One of the refrains in the Byzantine liturgy that I find particularly appealing are references to Christ as "lover of mankind". Lovers of mankind are few and far between and perhaps can only truly be said of Christ and His mother. Many of us are either lovers of individuals while vaguely aware of "mankind", or sensitive to the plight of "mankind" while heedless of individuals. Christ cares about both individuals and mankind and of him the title "lover of mankind" isn't unwashed sentimentality.
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The Byzantine rite often repeats things three times, in honor of the Holy Trinity, but when I first began attending the liturgy I thought they did that because the chances were increased that we'd be fully attentive during at least one of the three repetitions.
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Some of the Troparions sang from the latest liturgy:
Blessed are You, O Christ our God. You filled the fishermen with wisdom, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. Through them You have caught the whole world in Your net. O Lover of Mankind, glory be to You.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen. When the Most High descended and confused tongues, He scattered the people; but when He distributed the tongues of fire, He called all men to unity. Therefore with one voice, let us praise the Most Holy Spirit.
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