Source: http://jacwell.org/Supplements/eucharist_in_the_ancient_church.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 15:12:15+00:00

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From LIVING TRADITION, YMCA Press, Paris, n.d.
On that great day of the mystical Pentecost the beginning of the new kingdom of Grace was forged B the community of the New Israel, the Church of Christ B Christ=s Mystical Body. Human nature, torn asunder by sin, was reestablished in the Church. The proud structure of the Tower of Babel, the mixture of tongues and the separation of humanity was set aside by the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy of Pentecost and the Divine-human catholic body of the Church.
AThat they may all be one, even as thou, Father art in me and I in thee, that they may all be one@ (John 17:21), as Christ prayed to the Father in the High Priestly prayer. This prayer and Christ=s preceding farewell discourse with his supper companions, his friends the Apostles, in the Upper Room, is a hymn which proclaims and solemnizes love and the theology of the Eucharist, is found in the Gospel of the Abeloved disciple@ John, and corresponds to the description of the Last Supper in the Synoptic Gospels. The first Eucharist which took place there, which established the New Covenant. ADo this in remembrance of me@. In carrying out Christ=s commandment, being fully conscious of the great significance of the Eucharist, the Apostles performed that Mystery. The reconstruction of that first form of the Eucharist presents a complex problem. In all likelihood the Apostolic Eucharist=s form resembled, if not copied, the order of the Hebrew Habura, or perhaps the Passover Kiddush.
The Book of Acts states that following Apostle Peter=s first sermon and the baptism of 3,000 persons Athey devoted themselves to the Apostles= teaching and fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers@ (Acts 2:42) and Aattending the Temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts@ (Acts 2:46). This breaking of bread illumined the early Christian community=s whole life which was a constant joy of the blessed Eastertide .@And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need@ (Acts 2:44-45). ANow the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own. . .There was not a needy person among them@ (Acts 4: 32, 34). The lives of the Christians was suffused with the consciousness that Aif one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together@ (I Cor 12:26). The way for resolving social problems for Christians was through the ACup of thanksgiving@, the difficult aspects of which in the Roman Empire as well as today disturbs our hearts, just as it disturbed the hearts of Christians in the first centuries. The Eucharist intensified the acuteness of the problem. The Eucharist united and equalized everyone B the lords and the slaves, the rich and the poor. All Church members were equal and free in Christ. All were children of God, all were Christ=s friends, brothers and sisters, ABecause there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the same loaf@ (I Cor 10:17).
ALet Grace come and let this world pass away@ the Liturgist prays. And the community greets the Eucharistic Christ with a solemn Messianic hymn. AHosanna to the God of David. . .Maranatha B Our Lord, come@. He appears to the believers in the Eucharist. The Parousia approaches. The visions and hopes of the ancient prophets are realized. AThy Kingdom come@. The Messianic kingdom begins. ABehold, the King of glory enters.@ Christ reigns. The Christians participate in the bridal night of the Lamb, in the Messianic banquet, They offer the prayer of thanksgiving with one voice and partake in Christ=s Body and Blood. This was the joy about which the Book of Acts speaks. This was the Grace-filled experience which inspired those feats of witness and martyrdom.
The whole community participates creatively in the Eucharistic prayer, the Eucharistic offering and thanksgiving, sealing the prayer with their collective and triumphant AAmen.@ The first communal act, the Liturgy, was completed by this act of prayer. It was one of the most important responsibilities not only of the hierarchy but of all members of the Church, the people of the ANew Israel@, Aa chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation@ (I Peter 2:9. St Basil=s Anaphora), inasmuch as in the Church that ideal, the universal priesthood, which was awaited by Moses (Exodus 19:6) and the prophets, was realized.
To be sure, this teaching about the universal priesthood does not exclude the Divinely established hierarchy who celebrate the Mysteries. AYou should regard that Eucharist as valid which is celebrated either by the bishop or by someone he authorizes@.
People: We proclaim your death, O Lord and we profess your resurrection and we await your second coming. We ask of you mercy and grace and we pray for the remission of sins, and may your mercy be upon all of us.
Priest: And we, your helpless and sinful servants, O Lord, thank you and praise you for everyone and for all things.
People: We praise you, we thank you, we bow before you, we thank you and pray for forgiveness, O Lord God, have mercy and hear us.
Deacon: How awesome is the present hour. How terrible, my beloved, is that moment . .when the Holy Spirit comes upon this Eucharist. . .and sanctifies it. . .You who are present, with fear and trembling, stand and pray. . .Let us proclaim and thrice say: Lord have mercy!
This communal participation during the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice is culminated with the communal partaking of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The faithful, united Ain one heart and mind@ through their prayer, are united with Christ and in Him, with each other. AAnd unite all of us to one another who become partakes of the one Bread and Cup in the communion of the Holy Spirit@ (St Basil=s Anaphora). Each person=s partaking was affirmed by AAmen,@ perhaps a collective one.
The collective communion by all participants at each Liturgy was the norm in the Ancient Church. It was closely linked with the general Eucharistic prayer and offering. Those who were under bans and deprived of the right to approach the Chalice, could not participate in the Liturgy. The Liturgy took place on Sunday (Teaching of the 12 Apostles. Justin Martyr=s Apology. cf Acts 20:7) In the 4th century the Eucharist was celebrated on Saturday as well, in Alexandria, Egypt in general, in Asia Minor and in Constantinople. In some parts of the Church Communion was even more frequent. Thus St Basil, in his letter to Patricia in Caesarea, writes: AWe partake four times each week, on the Lord=s day, on Wednesday, on Friday, and on Saturday, as well as on other days if there be a memorial of some Saint@, but Ait is good and beneficial to partake and receive the Holy Body and Blood of Christ on each day@. The practice of daily Communion was common both in Rome and in Spain.
At the end of the Third and beginning of the Fourth centuries the Great Lent gradually becomes established, the sacred Forty Days, which grew out of the brief pre-Paschal fast of the early years. Lent was a time of repentance and grieving over sins. During the sorrowful days of Lent the complete Liturgy, the feast of the Christian community with its Paschal and Resurrectional joy of Golgotha and the radiant night, could not be celebrated. However, the faithful were permitted to receive Communion even during the days of Lent. This was the inception of the Presanctified Liturgy which was a combination of Vespers with Communion. This ALiturgy@ offers the opportunity for Communion outside of a full Liturgy. This was permitted in the Early Church. Thus for example, Justin Martyr notes than the Holy Gifts were brought by the deacons to those who were not present. The Early Church knew of the practice of reserving the Holy Gifts in the homes and of self-Communion. This was later continued in monastic practice. However, neither self-Communion nor the Communion of the sick could replace the complete Liturgy with its communal Eucharistic sacrifice and the corporate Communion. Self-Communion was permitted Afor the sake of need@ just as today presence at the Anaphora and the offering of Gifts without Communion, or a kind of Aspiritual Communion@ is permitted.
This corporate Eucharist in the Early Church gave light to the world and sanctified it. The participants in the Kingdom of Christ in the temple at the Liturgy were inspired with the desire to bring love, joy and light to the world for the healing of social illnesses which distort God=s wonderful universe. The Christian=s whole life, sanctified by the Church=s Mysteries, took place near the Eucharist and was sanctified by it, inasmuch as all Mysteries were united with it. Arising out of the baptismal font of regeneration, receiving the blessed privilege to address God as his Father and signed with Athe Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit@ joyfully, the newly baptized, for the first time approached the Sacred Cup. This is where those entering into the bridal union in Christ received their blessing from the Church. Sinners who disturbed the Church=s conscience carried out lengthy and severe penitence for the sake of that Cup. The gifts of the grace of priesthood and of the Blessing of Oil for the sick were given at the Liturgy Other sacred rites, such as monastic tonsure, the sanctification of Chrism and the blessing of Epiphany water likewise occurred at the Liturgy.
This was the Eucharistic practice of the Early Church. The Eucharist was the joy in the life of the individual member of the Church. It was the foundation and the grace-filled inspiration for the ascent upon the ladder of virtue. It was the AMedicine of immortality, the means for healing, that we not die but live constantly in Jesus Christ@. It is the Deification of the believer in Christ, his Theosis. However, the Eucharist has a corporate character as well. Participation in the Eucharist is the common act of all Church members. And should someone, for one reason or another, usually due to negligence towards that great spiritual treasure, the Holy Gifts, due to a neglect of one=s responsibility as a member of the Church and a neglect of the commandment of love towards other members of the Church, that someone should refuse or decline to participate in that corporate act, then the Church would become concerned and would immediately attempt to discover a cause for that spiritual wound in order to heal it. The canons of the Councils of the post-Constantinian era are permeated with that concern. The Empire=s adoption of Christianity brought numerous nominal Christians into the Church. AFor the majority, the purely sacrificial zeal of Christianity was replaced by the need to be socially correct and at times even by self-service@ (Metr. Sergii of Moscow). The spiritual intensity of Christians was weakened and brought about a negligent and unworthy relation towards the Liturgy. There were occasions of people leaving the Liturgy following the reading of the Scripture and the sermon. Such conduct distressed St John Chrysostom. Canon Two of the Council of Antioch in 341 and Canon 9 of the Apostolic Canons excommunicated those Awho come in and hear the Scriptures but do not stay for the prayers and the Holy Communion@ or, as the final canon of the Slavonic Kormchaya of 1787 which reads, in agreement with the commentaries of Zonaras and Aristinus: AThose who do not remain in Church until the final prayer are not Communed. By that time Christians stopped coming to the Liturgy. This carelessness towards the Liturgy on the part of the people Awho dissipated the strength and fervor of faith and turned towards the cares of the world@ roused the Church to adopt decisive measures. Canon 21 of Elvira (305), Canon 11 of Sardica (343) which was repeated in Canon 80 of Trullo (692) deposes the clergy and excommunicates clerics and laymen Awho fail to attend the Liturgy for three Sundays during three consecutive weeks@. These measures did not have the desired effect. We know that in Byzantium both the Patriarch and the Emperor would leave the temple following the reading of the Gospel. The decline in spiritual life continued and expressed itself in a diminished participation in the Liturgy and Communion. At the time of Chrysostom some people received Communion once or twice a year notwithstanding the Hierarch=s admonitions. St Cassian likewise condemns infrequent participation in the Eucharist. ADaily penances for monastics@, attributed to St Theodore Studite, were directed against that practice.
By the 8th century the secret reading of the Anaphora becomes the commonly accepted practice. The perplexities, questions and arguments among the liturgists continue and are given as the explanation for the evolution of the prayer behind the ambo as a substitute Anaphora for the laity. ASome, standing outside the sanctuary, are frequently puzzled, arguing amongst themselves and saying: what is the point, the purpose and the meaning of the prayers quietly read by the bishop. They would like to have some understanding of them and thus the Holy Fathers wrote (the prayer behind the ambo) as a summary of all that was prayed for (during the Liturgy) letting them who desire to have an understanding of just the fringe of the whole garment@.
By the 8th century the secret reading of the Eucharistic canon which engendered silent Masses was observed in the West. Various assumption were made for the reason for introducing secret readings of the Anaphora. The proposition that this practice was adopted for shortening the Liturgy, for the same reason which St Basil the Great and St John Chrysostom shortened the Anaphora, as given by St Proclus, cannot be accepted as convincing since at that time the process of lengthening the Liturgy of the Catechumens began and there was the introduction of litanies and processions before the Liturgy. There was also the beginning of our Services of Intercession which for some time were performed prior to the Liturgy and continues to be in some places, and not after it. One cannot agree with the assumption of Duchesne about the difficulties of reading the prayers aloud in large temples or with the hypothesis of the misunderstanding coming out of the incorrect understanding of the word mystikos, placed before the Anaphora as a directive Afor some kind of a special mystical method@ of reading it.
On the other hand it is quite evident that the secret reading is connected with the Eucharistic carelessness of the Church=s people. The Eucharist is the Mystery which evokes a sacred trembling in the faithful. ALet all mortal flesh keep silent, and in fear and trembling stand@. Such trembling is inherent in the Liturgy at all times. But the Eucharistic carelessness of the people forced the Fathers and the liturgists to focus their principal attention towards the development of the necessary reverence, a sacred fear and trembling, before the Holy Gifts, before which the Angels veil their faces. The Holy Cup must be approached Awith fear and love@. The sacred trembling completes the usual feeling of unworthiness and sinfulness. In the Eucharist is the Christ B rex tremendae magestasis. One can find in St John Chrysostom, who grieves over the collapse of the Eucharistic sensitivity and fervor, constant reminders for the need of sacred trembling before the Awesome Mysteries. Suggestions for such attitudes are found in St Cyril of Jerusalem. St John Chrysostom, during whose time the Anaphora was undoubtedly read aloud, likewise had great influence, especially in Syria. It is among the Syrian writers and liturgists that the prayers with Asacred trembling@ are especially developed, which were almost completely absent from the ancient liturgical rites, as in the Liturgy of the Apostolic Constitution in the Anaphora of Serapion of Tmuita ,and in the Fathers of the 4th century, with the exception of St John Chrysostom and St Cyril mentioned above. In Theodore of Mopsuestia=s commentary on the liturgy given in book two of Liber ad Baptizandos the term Afearsome@ is found constantly, as applied to the Eucharistic Mystery, the Offering and the Holy Gifts. Here directions are given for a mystical silence. AWhen we approach silence during the great and reverent fear the priest begins the Anaphora. The hymn of the Seraphim is sung by all those present. . .and the priest unites audibly with the invisible hosts.@ AThe priest reads these prayers quietly@. The Nestorian author Narsai (H 502), founder of the Nyzbin school and who was under the strong influence of Theodore of Mopsuestia, writes about the feelings of fear and trembling and the silent reading of the Anaphora. In his 17th homily he describes and comments on the liturgy contemporary with him which is very similar except for the Anaphora, with the Nestorian liturgy of Addai and Mari.
For example, following the Creed Athe priest brings the Mystery of the redemption of our life, full of trembling and clothed with fear and great awe. The priest abides in awe and in great fear and trembling because of his trespasses and the trespasses of all the children of the Church... Trembling and fear for himself and for the people lies upon the priest at this awesome hour. In fearful conditions of service he even brings on fear to the Seraphim, the son of decay as the mediator, abides in great fear. The fearful king, mystically immolated and buried, and the fearful guardians (angels), standing in fear in honor of their Lord. The priest abides in these thoughts for the Divine service, reverently and with great fear and trembling.@ The deacon=s exclamation is permeated with the same feelings.
The first evidence of silent or quiet reading of the Anaphora and the mystical Eucharistic silence is found in Theodore of Mopsuestia and Narsai. It is natural to assume that this practice arose in Syria and as a consequence first spread in Eastern Syria. The practice of the disciplina arcana likewise had an effect upon the secret reading of the Anaphora, in order to protect the sanctity and the majesty of Christian mysteries. This is clear from the response of the Syrian author, Bishop Jacob of Edessa (640-708) to the question: AWhy are Mysteries performed behind closed doors and traditionally in silence.@ It is likely due to the demands of the disciplina arcana and this explains absence of the words of institution in the interpretations of Theodore of Mopsuestia, in the rites of the Nestorian liturgies of Addai and Mari and their oral tradition. Certain ideas expressed in the Corpus Areopagiticum, especially in The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy undoubtedly influenced the implementation of the secret reading of the Anaphora. The Corpus apparently appeared in Syria at the end of the 5th century and became very popular there. The mystic Sergius Rissaina (H 536) translated it into Syrian. From Syria the Corpus finds its way to Constantinople and was at first looked upon with great suspicion.
The Liturgy in the book The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy strikingly resembles and perhaps is the same as that of Narsai, with only the difference that in Narsai=s diptychs living members of the Church are included and the Creed is placed following the carrying of the Gifts to the altar.
This distinction of the divine hierarch from the people and the motive for mystery is emphasized in the designation of the Liturgy as the Amystery of mysteries@, the Aperfection of mysteries, Athe mystery of the synaxis or communion@. For example, AHaving himself partaken of and imparted the divine communion (to others) the hierarch concludes the ceremony with a sacred thanksgiving together with the entire assembly (which participates in the thanksgiving, privy only to the divine symbols) but he himself always elevated by the divine Spirit to the divine hierarchy, in the purity of the order of the divine image and the blessed and rational contemplation@. Or as later paraphrased by George Pachimer, Athe crowd sees only the divine symbols since it cannot understand anything higher, and the hierarch himself is led to those prime symbols, to the very real Body and Blood of the Lord, believing that the symbols present before him have been changed into the true Body and true Blood by the holy and all-powerful Spirit@.
In spite of the secret reading of the Eucharistic prayers in the Syrian and Persian rites of the liturgy, the laity=s participation is stressed thanks to the summons and exclamations of the deacon before each part of the Anaphora. Linked together, these exclamations become a litany.
Although the Corpus Areopagiticum in no way suggests to diminish the corporate nature of the great Amystery of the synaxis@, it did introduce a significant distance between the laity and the sacred ministers. It diminished laity=s understanding of their responsibility for the Eucharistic prayer. By the middle of the 6th century the Corpus spreads over the whole East, it intrudes into Constantinople and has a great influence upon later Byzantine theology. John Skithopolis writes Scholias (530-540) on the Corpus. Along with the Corpus, the practice of the secret reading of the Anaphora is also spread. The groundwork for this was prepared by St John Chrysostom=s teaching about fear and trembling which must accompany one=s approach to the Holy Gifts, and by the great Christological controversies. Justinian vainly struggles against this new practice. His Novella could not curb the process once it began. John Moschus speaks of the audible reading of the Anaphora as occurring only in some places. A solemn Great Entrance, with all its symbolism, is introduced, along with the Cherubicon and total fear and trembling.
For many, the Liturgy has lost that meaning of the most significant and central Divine service, that joy of the ecclesiastical community which was preparing for it by participating in all services of the daily cycle. For many, enchanted by the beauties of the service=s Biblical imagery and the poetry of the Church=s great and inspired hymnographers, the Liturgy is relegated to the second place, behind the All-night Vigil. The Liturgy has become overgrown with extraneous additives B abridged Matins, intercession services, services for the dead, which, in the minds of the faithful, frequently act as a substitute for the sacrificial and merciful character of the Eucharist. Communion has become infrequent. For many it is replaced by the Antidoron.
The faithful receive Communion once a year. Communion is closely linked with a penitential exercise and the sacrament of Penance. In this a great spiritual truth is resolved. ALet a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.@ (I Cor 11:28-29) The exclamation in "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Aif anyone is holy, let him approach, and if he is not, let him repent@ resounds in all liturgies. AHoly things to the holy.@ Chrysostom, in his fervent desire that all of his flock approach the sacred Mysteries as frequently as possible demands that Communion be Awith a clear mind, a clear heart and a blameless life,@ Awith a great oneness of mind and a fervent love with trembling and in all purity@. On the day of his regeneration and the sealing with the seal of the Holy Spirit, the Christian is called to such a life, during which he would have the opportunity, even with a profound consciousness of his sinfulness and unworthiness, to approach the sacred Cup as often as possible Ain the fear of God and love@ and participate in the prayers of the Holy Offering.
In the second half of the 11th century the Kievan Metropolitan John II (H 1089) probably following the practice of Constantinople in his ARules of the holy Fathers for the penitent sons and daughters@ speaks about communion on great feasts and on all Sundays of Great Lent which add up to 22 days. It is apparent that the attempt to introduce or to preserve the practice of frequent reception was extremely difficult.
In the 15th century Symeon of Salonika, following the practice of the Ancient Church recommends approaching the holy Cup Aif possible, every Sunday.@ Nonetheless, there was a gradual introduction of the practice of a single reception each year, preceded by intensive fasting and prayer. Many Church members fail to carry out even this minimal requirement and do not receive Communion for several years. Ecclesiastical authorities in Byzantium as well as in Russia frequently pointed to this sad phenomenon and attempted to remedy it with measures which unfortunately were not always prudent nor spiritually edifying especially when combined with other motives. We will not dwell on the spiritually-repulsive legislative and administrative measures implemented in Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries which compelled every Orthodox individual to confess and receive Communion annually (register of penitents, fines and punishments). The Mysteries were the government=s weapons in its struggle against the Dissenters. It is only natural that Article 20 of the AStatute on the deterrence and prevention of criminal acts@ had such a negative meaning which only hardened the hearts against the Church and resulted in a monumentally blasphemous attitude towards the Church=s Mysteries.
To be sure, the souls abiding in a vital spiritual life, will feel a thirst and hunger for the Eucharist. AAs a doe thirsts for the stream so is my soul anxious for Thee, O Lord." Unfortunately the practice of infrequent Communion is viewed by many as if it is on the same level as a Canon. @ An unhealthy suspicion and fear has developed which at times goes too far and not infrequently keeps the Church members away from Communion for years at a time@, (Metropolitan Sergii). Sad examples are known about priests who discourage frequent Communion or do not permit people to approach the Cup on the Abrightest night@ of Pascha, although in some places this can be explained by a zeal for worthy participation and a struggle against a careless attitude towards the Mystery, expressed in a superficial desire to fulfill one=s Aobligation@ quickly during the Paschal night.
However, within the Orthodox Church some movements have been observed leading towards a revival of the Church=s corporate Eucharistic life, similar to the strong Liturgical movement in the West which is constantly growing and spreading and which aims to return the Mass to its corporate character by encouraging the participation of the whole community.
Communion is becoming more frequent. This is especially evident in Soviet Russia where life=s special circumstances has resulted in a more intense spirituality among the believes which excludes that indifference which has been condemned by the Angel in his message to the Church in Laodicaea (Revel. 3:15-16). Of special interest are the views and practices of the late professor, Fr.N.N. Nalimov, of the St Petersburg Theological Academy, who called his spiritual children to a more frequent reception and replaced confession before each reception with a weekly spiritual discussion which gave him an opportunity to observe his spiritual children and to give them direction.
In 1930 the Moscow Patriarchal Synod received a petition from a laywoman, L. E. Ivanova and Aa group of members of the Christian community@ Aconcerning the introduction of serving the Presanctified liturgy during the whole of Great Lent except for the days when a complete liturgy is prescribed, thus enabling the faithful to receive Communion daily.@ The petition was accompanied with an AApology for the daily and regular reception of the Holy Mysteries as a commandment of Christ the Savior.@ Metropolitan Sergii was critical of some parts of the Apology. After hearing his report, the Patriarchal Synod, by their resolution of 13 May 1931, No 85, rejected Ivanova=s petition. The argument for the need for daily Communion was rejected as not being essential for the spiritual benefits of the communicants and not being in conformance with the age-old practice of the Church.@ However, Athe desire respecting the possibility of frequent Communion by Orthodox Christians and for the more faithful of them Communion every Sunday, is deemed acceptable@.
As a recipient of the mystery of Chrismation, one must make a powerful effort to realize of one=s obligation to participate corporally in the Liturgy, both in the offering and in Communion. This will become the way which will create a spiritual rejuvenation. It will bring about a grace-filled inspiration for the Direction taken by Christians looking to the Deification of life and culture and the revelation of God's Kingdom in this world. This would be the way of healing the wounds of social evil and of sin. This realization and the Eucharistic prayer=s spiritual experience will provide an opportunity to return to those particularities of the ancient Liturgy in a natural, corporal voice of the Holy Church. These things were obscured in the consciousness of Christians because of their spiritual negligence but they were preserved in the Church=s service books. Such a return would by no means be a repudiation of that great spiritual treasure which accumulated in the Church as the fruit of centuries of prayerful inspiration and effort. To reject this would be a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit who lives and acts in the Church and beautifies Her with His gifts.
The burning words of the Eucharistic prayers illumine the way as if a guiding star. The words of St Basil=s Anaphora resounds like heavenly music, which regrettably, does not reach the consciousness of the laity.
AAnd unite all of us to one another who become partakers of the one Bread and Cup in the communion of the Holy Spirit. . . Receive us all into Thy Kingdom, showing us to be the sons of light and sons of the day. Grant us Thy peace and Thy love O Lord our God. . .And grant that with one mouth and one heart we may praise Thine all-honorable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit@.
1. See e.g. Lietzmann H. Messe und Herrenmahl. (Bonn, 1926). Karabinov, I. Eucharistic Prayer., (SPB 1908). Gavin, F. The Jewish Antecedent of the Christian Sacraments. (London, 1928), pp, 60-97.
3. See the interesting essays of H. J. Gibbins. "The Problem of the Liturgical Section of the Didache," Journal of Theological Studies, vol 36 (Oct. 1835) pp 373-386; Middleton, R. D. "The Eucharistic Prayer of the Didache", ibid (July), pp 259-267.
4. Library of Christian Classics, V, one.
9. The priest kisses the covered disk and chalice, and the altar table.
10. I Cor 14:16. Rites of early liturgies. Justin. Collections of ancient liturgies, V, I p. 40. St. Dionysius of Alexandria from a letter to Sixtus bishop of Rome. Eusebius, Church History, book VII, 9. Collection p. 69, etc.
11. St Ignatius to Smyrnaeans, Library of Christian Classics, v. 1, p 115.
12. "We must thank. . .we remember. . . we repeat. . . we implore. . .we remember. . . we repeat." The Five Sermons on the Mysteries, Works, SPB 1913, pp 248-249.
13. Commentary on II Corinthians, Sermon 18:3. Russian collection Vol X, book 2. SPB 1904, pp 632-633.
14. Collection of Ancient Liturgies, SPB 1875 pp 26-37. Brightman pp 87-96. cf Syrian Liturgy of St Basil the Great, ibid, pp 89-108. Mozarabic, pp 140-149.
15. See: Acts of St Perpetua. Her dream.
16. In the Armenian Liturgy the Deacon exclaims: "Kiss each other with the holy kiss and those of you who cannot receive these sacred Mysteries, depart beyond the doors." Cf the exclamation in the Coptic Liturgy of St Cyril of Alexandria: "Let those who cannot partake, depart."
20. Collection of Early Liturgies, v. I, pp 40, 42.
22. E.g. Almazov, Mystery of Confession in the Orthodox Eastern Church, Odessa, 1894, V. II, pp 116-123.
23. See Dmitrievsky, I. Historical, Dogmatic and Sacramental Analysis of the Liturgy, Moscow 1823, pp 244-245, note A.
25. I. Pokrovsky, Matrimonial Prayers and Blessings in the Early Church (1st to 10th centuries). Collection of essays in honor of the 100th jubilee of the Moscow Spiritual Academy, 1913. II. especially pp 577-592.
26. Mansvetov, Church Ustav, Moscow 1855, pg. 240.
27. Nikodim Milash, Canons of the Orthodox Church with Commentaries. SPB 1911, v, pg 69.
28. St Prockus, Sermon on the Heritage of the Divine Liturgy, Collection of Ancient Liturgies, v. 2 pg 237.
29. A. Golubtsov. Cathedral Ordinals and Particularities of Services According to Them. Moscow 1907 pg 179 note 1.
30. The attribution of all such rules to St Theodore Studite is questionable. N. Grossau, St Theodore Studite, His Times, Life and Works, Kiev 1907 pp 296-299.
negligence, he must be subject to penance for 40 days.
he must fast until evening and make 50 prostrations.
from the Church for one year .
33. Chapter 6 Novella 137 of Justinian, 26 March 565. Greek text in Mommsen's Corpus Juris Civilis, III pp 695-699, 1896. Cf Brightman, Liturgies Eastern and Western, Oxford 1896, pg 533: 19-23: "That the souls of the listeners would come from this to greater piety, Divine praise and blessing." The Novella exists in two redactions: 1) the original text is in Mommsen. 2) Combined text of Novella 123 (1 May 546) and 137 (26 May 565) which includes Novella 137 in parts within Novella 123. P.L. 72, 1019-103.
34. Direction for the reading mystikos in Barberini's (8th-9th centuries) and Porfirii's (8th-9th) Euchologions. Archpriest M. N. Orlov, Liturgy of St Basil the Great, SPB 1909.
36. Theodore Bishop of Andida (11th century. Krasnosel'tsev, N.F. On the Ancient Liturgical Commentaries, Odessa 1894, pp 11-13). Brief Analysis of the Mysteries and Rites of the Divine Liturgies, Compiled at the Request of the God-loving Basil, bishop of Fitia (trans. by Krasnosel'tsev. Prav. Sobesednik 1884, ch I, pg 413. Detailed redaction (following 10th century) by Krasnosel'tsev, Consecutive Exposition of Divine Services and Rites of St German, Patriarch of Constantinople (715-732) Writings of the Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church Concerning Explanations of the Divine Services, V. I SPB 1855, pg 425.
38. Golubtsov, A., The Reasons and Times of the Replacement of Audible Reading of Liturgical Prayers by Secret Readings.
39. Sermon on the Tradition of the Divine Liturgy, Collected works, v. 2, pp 23-58.
40. English translation, Christian Worship. Its Origin and Evolution, 5th ed. London 1927 pp 117-118.
41. Archim. (Bishop) Gavriil, Liturgics Manual, Tver, 1886, pg 104. It is not clear what to do with the deacons who receive Communion but do not hear the prayers.
42. For example: The Fearful Offering, (Works, vol I, pg 462., vol V, pg 484). Fearful and mysterious, vol. VI, pg 384. Fearful and awesome, vol X, pg 240. The Eucharist - most fearful mystery, vol I, pg 417; Fearful and redemptive, vol VII, pg 289. Other examples in Edmund Bishop, Appendix to Texts and Studies, vol VIII, No 1, pp 94-95, note 2.
43. "Truly, during this sacred hour the heart must be fully directed towards God." Works, pg 247.
44. "If you read the prayers in a foreign tongue, then the ordinary person is unable to respond with his Amen; not having heard the words 'unto ages of ages,' he will not say Amen." Sermon 35 on I Cor., Works SPB 1904, vol. X book I, pg 358.
45. Referred to occasionally as the Book of Mysteries by Eastern Syrian writers. Commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia on the Lord's Prayer and on the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist by A. Mingana, Woodbroke Studies, vol. VI, Cambridge 1933, English translation pp. 70-123.
49. Texts and Studies, vol VIII, N. 1. Cambridge 1909, pp 1-45. About the authorship of Narsai see ibid, R.H. Connolly, pp XII-XLI and F.C. Burkitt. "The MSS of Narsai on the mysteries," Journal of Theological Studies, 1928, pg 269ff.
51. Cf: "Woe is me, woe is me. . ."(Isaiah 6:5) in the Liturgy of Addai and Mari, 4th ed., pg 21.
52. Texts and Studies, VII, No 1, pg 7.
54. Cf: Commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia, Woodbrooke Studies, pp 93, 100.
59. Ibid pg 22. Cf: the deacon's exclamation in the Syrian Liturgy of St James before the invocation: "How fearful is the present hour. How awesome, my beloved, is that time during which the living and holy Spirit comes from the heavenly heights. Watch with fear and trembling." In the catholicon following the Anaphora: "Here is the time of fear, here is the hour of trembling. Those on high stand in fear and serve with trembling; the son of light encompasses the awesomeness..Tremble, you servants of the Church who perform the Divine act of the living fire...Deacons, stand with trembling." Collection, v. 2, pp 30,38.
61. The words of institution in the Anaphora published by Brightman were taken from Rev. A.J. Maclean's fragments found in Kurdistan. They existed at the time of Narsai and apparently were excluded later. Lietzmann, Die Messe und Herrenmahl, pg 33.
62. E.g. the book on ecclesiastical hierarchy. Writings of the Holy Fathers and Church teachers concerning the interpretation of Orthodox Divine services, vol. I, SPB 1855, pp 9-246 (with the interpretation of George Pachimer (1240-1310) and notes by Maximus the Confessor).
63. For example in Edessa and neighboring territory (Wescott). The first one to cite the Corpus was Severus of Antioch in 513.
64. For example the Syrian Anaphora with the name of St Dionysius Areopagite.
65. See e.g. Bolotov, V.V., Lectures on the history of the ancient Church, vol IV SPB 1918, pg 376.
66. See for more detail in Edmund Bishop, Appendix to the Texts and Studies Viii. No 1, pg 112.
70. It is interesting that some texts of the Greek liturgy of St James, the prayer "at the entry of the Holy Gifts" is attributed to Dionysius Areopagite, "Having come to your fearful dais, Lord, we are in awe as we approach your sacred table and are standing near your fearful Throne, we tremble and shake with our members, as we offer the unapproachable offering. . .because of which we stand in fear and trembling."
76. According to S. Epiphanov, these are known under the name of St. Maximus the Confessor.
If John Skithopolis can be identified with John III Scholasticus , Patriarch of Constantinople (565-577), (according to I. Sokolov, in the Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia, vol. VII, col. I,) then the Cherubicon was introduced at that time and if its composition can be attributed to him (according to Bishop Porfirii Uspensky), then the influence of the Corpus becomes self-evident.
77. Cf. "The deacons bring out this offering or the symbol of offering, which they place upon the awesome altar. . .We must think about Christ, being conscious of his suffering.". . "We must think that the deacons, carrying the Eucharistic bread for the offering, represent the image of the invisible powers. . .When they place the bread upon the holy altar, we think of Him, as having been placed in the tomb after the passions. This is why the deacons, spreading the covers upon the altar, symbolize by them the burial cloth." Theodore, Woodbrooke Studies, pp 85, 86. Cf Narsai, "We will look upon Jesus, being led to his death for us." The placing of the Gifts upon the altar is the symbol of burial. The deacons represent the angels who are guarding the awesome mystery of the King of kings. Texts and Studies, pp 3-4, 55-56. Cf. the hymn "Let all mortal flesh keep silent and in fear and trembling stand. . .", which was introduced probably more or less at the same time with the Cherubicon hymn (according to Kedrin, in 573) and the "Now the heavenly powers" (in 615-620).
See Eutychius of Constantinople (H582) for an incorrect understanding of the Great Entrance in Sermon on Easter and Eucharist, Collection, v. 4, pg 65.
81. Here it must be noted with regret about the laity's understanding of the Prosthesis and its sacrificial and merciful character. The presence of any laity in the Church during the Prosthesis is infrequent and if they are there, they are attentive to the reading of the Hours. On Athos, during the Hours, a small bell is sounded at the appropriate moment and the monks begin reciting memorials and Diptychs, their own and the monastery's.
82. For example, the Liturgy of the Apostolic Constitutions , Psalm 33. Collection of the ancient liturgies, vol. I, pg 134; other hymns, ibid., See Skaballanovich for more detail op.cit. Pp49-50. Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia, vol. X, cols 16-18.
85. This practice is found in the decree of a council in Cyprus (1620) whereby the priest must inquire of those who come to the Chalice, whether they confessed their sins and to which spiritual father. Theological Herald, l905, April, pg. 754, note 1.
88. Vol VI, pg 308.
89. Vol VI pg 309.
90. Skaballonovich, Tolkovyi Typikon, First part, pp 210-211, 222, 227, 242. Daily in the Apollos Monastery. Ibid. pg 22.
92. S. Smirnov, "Confession and repentance in ancient monasteries of the East," Theological Herald, 1905 April, pp 746-754.
95. Cf The practice of certain princes ,Golubinsky. History of the Russian Church, vol I ch II, Moscow 1904, pg 434 note1.
97. "Discussion on divine services and Church Mysteries," Writings of the Holy Fathers and Church Teachers, v. II SPB 1856, pg 519.
100. Archimandrite Cassian (S.S.Bezobrazov) Vozrozhdenie, No 18, 1926. "Three Images." Fr. Nalimov's theses are published in Put, No 18 (1929) pp 79-87. Cf Fr S. Bulgakov's article, "On the question of penitential and Eucharistic discipline," Put, No 19, pp 70-78.

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