Introduction To Eastern Christian Liturgies

In Introduction to Eastern Christian Liturgies, renowned liturgical scholars Stefanos Alexopoulos and Maxwell E. Johnson fulfill the need for a new, comprehensive, and straightforward survey of the liturgical life of the Eastern Christian Churches within the seven distinct liturgical Eastern rites still in existence today: Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopic, East Syrian, West Syrian, and Maronite. This topical overview covers baptism, chrismation, Eucharist, reconciliation, anointing, marriage, holy orders, burial, Liturgy of the Hours, the liturgical year, liturgical ethos and spirituality, and offers a brief yet comprehensive bibliography for further study. This book will be of special interest to masters-level students in liturgy and theology, pastoral ministers seeking an introduction to the liturgies of the Christian East, and all who seek to increase their knowledge of the liturgical riches of the Christian East.

Designed as a general introduction to Christian liturgy, this book explores the meaning, history, and practice of worship in Eastern and Western, Catholic and Protestant traditions. Its chapters cover the theology of worship, the historical development of Eucharist and the Prayer Offices, the lectionary and customs of the church year, other sacramental rites, and the use of music and the arts. As such, it is a perfect textbook for students seeking to understand the basics of liturgical worship, as well as a reliable guide for worship leaders.

Since its first appearance in 1960, Documents of the Baptismal Liturgy has been praised and used by scholars in understanding how the rite of baptism was celebrated through the centuries. This new edition retains the sources previously included and adds Eastern Christian texts from the great East Syrian Church Fathers, as well as selections from The Rite of the Assyrian Church of the East, the Syrian Orthodox Church, and the Maronite Rite. Additional Western texts include the famous Pentecost Homily attributed to Faustus of Riez, Letter 26 to Januarius from Pope Gregory I, and the Rite of Confirmation from the Pontifical of William Durandus. Instead of placing local councils together in one section, individual councils are now placed in their respective geographic locals. Bibliographical lists in a variety of languages have been added for each document studied or for each locale; and translations have often been replaced with more recent versions. The glossary and the introductions to each document make it accessible to the general, as well as the specialist, reader. Chapters are The Ante-Nicene Church," *Syria, Syro-Palestine, Antiochia, - *The Rite of the Assyrian Church of the East, - *The Armenian Rite, - *The Syriac-Maronite Rite, - *The Byzantine Rite, - *Egypt, - *Africa, - *Spain, - *Milan, - *Rome, - *Galican Documents, - and *The Sarum Rite. - E. C. Whitaker served as a parish priest and Canon Emeritus of Calisle Cathedral, England. Maxwell E. Johnson, Ph.D., is a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is professor of liturgy in the department of theology at the University of Notre Dame. "

"Certain 'old books' simply are indispensable because, in site of their age, they have never been replaced. F. E. Brightman, Liturgies Eastern and Western: I. Eastern Liturgies (London 1896) - the second part of which never appeared - definitely is such a book. In one volume it brings together, in Greek or in English translation, the main types of the Eucharistic liturgy of the various Eastern Christian Churches. For more than a century now, it has served as a reference work to students and scholars in comparative liturgy and has been quoted thousands of times in publications, classes, and research projects. Due to the wide range of its materials, it will undoubtedly remain a most valuable tool for many years to come. Students and scholars in the field of liturgy need, and will need, to have this volume at their disposal. Gorgias Press' reprint, therefore, should be warmly welcomed!" - Dr. Ugo Zanetti

This book brings together the main types of the Eucharistic liturgy of the various Eastern Christian Churches. For more than a century, it has served as a reference work to students and scholars and has been quoted thousands of times. (Christian Religion)

Includes bibliographical references and index.