Notes on Alexander Schmemann's "The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Kingdom" (1988)
Chapter 3: The sacrament of the Entrance
In this chapter, Schmemann discusses something that is completely unknown and foreign to me as a Protestant: the liturgy of the Entrance. Firstly, the author says - in line with his definition of symbol from chapter 2 - that the meaning of the Eucharist is the entry of the Church into the kingdom of God. It is thereby lifted up (just like the communion elements in the celebration of the Eucharist. Through this sacrament, the Church as an assembly shares in this kingdom of God. This is followed by many explanations of the history of the Orthodox liturgy: the litany of intercession and various antiphons. It is probably helpful here to be Eastern Orthodox in order to understand all these liturgical elements.
The church and the world are interrelated. But when the assembly of the saints meets to receive a share in the kingdom as the church, then the church separates itself from the world as in an exodus. Like the people of Israel in Egypt, the church separates itself from the world in an act of redemption. Schmemann emphasises that this exodus also takes place for the sake of the world or in its name, namely in order to give it redemption and lift it up into the kingdom of God. For the ultimate goal - the eschaton, so to speak - is the unity of God with everything. The Church meets to call the world to unity with God. Through the Eucharistic celebration, the Gospel is proclaimed to the world. The Church intercedes in prayer for the whole of creation. Since Christ is the life of all, everyone should give life back to him - and the Church does this first. God wanted to reveal himself, but much more than that: he wanted to unite with people and make them his own.