Orthodox Worship

Preface to the new edition -- Understanding the divine liturgy. Development of Christian worship in the Bible -- Worship in the early church -- Revelation and worship -- The royal priesthood -- Heavenly worship -- A journey through the liturgy. The interior of an Orthodox church -- The preparation service -- The liturgy of the word -- The liturgy of the Eucharist -- The Great Anaphora -- The Holy Communion -- The Thanksgiving -- Conclusion. A call to worship.

In this study on evening worship in the Orthodox Church, Nicholas Uspensky reveals the true purpose for which the service of Vespers came into existence: the ancient Christian tradition of giving thanks for the evening light, and the faith which this tradition implies concerning the presence of Christ in the midst of those gathered in His name. While tracing the evolution of the rites of Vespers and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts from their Old Testamental antecedents to their present forms today, he calls upon liturgical commentators to stand closer to the meaning attached to the service of evening worship by the ancient Church. This valuable historical-liturgical study also discusses the Communion which is added to the Vespers in the midst of the Fast, and the differences that exist between the Greek and Russian orders of service for the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist.

The Old Testament Books of Chronicles contain some of the most neglected passages in all of Scripture. Understanding their message can be a difficult and daunting task for the modern reader. Patrick Reardon brings these important books to life, unfolding their powerful message for our own day. Like any family history, the story of Chronicles is told with a distinct purpose in mind. It asks the question: "What was the real and lasting significance of King David and his house?" Beginning with the long list of names of the first chapter, this heritage is revealed in cosmic significance. It has in fact become the family tree of every true believer. One volume in the Orthodox Christian Reflections series, which also includes: Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis The Trial of Job: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Job Wise Lives: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Wisdom of Sirach

Come, Let Us Worship walks the reader through the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, explaining the meaning of each element and how the congregant may best participate in this fundamental act of Orthodox worship. Those new to Orthodoxy and those who wonder about the meaning of the Liturgy will find this small guide a helpful and informative companion.

Welcome to the Orthodox Church—its history, theology, worship, spirituality, and daily life. This friendly guide provides a comprehensive introduction to Orthodoxy, but with a twist: readers learn by making a series of visits to a fictitious church, and get to know the faith as new Christians did for most of history, by immersion. Mathews-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to “venerate” an icon, the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It’s the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East.

This volume brings together an ecumenical team of scholars to offer a historical overview of how worship developed. The book first orients readers to the common core elements the global church shares in the history and development of worship theology and historical practice. It then introduces the major streams of worship practice: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, including Reformation traditions, evangelicalism, and Pentecostalism. The book includes introductions by John Witvliet and Nicholas Wolterstorff. A previous volume addressed the theological foundations of worship.

How has the Orthodox liturgy come to have the shape it has? How different is it from the eucharistic rites of the Western churches? Hugh Wybrew's authoritative but splendidly readable book traces the development of the Orthodox liturgy from the Last Supper to the present day.