Why are these books called ‘Gospels?’

No one can find better or more joyful news than encountering the divine Savior and receiving the gift of everlasting salvation. The Gospel is not first a demand but an announcement of what God has done: “we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled… by raising Jesus” (Act 13:32–33).

For the same reason, whenever the Gospel is read in the divine services, the faithful stand as before the Lord himself; the reading is prefaced and accompanied by the joyful exclamations ‘Alleluia’ and “Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!”, and honored with candles and incense, for in the reading of the Gospel, Christ himself speaks to his people.