Christian Liturgy
Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used (whether recommended or prescribed) by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis. The term liturgy comes from Greek and means “public work”. Within Christianity, liturgies descending from the same region, denomination, or culture are described as ritual families.
When Christians meet for worship, they perform a liturgy (work), offering service to God together. The majority of Christian denominations hold their principal church service on the Lord’s Day. In some Christian denominations, liturgies are held daily, with these including those in which the canonical hours are prayed, as well as the offering of the Eucharistic liturgies such as Mass, among other forms of worship. In addition to this, many Christians attend services of worship on holy days such as Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Ascension Thursday, among others depending on the Christian denomination.
In most Christian traditions, liturgies are presided over by clergy wherever possible.
The public worship and sacramental life of Christianity, including ritual practices, liturgical calendars, Eucharistic theology, and denominational variations in worship structure.