Diptych

In the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, the faithful present the names of the living and the departed to the deacon or priest, that their loved ones may be commemorated at the heart of the Church's life, in the great offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, signifying the closest bonds of communion. Anciently, these names were inscribed in wax, set into folding tablets known as "diptychs". While these tablets are no longer used, their name remains and, in the Western Rite, this is the name given to that part of the Liturgy where the commemorations are made. In the Byzantine Rite, this is done at the Proskomide. This booklet may be used by Orthodox Christians of either rite, and may also be used as a reminder of those people for whom the faithful wish to pray in their private devotions at home. For this reason, along with the living and the departed, a section is included for the faithful to list the saints for whom they have particular devotion, and whose prayers they may wish to seek for protection and fortification.