-feast without the consent of the bishop; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that also is well pleasing unto God, to the end that whatever is done may be safe and sure.
{See Hierarchical Divine Liturgy}
Another By Saint Ignatius:
Take care to participate in One Eucharist: For there is One Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ; and One Cup for union in HIS Blood, and One Altar, just as there is One Bishop. (i.e; One Liturgy, One Priest, One Altar, One Eucharist Per day, Per Church, Parish and Antimins (Antimension)
According to local custom Four other ancient Liturgies, are also used by Orthodox Churches, on the occasion of the Feast Day of the Saints to which their authorship is traditionally attributed.:
The Orthodox (Chalcedonian-GREEK) Liturgy of Saint James, The Brother of the Lord, Of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Used on October 23rd, and the Sunday after the Nativity (See entry above)
The Orthodox (Chalcedonian-GREEK) Liturgy of St Mark, Of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria is another Liturgy, that have been phased out in favor of The Byzantine Rite liturgies i.e., The St. John Chrysostom, The St. Basil and the Presanctified.
The Orthodox (Chalcedonian-GREEK) Liturgy of Saint Gregory the Theologian-Wonderworker, an Ancient Liturgy of Cappadocia and Alexandria
The Orthodox (Chalcedonian-GREEK) Liturgy of Saint Peter, The Canon of the Roman Mass which was Byzantified, Extant in a Greek and Slavonic Version
If there is NO Divine Liturgy, for lack of a priest, the Typica is read which gives a sketch of the Divine Liturgy. (A Readers Service)
The Liturgy of Saint Gregory Dialogos (The Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts) always combines with Vespers in the Aggregate: 3rd, 6th, 9th Hours, Typica, Vespers, and Liturgy. (In some parishes, short-cuts are to be expected)
The Royal Hours: First, Third, Sixth and Ninth Hour and Typica (Nativity of Christ, Theophany, Holy Friday)
Divine Services/ The 7 Praises: Vespers (Little, Great, Lenten, Daily), Complines (Little, Great, Middle, Lenten), Midnight Office, Matins, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and Interhours, and Divine Liturgy, Vigil (Great Vespers and Matins, 1st Hour Combined), all Daily Offices have its Lenten Counterpart., All Hourly Offices, also have its Readers Services counterparts., Typika: Ps. 145/146, 102/103, Beatitudes, 33 (Replacement for Liturgy)
Proskomedia
The Proskomedia is the service of preparation of the bread and wine for the Eucharist taking place during the Matins-Orthros (Greek Practice) or 3rd And 6th Hours (Russian practice) at the table (within the Holy Altar) known, as the Prothesis. The priest extracts from the seal of the Prosphora the lamb, the portion for the Theotokos, the portions for the nine orders of angels and saints, and the portions for The living and dead and arranges them on the diskarion as prescribed. Then, wine and water are ceremoniously poured into the Chalice, the diskarion and chalice; are both covered (with prayers), and both veiled with a larger vestment called the Aer. After the end of the ceremony, the prepared Gifts are conserved (reserved) and prayers are said for these gifts to be accepted to Gods heavenly altar. The Proskomedia is sometimes signified by the term Prothesis that, actually, is the table, or conch, to the left of the altar on which the Proskomedia takes place. (Altar Wines: Commandaria, Mavrodaphne, Brotherhood Rosario)
Divine Liturgy: The Eucharistic Liturgy. The Orthodox equivalent to the Roman Catholic Mass or to the Protestant service of Holy Communion,. In the Orthodox Church there are four Eucharistic Liturgies used. The most common is the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom., the liturgy used on all Sundays except those which fall during the Great Lent, and all holy days on which a eucharistic liturgy is served except for the eves of Pascha, Christmas and Theophany, Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday and the Feast-day of St. Basil the Great (January 1). The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, used on the Sundays of Great Lent (Except on Palm Sunday), Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday and the Eves of Pascha, Christmas, and Theophany, and the Feast of St. Basil the Great., Feast of the Cross, Sep 14th, Savvas Typicon The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts which is actually an extended Vespers service at which Holy Communion which was consecrated on the previous Sunday is distributed. The Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts is used during weekdays of Great Lent when the full celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy is prohibited. The Liturgy of St. James, is served only in certain places on the feastday of St. James the "Brother of the Lord" and first Bishop of Jerusalem. , There is, also, a Presanctified Liturgy of Saint James, celebrated in Jerusalem, Greece and The Banat
The Eucharist is OUR Mystical Food: Without it, we starve spiritually.
GLORY BE TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS. AMEN.
THE EUCHARIST: A MOST PERSONAL AND UNIQUE WAY OF RELATING TO JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR
THERE IS NO SERVICE WHICH IS MORE NECESSARY FOR OUR SALVATION THAN THE DIVINE LITURGY
