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The Byzantine Rite: A Short History
Much has been written regarding the western liturgy; the same cannot be said of the Byzantine liturgy. Father Taft contributes to a remedy of that shortfall through this work. In it he traces the origins of the Byzantine Rite during its period of from its earliest recorded beginnings until the end of Byzantium (1453 c.e.). While the rite has undergone some change in the period since then, its outlines remain essentially the same.
88 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 28, 2012
A very interesting read by the redoubtable Fr. Taft. This book was a little above my paygrade. Fr. Taft assumes quite a bit of knowledge on the part of the reader. Thus, if you are like me and you don't have a great familiarity with the Eastern Church, some things will be difficult to grasp. It is still worth reading and even without this background knowledge, I gained much insight from this book, but you should be warned. Very good read.
August 21, 2013
Another classic hit by Professor Taft! Only 84 pages long, it is to my knowledge the most succinct and accurate assessment of how the Byzantine Rite originated and developed into what we have today. An absolute must-read for all Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Christians who follow the Byzantine Rite.
April 8, 2019
A short but detailed history of the evolution of The Byzantine Liturgy. I, even a practicing Orthodox Christian, didn't know the reasons behind most practices and the different clerical and official players who have influenced and changed the way we pray and participate in the liturgy. I did find many clarifications in this book.
May 8, 2020
A succinct introduction to the liturgical development of the Byzantine Rite. Fairly useful to one studying the liturgical forms of the Uniates and the Orthodox Church. Taft is renowned as a preeminent liturgical scholar, and it is to find a work more concise.
October 11, 2020
Good, concise book for it’s stated purpose. Taft assumes a bit of knowledge about the Byzantine rite itself and associated Greek terminology (but makes it clear that it is not intended as an introduction to the rite itself).
January 2, 2023
Very much a brief overview. I'm too much of a novice to offer a critique, but it presents some interesting insights and has extensive bibliography for additional reading.
January 11, 2017
This little booklet is a very concise history of the Orthodox liturgical rite. Informative, but often staying on a macro scale, not giving us the ability to compare exactly what the Liturgy might have looked like in different eras.
But worth reading for those who already know something of the Byzantine rite and its terminology.
But worth reading for those who already know something of the Byzantine rite and its terminology.
June 7, 2021
This book is well-written, well-sourced, short and clear - I read it twice when I got it!
Father Robert Taft examines the evolution of the Byzantine/Constantinopolitan rite through 5 stages:
1) Pre-Constantinian and Pre-Theodosian, in which there was nothing unique about this apanage of Antioch.
2) The Imperial Phase from the 380s to Justinian I and the Hagia Sophia in the 500s, characterized by stations, processions, and open, wide churches to accommodate these processions.
3) The Dark Ages from 610 (Heraclius) to the 850s (end of round 2 of Iconoclasm), characterized by a shift in focus towards a literal mystagogy, the development of elaborate decoration, and the heightened influence of monasticism.
4) The Studite Era from 800 to 1204, inaugurated by St Thedore of Stoudios who lead to heightened monastic influence and the importation of Jerusalem practices from the monks of St Sabas in Palestine. The influence of the secular clergy and the civil government further weakened with the Latin Kingdom of Constantinople in 1204, furthering the shift towards smaller, more monastic-style liturgical rites.
5) The neo-Sabaitic synthesis from 1204 to 1261, when Constantinople and Jerusalem became further synthesized. This would later on be influenced by heysychasm.
I appreciate how this book is scholarly yet also short and clear - brevity is the spirit of the wit, and this author exemplifies it. Each chapter is about 10 pages or less INCLUDING notes, and the author focuses on the big picture and select primary source selections rather than bogging us down with every little variant in the Byzantine world.
Father Robert Taft examines the evolution of the Byzantine/Constantinopolitan rite through 5 stages:
1) Pre-Constantinian and Pre-Theodosian, in which there was nothing unique about this apanage of Antioch.
2) The Imperial Phase from the 380s to Justinian I and the Hagia Sophia in the 500s, characterized by stations, processions, and open, wide churches to accommodate these processions.
3) The Dark Ages from 610 (Heraclius) to the 850s (end of round 2 of Iconoclasm), characterized by a shift in focus towards a literal mystagogy, the development of elaborate decoration, and the heightened influence of monasticism.
4) The Studite Era from 800 to 1204, inaugurated by St Thedore of Stoudios who lead to heightened monastic influence and the importation of Jerusalem practices from the monks of St Sabas in Palestine. The influence of the secular clergy and the civil government further weakened with the Latin Kingdom of Constantinople in 1204, furthering the shift towards smaller, more monastic-style liturgical rites.
5) The neo-Sabaitic synthesis from 1204 to 1261, when Constantinople and Jerusalem became further synthesized. This would later on be influenced by heysychasm.
I appreciate how this book is scholarly yet also short and clear - brevity is the spirit of the wit, and this author exemplifies it. Each chapter is about 10 pages or less INCLUDING notes, and the author focuses on the big picture and select primary source selections rather than bogging us down with every little variant in the Byzantine world.
July 16, 2018
I have found nothing of its kind before. If you want to understand the Byzantine Rite, then read this book. Robert Taft provides a great, short summary of how eastern Christians have worshipped.
The two most memorable insights from Taft's work are: (1) the explanation as to why the Hagia Sophia has so many doorways. Well, it's for the procession. Processional worship was important during the early centuries for Byzantine worship. Later, once the Monastic spirituality eclipsed the cathedral liturgy, then this became less important.
(2) After the iconoclast controversy came to a rest, the Monastic movement gained political traction, wealth, and prestige. In short, they took over the spiritual and liturgical heart of Byzantine worship.
Worship lost its practical nature (the procession) and became more heavily symbolic. Preaching became formalized and lost its central place in worship. A great synthesis of the cathedral and monastic spirituality occurred. The latter swallowed up the former. Another example of the great changes the Eastern Orthodox church has experienced through its 2,000 years of existence.
Orthodoxy is at once a stable group of Christians from across the globe and yet one with such an internal contradiction. They claim that they have never changed. Yet they have changed and transformed frequently over the years whether in theology (think of the iconoclast council and the later iconodule council) or in worship (described above).
The two most memorable insights from Taft's work are: (1) the explanation as to why the Hagia Sophia has so many doorways. Well, it's for the procession. Processional worship was important during the early centuries for Byzantine worship. Later, once the Monastic spirituality eclipsed the cathedral liturgy, then this became less important.
(2) After the iconoclast controversy came to a rest, the Monastic movement gained political traction, wealth, and prestige. In short, they took over the spiritual and liturgical heart of Byzantine worship.
Worship lost its practical nature (the procession) and became more heavily symbolic. Preaching became formalized and lost its central place in worship. A great synthesis of the cathedral and monastic spirituality occurred. The latter swallowed up the former. Another example of the great changes the Eastern Orthodox church has experienced through its 2,000 years of existence.
Orthodoxy is at once a stable group of Christians from across the globe and yet one with such an internal contradiction. They claim that they have never changed. Yet they have changed and transformed frequently over the years whether in theology (think of the iconoclast council and the later iconodule council) or in worship (described above).
April 25, 2016
Tough read the first time through. Going to go back at this again in the spring.
September 30, 2015
An excellent text on an ancient practice of the Antioch region!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews