Our Worship is More
than
"SMELLS AND BELLS"
A brief instruction from your pastor

    Incense in the Divine services reminds us of prayer rising to God and of the imperial processions among other truths.  The ringing of bells calls us to worship and proclaims our joy.  As true as this is, the use of incense and the ringing of bells most clearly speak to me of the Communion of the Saints.
    Every Divine service is offered "in behalf of all and for all."  All God's people join in the offering and benefit from it - not just those in attendance but also those who are not physically present.  Those who have died - the saints in heaven and those souls who await the fullness of heaven - have a share in Christ's sacrifice which is being made present upon the altar. Similarly, those who are unable to attend because of sickness or distance and even those who have no good excuse must be allowed a part.
    We need to be reminded of the spiritual presence of the others so that our hope is stronger and so that we remember them in our petition.  Their presence is manifested in the icons and in the prayer commemorations of the Divine Liturgy.  Bur we dare not relegate their presence to our only a mental remembrance.  It is appropriate to allow our senses to share in our awareness of their presence.  It is appropriate to allow our senses to share in our awareness of their presence.  Memorial donations helps this.  When we see some special article purchased in memory of someone, that person is present by way of memory.  Bells and incense do that, too, and in a "living" way.  When we hear the bells we should hear the voices of all the saints proclaiming the glory of God.  When we see and smell the incense and hear the censor, we should realize their presence encircling us and joining us in our sacrifice of praise, as a "cloud of witnesses," to use the words of the Letter to the Hebrews.

    Did you know our bells have names? The bells - from largest to smallest - were "Christened" JOHN (the Baptist), GEORGE (the martyr) and MICHAEL (the archangel).
 The ringing of bells is so much more that signals for beginning, etc; it is a way our church celebrates the Communion of the Saints.  The ringing then is done at those times when we would expect the saints to join with us.  As the first incensation when we are all invited to "come together in His name," and so the bells ring throughout.  After the words of the institution of the Eucharist ("Take eat...this is my body..." and "Take eat...this is my blood") and during the invocation of the HOly Spirit (while the people sing "We praise You...") we shall ring the bell John.  During the commemoration of all the saints and other special intentions, (while the people sing "It is truly proper to glorify You...") we shall ring all three bells.  Again at the end of the Divine Liturgy, while we pray for "Many years" for various people, the bells ring again.  During the Easter season, the bells join us in proclaiming "Christ is Risen from the dead...."  Please note that hand bells just can't substitute for this glorious responsibility; thanks to our forefathers in the faith who provided us with John, George, and Michael.
    When you hear the bells or see, hear and smell the incense, be assured of the spiritual presence of all the Saints and of your loved ones.

to the St. John's Cathedral Document page.