The Priest holds the Lamb — wrapped in a linen napkin together with a cross — and lifts it over his head. The wrapping signifies the swaddling cloths of the manger and also the shrouds in which Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped the Lord after His death. This also reminds us of St Simeon the Elder, who lived to see and hold the infant Christ in his arms and proclaimed the salvation He was to bring.

When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

— Matthew 27:59

Our Christ transcends time, and His presence in the Eucharist is real and transcendent. We commemorate not only the past events of His earthly life but also His second coming — acknowledging that He is beyond time and present with all His life events.

Throughout the liturgy, the paten represents the manger, the cross, the tomb, the Mount of Beatitudes, the throne, the clouds that the Lord Christ will descend on at His second coming. Likewise, the cloths may represent the swaddling cloths, the burial shroud, and the garment of righteousness. The veil symbolises the stone which was rolled way from the mouth of the tomb, and the triangular altar cloth on top of it is the seal of Pilate that sealed the Saviour's tomb.

The Deacon holds the cruet of wine with a napkin in his right hand, a lighted candle in his left hand, and his arms crossed over each other in the shape of the cross — lifting both over his head, while standing behind the Priest. This shows that through the Blood of Jesus Christ light came into this world.

The Priest gives glory to the Holy Trinity as a sign to start the divine liturgy. He declares that this liturgy is a glorification and honour to the Holy Trinity, and peace and edification to the Church. At this point, the Deacons and Congregation bow their heads.

Those who brought the gifts are the givers themselves, those on whose behalf they have been brought are either the departed, the sick, the distressed, or those who have asked us to offer on their behalf, and those by whom they have been brought are the priest, deacon, and the congregation in attendance. The heavenly reward is eternal bliss.

God has promised us that the reward of service will not be lost. There is a sincere divine promise of eternal happiness for the pure servants of Christ.

And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

— Matthew 10:42

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.

— John 12:26

Edification of the Church involves gathering believers and connecting them together in Christ.

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

— Ephesians 2:20

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

— 1 Peter 2:5

Christ is your head, and, according to His promise, He is present among you and a sharer with you. Do not neglect, therefore, your Saviour, and do not deprive Him of His members. Do not tear or scatter His body, and do not prefer the concerns of your temporal life to the word of God. But on the day of the Lord, leave everything and hurry together to the Church.

— The Didache

Christians celebrate the Eucharist, and the Eucharist establishes Christians. No one can live without the Eucharist.

— St Felix of Nola

In the Eucharist, creation glorifies God.

But God is glorified most in the salvation of humanity, for the salvation of one human soul is more difficult than the creation of heaven and earth. Creation was made by the good and solitary will of God, but the salvation of a human requires the alignment of the human will with God’s will, a process that may be hindered by the deviation of human will.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
The firmament shows the creation of His hands.

— Psalm 18:1

O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly;
You made all things in wisdom;
The earth was filled with Your creation.

— Psalm 103:24

When the Priest wraps the Lamb in a white linen napkin (veil), the Church follows Christ to the manger of Bethlehem contemplating His incarnation.

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

— Luke 2:12

When the Priest lifts the Lamb covered with the linen napkin and processes around the altar, we are led to the temple watching Simeon carrying the child Jesus.

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

— Luke 2:34

The Priest processes once around the altar, preceded by the Deacon holding the cruet of water — symbolic of St John the Forerunner who prepared the way before Christ and bore witness of Him. The Deacon holding the wine follows behind the Priest, showing that through the Blood of Jesus Christ, light came into this world.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

— John 1:15

As the procession takes place, the Deacon (usually the one holding the wine) chants:

And the Congregation raise their heads and respond, chanting: