A Commentary On The Divine Liturgy Of St James

The purpose of this commentary is for the reader to have a better understanding of the Catholic faith, as it is manifested in the Divine Liturgy of Saint James. The author also intends for it to be a means of mutual understanding and unity between Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, as well as a resourced for non-Catholics interested in the faith of the early Christians.

The Liturgy of Saint James or Jacobite Liturgy is the oldest complete form of the Eastern varieties of the Divine Liturgy still in use among certain Christian Churches. It is based on the traditions of the ancient rite of the Early Christian Church of Jerusalem, as the Mystagogic Catecheses of St Cyril of Jerusalem imply. Forming the historical basis of the Liturgy of Antioch, it is still the principal liturgy of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, Marthoma Syrian Church, Syrian Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Maronite Church. It is also occasionally used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Melkite Catholic Church. The Liturgy is associated with the name of James the Just, the "brother" of Jesus and patriarch among the Jewish Christians at Jerusalem. Saint James was martyred at the hands of a mob incensed at his preaching about Jesus and his "transgression of the Law" - an accusation made by the Jewish High Priest of the time, Hanan ben Hanan.

"Nicholas Cabasilas' Commentary on the Divine Liturgy is a remarkable product of Byzantium's last great flowering of theology. The work has long been essential reading for specialists in the fields of comparative liturgy and history of liturgy, since Cabasilas comments in detail on the Byzantine rite of his day and is able to draw comparisons with the Roman liturgy as well. The work is also invaluable for all those who wish to understand more about the theory and practice of worship in the Orthodox Church. In this edition the text of the Commentary, translated by J. M. Hussey and P. A. McNulty, has been supplemented by a brief foreword which places Cabasilas' work in its historical context. A helpful introduction by R. M. French describes the celebration of the liturgy in the Orthodox Church."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

In 1994 His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria, authorised the use of the ancient Liturgy of St. James, Brother of the Lord & First Bishop of Jerusalem, in The British Orthodox Church. This fully rubricated edition contains an introductory essay of the Liturgy of St. James by Abba Seraphim, Metropolitan of Glastonbury.

The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, with Scripture references and commentary and quotations by the Church Fathers. A terrific text for students, seminarians, church school teachers, busy clergymen or anyone who wants a thorough reference of Orthodox Eucharistic worship. This is not a book about worship. This is the actual liturgical text of the Orthodox Church, with Scriptural and patristic references.