Historical Prospective of the Liturgy

THE READING OF THE EPISTLE

ipodiakonos zoran j. bobic

The reading of the Epistle• Deacon: Let us attend.

Bible References: Proverbs 4:20

• Priest: Wisdom. Let us attend.

Bible References: Proverbs 5:1, Proverbs 1:7

• Reader: (The Reader repeats the Epistle, which is one of the non-Gospel books of the New Testament, in English.)

• Priest: Peace be with you.

Bible References: Saint John 14:27, Revelation 1:3

• People: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Bible References: Revelation 19: 1 - 4

The reading of the Epistle• The heart of the Liturgy of Catechumens = reading of the Holy

Scriptures;

• Origin is from Liturgy of the synagogue;

• Comes from “Parascha” and “Haftara” (readings from Law and Prophets);

• St. Paul instructed his converts to read his letters;

• Example in Col. 4:16 and I Thess. 5:27;

• In early days there was no set pattern for the readings;

• It was read until instructed from the Bishop to stop;

• The reading would continue where it was stopped;

The reading of the Epistle• Reading were always in the language of speaking communities;

• Gradually freedom of reading diminished;

• More and/or less equal portions were assigned for each service;

• Such portions = called “pericope” [περικοπή] - (portion cut off);

• Bible did not have pages and no verses…;

• Index giving the first and last words of each pericope was made;

• This index = “synaxaria” [Συναξάριον];

• “synaxaria” [Συναξάριον]; = since 4th century;

The reading of the Epistle• Next development was giving the heading name and whole lesson;

• This created the books to be called: • “Apostolos” [Απόστολος];• “Euaggelion” [Εὐαγγέλιον];• “Synaxarion” [Συναξάριον];

• Gradually the number of lesson became fixed;

• Most common arrangement was:• Two readings form the OT (inheritance from synagogue service);• Two readings fro the NT;

• This was indicated from Apostolic Constitutions:• From BOOK II and BOOK VIII

The reading of the Epistle• 4th = The Church drop OT readings to one;

• Basil and Chrysostom testified:• The Prophets;• The Epistle;• The Gospel;

• Later (?) OT readings were completely dropped from Liturgy;

• Some believe in 9th century; (Anastasius Bibliothecarius)

• OT readings were kept for: Vespers, Matins and etc.;

• Liturgies of St. James and St. Mark already deleted OT readings;

The reading of the Epistle• Cycle of Epistle and Gospel: • DOES NOT begin with Liturgical year [September 1st]• BEGINS with Easter Sunday;• ENDS with Palm Sunday of next year;•Traces of this is from 8th century;•Lector chants the Epistle; - this is very unbroken tradition of the

Church;•Lector was vested in “stikhar(ion)”;•Early Church had elevated place on which stood a small reading desk;•This was called: “ambo” [Ἄμβων, meaning, "step", or "elevate“];•“ambo” = first appeared in the Council of Laodicea;•Today it is read from the middle of the Church;