The Liturgy of the Diocese of the Uniformed Services and the Missionary Diocese of the Midwest
The primary liturgy authorized for the celebration of the Holy Mass is The Liturgy of St. Tikhon of Moscow as found in the Revised and Expanded American Missal containing the complete liturgy of the American Book of Common Prayer. We use this as our principal rite.
Click here to view the Anglo-Catholic Calendar and Lectionary for the current month.
The Liturgy of St. Tikhon is a beautifully mystical liturgy conducted in Elizabethan English, closely resembling Rite One of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Its origins trace back to the 1970s when it was created to serve Episcopalians interested in converting to Orthodoxy while maintaining a Western-style liturgy. This liturgy's text bears a strong resemblance to the Episcopal Church's 1928 Book of Common Prayer and incorporates elements from the Tridentine Mass of the pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic Church. It also includes adjustments to align with Orthodox theology and practice, such as a more pronounced Epiclesis and the omission of the filioque from the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
One distinctive aspect is the celebration of Mass in the English language, with the clergy and congregation facing Liturgical East. Notably, we practice an "Open Communion," welcoming any baptized Christian to partake of the consecrated bread and wine. Inquirers who are not baptized can approach the altar during Mass to receive a blessing and participate in Spiritual Communion.
Furthermore, our communities have authorized additional liturgical variations when pastoral considerations warrant them. As a result, our clergy are proficient not only in the normative liturgy of St. Tikhon but also in celebrating Pre and Post Vatican II liturgies in English, Spanish, and Latin, providing flexibility and inclusivity within the Orthodox tradition.
+Raymond
Bishop
Click here to view the Anglo-Catholic Calendar and Lectionary for the current month.
The Liturgy of St. Tikhon is a beautifully mystical liturgy conducted in Elizabethan English, closely resembling Rite One of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Its origins trace back to the 1970s when it was created to serve Episcopalians interested in converting to Orthodoxy while maintaining a Western-style liturgy. This liturgy's text bears a strong resemblance to the Episcopal Church's 1928 Book of Common Prayer and incorporates elements from the Tridentine Mass of the pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic Church. It also includes adjustments to align with Orthodox theology and practice, such as a more pronounced Epiclesis and the omission of the filioque from the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
One distinctive aspect is the celebration of Mass in the English language, with the clergy and congregation facing Liturgical East. Notably, we practice an "Open Communion," welcoming any baptized Christian to partake of the consecrated bread and wine. Inquirers who are not baptized can approach the altar during Mass to receive a blessing and participate in Spiritual Communion.
Furthermore, our communities have authorized additional liturgical variations when pastoral considerations warrant them. As a result, our clergy are proficient not only in the normative liturgy of St. Tikhon but also in celebrating Pre and Post Vatican II liturgies in English, Spanish, and Latin, providing flexibility and inclusivity within the Orthodox tradition.
+Raymond
Bishop