Springtime of the Liturgy

by Lucien Deiss CSSp

(Re-released as part of the Classics in Liturgy series) Originally published as Early Sources of the Liturgy, this book presents the principal texts of the Christian liturgy from its beginnings to the fifth century. Included among the main sources treated are liturgical texts of the Jewish tradition; doxologies, hymns, and blessings of the New Testament; the Didache; the Letter to the Corinthians of Clement of Rome; the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome; the Anaphora of Addai and Mari; the Didascalia of the Apostles; the Euchology of Serapion. Later witnesses include the Strasbourg Papyrus; the Apostolic Constitutions; the Euchology of Der Balyzeh; the Catechesis of Cyril of Jerusalem.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Reference, History

307 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1979

Reviews

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was a bit different than I had expected. It begins with Jewish parallels to Christian writings/prayers... then we moved on to Eucharistic prayers, Doxologies and Hymns from the New Testament writings.

I think from there I was expecting the story of how those things came to be included in the liturgies and how the liturgy grew over time from those early writings. However, what I got was chapter by chapter look at early accounts of the liturgies of the church as well as instructions on Christian living. It took me a bit to switch gears. But, what I really loved was the writings of Hippolytus (+237) which pertained to the Eucharist, ordination, initiation rites and Christian living.

"When he has been consecrated bishop, all are to give him the kiss of peace and acclaim him with the words: 'He has become worthy!'"

That will sound familiar to those of us who are Orthodox because we proclaim at the ordination of bishops, priests and deacons: "Axios! Axios! Axios!" (meaning "he is worthy").

I love Hippolytus' account of the Institution of the Eucharist:

"When he was about to surrender himself to voluntary suffering in order to destroy death, to break the devil's chains, to tread hell underfoot, to pour out his light upon the just, to establish the covenant and manifest his resurrection, he took bread he gave you thanks and said:...."

Hippolytus even discusses the times for prayer and admonished his people to.. " not be lazy when it comes to prayer." ouch.

Then the book moves on to a works of Syriac origin which I had not heard of before: the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, the Didascalia of the Apostles, and a work by Serapion, Bishop of Thmuis who was a disciple of St. Anthony. Ending finally with St. Cyril of Jerusalem's invaluable Cathechesis.

I loved getting a glimpse into the ancient church. Within these pages were are given a little snap-shot of the ancient services. I loved seeing the similarities to our own liturgy and finding some new gems within each of the works. Each chapter is headed by an introduction of the writer and his work. We learn a bit of the history of the time and the author. However, we are never really given the larger picture of how these different prayers and practices worked their way into the present and why some where eventually dropped. This isn't the "Story of the liturgy". Perhaps I will have to delve back into Dix's "The Shape of the Liturgy" again.

[Zecchaeus Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not from an Orthodox perspective, the context is the Orthodox Liturgy and is a beneficial read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the textbooks recommended by Don Saliers and used for continuing education - Worship in the 1980's.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of early texts relating to the Divine liturgy, Great reference.