Dr. Ann T. Orlando
April 25, 2013
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Ancient Greek liturgy
Ancient Christian liturgy
Role of the wealthy
Assignments
NB See Theological Dictionary of the New
Testament, Vol. IV, Gerhard Kittel pp215-231
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Literally, “the work of the people”
In addition to taxes, wealthy individuals were
required to fund civic building functions and
other services
◦ Same will be true in Roman society
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In popular usage takes general meaning of
any service rendered because of one’s office
or position to another
◦ Slave to master (Aristotle)
◦ Family members to each other
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Used only as a type of service owed to God
In particular service of a priestly type as part of a
ritual
If service to others is implied, diakonos or a similar
term is used
No use of general type of service, such as used in
ancient Greece
◦ Implication is that LXX authors/translators wanted an
exclusive term for priestly ministry
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The people receive the benefits of the service, which
can only be offered in sacrifice to God by the priest
◦ Benefit of God’s care
◦ Priest also includes peoples individual sacrifices and
offerings as part of the leitourgia
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See Ex 28-29 Nu 25; Ez 40-46
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Leitourgia and derivatives are used only 15 times
in NT
Hebrews has most frequent use (6 times)
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Paul uses it 3 times
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Luke/Acts
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◦ Emphasis on Priesthood of Jesus Christ
◦ Emphasis on sacrifice of Jesus
◦ See Heb 1:14; 8:6; 9:21; 10:11 for examples
◦ Rom 15:27; 2 Cor. 9:12; Phil 2:17
◦ Rom 15:27 and 2 Cor 9:12 both refer to collecting
money as a “service” for the Church in Jerusalem
◦ In Luke (1:23) as prayer or ministry in the Temple
◦ In Acts 13:2 as gathering of Christians to pray
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Leitourgia is used in Didache to describe
Eucharistic meal (15)
Justin Martyr, First Apology, 61, 65
◦ Description of Sunday Christian gathering and
worship
◦ Note collection from wealthy to be given to the
Church for distribution to poor by deacons
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One of two main liturgies in Greek Church
◦ Other is Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
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Probably was written by John Chrysostom
◦ Adaptation form older Syriac Eucharistic prayers
◦ Special Trinitarian emphasis, counter to Eunomians
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John was especially known for his preaching
during the liturgy
◦ May have been the first bishop not to preach from
his chair (cathedra) in the apse, but from the ambo
◦ John had a weak voice and wanted to make sure all
could hear him
◦ Has become the practice ever since (East and West)
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A lengthy series of Homilies, probably written
early during his tenure as Patriarch of
Constantinople
Fathers focused on Matthew and John
◦ Matthew and John understood to be direct disciples of
Jesus
◦ Luke a disciple of Paul
◦ Mark, a disciple of Peter, seen as derivative of Matthew
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This tradition maintained in Church until
liturgical revisions after Vatican II, into year A, B,
C cycles
◦ Almost all readings taken from Matthew or John (Cycle A)
◦ Of course, we still read John exclusively for Holy Week
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John Chrysostom, Homily 50 on Mt 14:23-24
available at
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200150.h
tm
Brown, Through the Eye of the Needle,
Conclusion
Compendium of Catholic Social Doctrine,
575-583
Write short paper: Daniel