Thesis Chapters by Jeff Mierzejewski
Since at least the fourth century, Christians who worship according to the Byzantine Rite have at... more Since at least the fourth century, Christians who worship according to the Byzantine Rite have at times celebrated the daily offices of prayer in the absence of clergy, but this pattern of worship is only found in the liturgical books in a cursory fashion, and little scholarly work has been done to date. This study examines the historical evidence for priest-less celebration of the Byzantine Divine Office. The introduction of the text “Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us” into the liturgical tradition is documented, along with early liturgical use of the Jesus Prayer, the development of rubrics for priestless celebration, and the presence in the liturgical books of verses marked “stichos” whose text is not provided, but understood from context. The historical evidence for priestless celebration of the daily cycle presented allows for new insights into the theology of the Byzantine Divine Office, focusing on the priest-celebrant as an agent of unity among the bishop, the faithful, and the God whom together they praise.
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Thesis Chapters by Jeff Mierzejewski