The blessing of waters and Epiphany
Subtitle: the Eastern liturgical tradition
By: Nicholas E. Denysenko
Series: Liturgy, worship, and society series
Publisher: Ashgate
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Farnham, Surrey, England; Burlington, VT
Language: eng
Number of pages: 237
ISBN-13: 9781409440789; 9781409440796
Subjects: Water; Benediction; Epiphany; Orthodox Eastern Church; Holy water
Description: "This book examines the historical development of the blessing of waters and its theology in the East, with an emphasis on the Byzantine tradition. Exploring how Eastern Christians have sought these waters as a source of healing, purification, and communion with God, Nicholas Denysenko unpacks their euchology and ritual context. The history and theology of the blessing of waters on Epiphany is informative for contemporary theologians, historians, pastors and students. Offering important insights into how Christians renew Baptism in receiving the blessed waters, this book also proposes new perspectives for theologizing Christian stewardship of ecology in the modern era based on a patristic liturgical synthesis. Denysenko presents an alternative framework for understanding the activity of the Trinity, enabling readers to encounter a vision of how participants encounter God in and after ritual"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p.         ) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Early history of the blessing of waters; title: History of the blessing of waters: stage 1 (8th-10th centuries); title: History of the blessing of waters: stage 2 (11th-13th centuries); title: History of the blessing of waters: stage 3 (14th-16th centuries); title: The origins of the "great are you" prayer; title: Memory and praise of the Lord's theophany; title: Epiclesis and the gift of the Holy Spirit; title: Pastoral considerations; title: Conclusion.