In the Eastern Christian Churches, the “moment” at which the Eucharist becomes the body and blood of Christ is not so tightly defined as it is in the Roman Catholic Church, and this ambiguity is reflected in practice and in theology.
Archive for category Eastern Liturgy
The “moment” of consecration
Jan 11
This post continues our occasional romp through Fr. Unterseher’s Ph.D. comprehensive examination topics, with a look at the historic mystagogical and allegorical commentaries on the Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy.
Most of us on this blog know the name of Yves Congar but few of us know his debt to Willem Cornelis van Unnik in Congar’s analysis of the work of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy.
I admire my parishioners for their openness to this new translation. There are no revolutions to report, although there has been much eye-rolling and often a suppressed giggle. On the national level, there is a serious and continuing call from some clergy and laity to suppress the new “old-way.” When all is said and done, a greater understanding of the liturgy remains the goal. I just wish I could believe that we are on the right path.
A Renaissance in Georgia
Jan 24
The latest issue of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association’s magazine, One, includes a fascinating article, A Renaissance in Georgia, reporting on the resurgence of interest in Georgia’s medieval chant tradition and more…
And the true ancient tradition of the whole Catholic Church is to give Communion to infants. Present Latin usage is a medieval innovation.
In an unprecedented move, Catholic and Orthodox representatives have proposed concrete steps for real unity between the churches. The 24 members of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation concluded a three-day meeting in Washington on Oct. 2 and issued two statements.
East & West
Oct 4
While on holiday in the Dodecanese recently I made my way each Sunday to the town’s church to attend the Divine Liturgy according to the Greek Orthodox Rite. Here are a few observations based just on two Sundays on one Greek island.
I began studying Eritrean Christianity in 2003 by praying with and learning from Eritrean Orthodox Christians in San Diego at the beginning of my doctoral studies in cultural anthropology which subsequently lead to my fieldwork in Eritrea in 2005. Although it had been my intention to primarily gather more information about the Eritrean Orthodox liturgy while continuing my Tigrinya language studies I ended up spending most of my time with and learning from the Eritrean Catholic community.