Liturgics Resources Area
Introduction
The theology of the Church is expressed in her Liturgy. Not only the Divine Liturgy itself, which is the heart of Orthodox liturgical worship, but the whole of the liturgical tradition of the Church manifests the patristic tradition of theology as experience: the services are the movements of human engagement with the divine. As such, a study of the patristic and monastic heritage of Orthodoxy can never be wholly separated from the study and experience of her liturgy.
The study of liturgics includes several aspects. Amongst these are the liturgical texts themselves, which include not only the rubrics and texts of the services, but also the festal hymnography of the great and other feasts, which often express most concisely the theology of the Church. The study of liturgical theology - that is, the theology of liturgical expression and action - is also significant, revealing the theological underpinnings of action, form, symbol and expression.
The liturgics area in Monachos.net aims to provide resources for each of these areas, in the form of liturgical texts, both in full and in part; studies on liturgical theology and praxis; and rubrics on the celebration of the divine services.
Reflections
Reflections on Liturgical Themes
We offer a collection of reflections on liturgical themes and specific liturgical feasts. These are not academic studies, but rather reflective and devotional considerations of key themes in the Christian worshipping life - Pascha (Easter), the Nativity, the Annunciation, and various other liturgical themes.
These texts offer reflections on the imagery of the feasts, the background of liturgical acts and commemorations, and the integration of themes across liturgical and other patristic forms of expression.
By their nature, many of these reflections are seasonal, focusing on themes that occur during the weekly, monthly and annual cycles of liturgical commemoration in the Church's year. Thus they are regularly added to during that cycle, as new reflections are produced.
Click here for a listing of reflections on liturgical themes...
Liturgical Texts & Rubrics
The Texts & Rubrics of Specific Services & Feasts
We aim to provide an ever expanding collection of liturgical texts on-line. These include rubrics for the usual divine services, as well as the liturgical hymnography for specific feasts and celebrations during the Church's liturgical year.
In this Liturgical Texts & Rubrics area, you will find a collection of documents containing whole services (rubrics), as well as extracted hymnography drawing out the significance of the feasts. Rubrics are provided for both normal as well as reader's (i.e. cell rule) services, as are documents offering explanation and instruction in the practical service of the offices.
This is an interactive collection, and is one of the newest areas of Monachos.net - hence its contents at present being quite limited (though a number of documents for this collection are currently in production). If you have worked to produce electronic editions of liturgical services or hymns, please consider taking part in the Monachos Library Project, to publish your documents here in the collection.
Click here for a liturgical texts and rubrics for services & feasts...
Studies
The study of liturgical theology and practice explores the realms in which the liturgical life of the Church is given shape by theological principles, pastoral dimensions, and practical concerns. The depth to specific liturgical matters, whose criteria of authenticity is experience and transfiguration, is often fully disclosed only through an awareness of its means, aims, backgrounds, and the like.
This area contains studies on specific liturgical issues, such as the development of services and rubrics, the practice of various musical traditions, and similar areas of consideration.
Click here for our collection of studies on liturgical topics...
