HyperBeroeanWave on Nostr: Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom has a lot of cool symbolism that is designed to ...

Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom has a lot of cool symbolism that is designed to honor and teach through showing and participation. For example, metal fans called ripidia with pictures of seraphin on them are on both sides of the altar, and they're carried out when scripture is read or holy communion. Allegedly the idea of ripidia came to him (or some other church father) in a dream where he saw angels praying and worshipping God, following the word of God as it was brought out for the reading and body and blood of Christ at communion. The metal fans represent the seraphim and are a physical reminder of the spiritual nature of prayer and worship and of the angels worshipping God with us. The tradition doesn't save you, but it's important for a lot of reasons.

orthodoxwiki.org/Liturgical_fans