Church History
3/11/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter VII. Public Worship and Religious Customs and Ceremonies." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2124-2268). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 74-101).
"§98. The Liturgies. Their Origin and Contents." (pp. 2251-2259).
After providing an extensive bibliography, Schaff defines liturgy as "the order and administration of public worship in general, and the celebration of the Eucharist in particular; then, the book or collection of the prayers used in this celebration" (Schaff 2014, p. 2253). he notes briefly that various religious traditions have collections of prayers and rituals, some written and some preserved through oral tradition. While the New Testament does not provide liturgy or ritual, it provides the elements from which they can be derived.
Schaff asserts liturgies in the ante-Nicene period as forming gradually and independently of one another, sustained by oral tradition alone prior to the fourth century (Schaff 2014, p. 2254). He views this as the case due to the secrecy with which the Eucharist was viewed (Schaff 2014, p. 2254). From the fourth century onward, many written records of liturgies exist (Schaff 2014, p. 2255). Because the liturgies bear considerable similarities and differences, he considers them to have some original source, such as apostolic teaching. However, the divergences suggest the development from an apostolic root to have been relatively independent (Schaff 2014, p. 2256).
Schaff observes the centrality of the Eucharist in medieval practice, counter to the sermon's centrality in the Protestant movement (Schaff 2014, p. 2257). He then describes several differences between eastern and western liturgies. Chiefly, the eastern liturgy maintains a sharper distinction between the Service of the Word and the Eucharist. The eastern liturgies also have a clear invocation of the Holy Spirit after the Words of Institution. There is also more variability in western services than in those of the east (Schaff 2014, p. 2255). Symbolic action is more important to the east than to the west.
3/11/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter VII. Public Worship and Religious Customs and Ceremonies." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2124-2268). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 74-101).
"§98. The Liturgies. Their Origin and Contents." (pp. 2251-2259).
After providing an extensive bibliography, Schaff defines liturgy as "the order and administration of public worship in general, and the celebration of the Eucharist in particular; then, the book or collection of the prayers used in this celebration" (Schaff 2014, p. 2253). he notes briefly that various religious traditions have collections of prayers and rituals, some written and some preserved through oral tradition. While the New Testament does not provide liturgy or ritual, it provides the elements from which they can be derived.
Schaff asserts liturgies in the ante-Nicene period as forming gradually and independently of one another, sustained by oral tradition alone prior to the fourth century (Schaff 2014, p. 2254). He views this as the case due to the secrecy with which the Eucharist was viewed (Schaff 2014, p. 2254). From the fourth century onward, many written records of liturgies exist (Schaff 2014, p. 2255). Because the liturgies bear considerable similarities and differences, he considers them to have some original source, such as apostolic teaching. However, the divergences suggest the development from an apostolic root to have been relatively independent (Schaff 2014, p. 2256).
Schaff observes the centrality of the Eucharist in medieval practice, counter to the sermon's centrality in the Protestant movement (Schaff 2014, p. 2257). He then describes several differences between eastern and western liturgies. Chiefly, the eastern liturgy maintains a sharper distinction between the Service of the Word and the Eucharist. The eastern liturgies also have a clear invocation of the Holy Spirit after the Words of Institution. There is also more variability in western services than in those of the east (Schaff 2014, p. 2255). Symbolic action is more important to the east than to the west.
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