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Why do we sometimes stand during the Divine Liturgy and other times sit down?

We ought to stand during the entire Divine Liturgy. You will notice when you visit monasteries, there are no benches on which to sit in the sanctuaries. The only times we do sit during the Divine Liturgy are when we listen to God's message to us during the readings of the Epistles, the Synaxarium, and the Sermon. We stand, kneel, or bow during all other times of worship, including the times of incensing. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28).