The second part of the liturgy is called the liturgy of the catechumens, because in ancient times, during its celebration, catechumens and repentants, non-believers and even pagans were allowed to be in the vestibule of the church.
This part of the liturgy begins with the glorification of the kingdom of the Holy Trinity:
Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Then the great or peaceful litany is recited. After the litany, songs are sung that talk about the greatest mercy of God - the incarnation of the Son of God. These songs are called antiphons because they are sung alternately by two choirs. On Sundays, Psalms 102 and 145 are sung.
Antiphon 1 (Ps. 102).
Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His rewards: He who cleanses all your iniquities, who heals all your ailments, who delivers your belly from corruption, who crowns you with mercy and bounty, who fulfills your good desires. The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy.
Antiphon 2 (Ps. 145).
Praise the Lord, my soul: I will praise the Lord in my life: I will sing to my God, even as I am.
The second antiphon is joined by a song in honor of the incarnate Son of God:
The only begotten Son and Word of God, immortal, and deigning for our salvation to be incarnate from the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, immutably made man, crucified, O Christ God, trampling death by death, the only one of the Holy Trinity, glorified to the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
Instead of the third antiphon, the blessed ones are sung, that is, the nine beatitudes set forth in the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5: 3-12).
Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blesseds of mercy, for there will be mercy. Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for these shall be called sons of God. Blessedly, drive out the truth for the sake of them, for those are the kingdom of heaven. Blessed indeed, when they revile you, and despise you, and say all sorts of evil things against you, lying, for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is abundant in heaven. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
After the antiphons there is a small entrance with the Gospel, signifying the appearance of Jesus Christ to preach. Having opened the royal doors, the deacon (if there is one), accompanied by the priest, carries out the altar Gospel through the northern door, preceded by a candle-bearer with a lighted candle, and, stopping in front of the royal doors, proclaims:
Wisdom! Sorry!
Those present, seeing in the transferred Gospel as if Jesus Christ Himself had appeared in the world to preach, worship Him while singing a solemn song:
Come, let us worship and fall before Christ. Save us, Son of God, risen from the dead (or: wondrous in the saints, or: through the prayers of the Mother of God), singing Ti: alleluia.
Then the troparion and kontakion of the holiday are sung, the chanting of which the priest concludes with the exclamation:
For You are holy, our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.
The choir responds by singing the Trisagion, that is, the angelic song:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
On the days of the Nativity of Christ, the Baptism of the Lord, Lazarus and Passion Saturday, the week of Easter and the Holy Trinity, instead of the Trisagion, the following is sung:
Elitsy was baptized into Christ, put on Christ. Alleluia.
That is: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on the holiness of Christ and have become the sons of God” (Gal. 3:26-27).
This replacement arose from the fact that in ancient times, on these days, the catechumens received the sacrament of baptism.
At the end of the Trisagion, the Apostle is read, that is, the section from the apostolic epistles, and then the Gospel is read.
Having heard the word of God, those present offer prayers for all members of the Church, living and dead, in the words of a special litany.
Then the litany is pronounced about the catechumens: so that the Lord may announce them with the word of truth; — revealed to them the Gospel of truth; — joined them to His Church; - saved, had mercy, interceded and preserved them with His grace.
As if explaining the meaning of this prayer, the priest ends it with the exclamation:
Yes, and with us they glorify Your most honorable and magnificent name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
At the end of the prayers for the catechumens, the catechumens leave the church, of which the priest reminds them with the words:
Elitsy of the announcement, go out.
In ancient times, at this exclamation, the catechumens accepted a blessing from the head of the church and left the church.