4th Century Prayers of the Western Tradition, with Early Influences

Academic Reading
2/5/26

Jasper, R.C.D. & Cuming, G.J. (1990). "Chapter 13: The Apostolic Constitutions" (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 100-113). In Prayers of the Eucharist: Early and Reformed. 3rd Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press. (Personal Library)
    The Apostolic Constitutions, a church order probably from the second half of the fourth century, edited by someone who shows Arian leanings, contains three liturgies (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 100). One in book two does not provide an anaphora text. Book seven contains one largely adapted from the Didache, along with "a number of Jewish prayers translated into Greek and adapted for Christian use" (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 100). In book eight there is a complete text of a liturgy, the earliest one we have. Jasper and Cuming note that the editor retained a significant portion of Hippolytus' anaphora (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 101).
    Book seven takes material over from the Didache with little change, but drawing the thanksgivings from Didache 9 together (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 101).
    After a brief bibliography referencing Apostolic Constitutions book seven (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 101), Jasper and Cuming provide an English version of the relevant material.
    The material from book eight, being the complete text of a liturgy, provides much more detail. "The preface is of enormous and unparalleled length" (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 103). It incorporates a novel element, a section about the nature of God. Creation is described in detail, the fall, and early Old Testament history are also narrated. The prayer continues with references to "the birth, ministry, and death of Christ" (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 103). The intercessions in the prayers are shorter than those of St. James. 
    After a brief bibliography (Jasper & Cuming 1990, p. 104), Jasper and Cuming provide an English translation of the relevant portions of the anaphora.

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