Eastern Liturgies Prior to the 5th Century

Church History
3/18/25

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).

"§99. The Oriental Liturgies." (pp. 2259-2263).
    The liturgies for which we have written record, though there are many, in Schaff's opinion fit into five or six families of tradition, stemming from churches in Jerusalem, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Rome (Schaff 2014, p. 2259). He observes that the east showed a greater tolerance for variety in liturgies than the west.
    A complete service order, probably from the early fourth century, is found in the Apostolic Constitutions book eight, ascribed wrongly to Clement of Rome (Schaff 2014, p. 2259). Because of similarities to the liturgies of St. James and Cyril of Jerusalem, Schaff classifies it as a Jerusalem liturgy (Schaff 2014, p. 2260). Schaff describes it in brief, then compares it to the liturgy of St. James.
    This, though it bears the name of a first century apostle, quotes the Nicene Creed from the fourth century. The liturgy is quoted by Cyril of Jerusalem, prior to 386 (Schaff 2014, p. 2261). Schaff notes a Syriac version of the liturgy of St. James which serves as a sources for numerous Monyphysite liturgies.
    An Alexandrian liturgy is ascribed to the evangelist Mark, though Schaff observes it reproduces the Niceno-Constantinopolitan creed dating to 381 (Schaff 2014, p. 2261). Schaff thinks it more likely stems from Cyril of Alexandria, who died in 444. A Coptic version was used in Egypt until the 12th century.
    Schaff describes a liturgy which is tied to Edessa or Mesopotamia (Schaff 2014, p. 2262). This is sometimes described as a liturgy of "All Apostles" and was used only by Nestorians.
    From Constantinople, Schaff finds a liturgy descended from that of James. This version of the liturgy, in one form or another, is used in Greek and Russian orthodox churches (Schaff 2014, p. 2262). Schaff sees this as a living liturgy which has continued to gain some accretions.