Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 October 2002 23:00:00
You may consider this to be a rather dull use of a Sunday afternoon, but I spent yesterday analysing the component parts of the Divine Liturgy used by Orthodox Christians.
Why, pray, did you do that, Mr Bottomley? you may ask. (Though, as to why you should call me "Mr Bottomley" I have no idea). You see, it is the claim of Orthodox Christians that they have been worshipping the same way since the beginning of the Christian era.
With the aid of Hugh Wybrew's excellent little book "The Orthodox Liturgy" (St Vladimir's Seminary Press, published in a bright red cover - Wybrew is an Anglican priest who worked in Jerusalem for a long time) it's become clear that this is only partially true - it is only true in the same way that someone using the BCP, the Westminster Directory, the Parish Mass or the Church of Scotland's Common Order could say precisely the same thing. It is true that the same basic patterns emerge in all of them - Scripture readings, teaching, intercession and a sharing of communion. However, Orthodoxy cannot claim that its Liturgy reflects the practice of the earliest Christians.
I shall give three examples of why not:
1. "The Great Entrance". This is one of the high-points of the Liturgy, accompanied by great ceremonial and devotion. The bread and wine are carried from the northern side chapel, through the Church and into the sanctuary. This is accompanied by much incense, lights, prayers, singing and prayer. However, prior to the seventh century or so, this action (the practical need to get the bread and wine from where it was kept to the middle of the sanctuary) was done in silence, with little ceremony. It was a practical necessity, which has been overlaid with practices aimed at helping those participating.
2. The Anaphora. This is the "Eucharistic Prayer" of the Liturgy. Some readers will recognise how it begins - "The Lord be with you... Lift up your hearts..." etc. It then proceeds through the thanksgiving for God's work, the "Holy, holy, holy...", the words of institution. Even more than the Great Entrance, this has developed over the centuries. At present, this prayer (save a few cue words for the choir) is said inaudibly by the priest. This started around 900 C.E. Prior to that, the prayer (which had not become uniform throughout the East, so could vary from city to city) was said aloud. Up to the third century this prayer wasn't even a set text - although there were certain parameters, the celebrant was directed to give thanks according to his ability (see the early book of Church order called "The Didache").
3. Finally, the Peace. The Peace has been placed in no less than three different positions in the last 1,500 years!
If you want to see a fuller analysis of the changes that have occurred, please contact me. If you have any ideas of how I can better spend my time, do the same.