A: In the Episcopal church, our worship begins and ends with a procession of the crucifer (cross bearer), acolytes (carrying torches), choir members and clergy down the aisle to the front of the church. Starting worship with a procession is an ancient tradition. St. John's, Gloucester, has a blog that states "In the third century, a nun named Egeria journaled that everyone processed into the church behind a cross. The Venerable Bede (623-735) used the processional as a way of proclaiming the love of Christ in our lives. He journeyed to pagan lands in what is today Canterbury, England and processed all the way through the town so everyone could see the cross and the people.”

These early processions were ritualized. Those who lead worship by participating in the service often process from the nave to the sanctuary. The nave is where the congregation sits and the sanctuary is the raised red platform that holds our altar area. As the procession passes, some people choose to bow to the cross as a sign of respect and reverence. The cross leads our attention to the front where the Eucharist will happen and people will experience God's presence through worship. At the end of the service, the recessional leads us back out into the word. These processions indicates that Christ is with us during worship but also accompanies us as we leave St. Luke's to go out into the mission field.

I have also heard it said that the procession mirrors the Book of Exodus where a "pillar of cloud" (God) led the Israelites through the wilderness, providing a visible sign of God's presence and direction during the day.

We also have a shorter procession, called a "gospel procession" where the crucifer and acolytes lead the deacon into the aisle for a reading of the Gospel text.

So then, a procession in the Episcopal Church is a symbolic and choreographed movement that represents the Christian journey from the secular world into the sacred space of worship and then back out into the world. Our procession also symbolizes our pilgrimage toward God, bringing the liturgy's symbols like the cross and gospel book into the midst of the community to show that the church is for everyone.

Symbolic meanings of the procession:

  • Journey: It symbolizes the pilgrimage of the Christian life, moving from our daily lives

    into the presence of God for worship, and then being sent back out into the world to

    serve.

  • Christ's presence: The cross leading the procession signifies that Christians follow

    Christ, and the cross itself is central to our faith and the mission we are sent out to do.

  • Bringing the divine to the people: A gospel procession brings the sacred text to the

    congregation, symbolizing how God came into human history to be with his people.

  • Transition: It is a way to move from the secular world into a sacred space and time for

    worship, separating the holy from the ordinary.

    Examples of processions in worship:

  • Entrance procession: The service begins with the clergy, choir, and other servers

    walking in procession down the aisle, often carrying a processional cross, torches, and in

    some churches, banners.

  • Gospel procession: During the service, the gospel book may be processed to the center

    of the congregation to be read, bringing the Good News to where the people are.

  • Offertory procession: Representatives may bring the offerings of bread, wine, and other gifts to the altar.

  • Other occasions: Special processions are held for events like baptisms (to the font), weddings, and the burial of the dead (from the church).

    Note that people bow to the altar as they pass it to acknowledge the sacred space where the symbols of our faith play out.

    Author: The Reverend Ashley Wright