Historical prospective of the liturgy

1. Historical Prospective
of the Liturgy-Part XII
DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
THE FIRST COMMEMORATION
Ipodiakonos Zoran j. Bobic

2. Mother of God:
 In honor and in memory…;
 It dates back to 4th century;
 However, at some point before 8th or 9th century, preparation of
the gifts shifted from its original position / to the beginning of the
Liturgy;
 11th century: saints were commemorated;
 The number of loaves would depend on number of the saints;
 Nicolas Grammaticus (1084-1111) = 4 loaves;
a) 1st was “Lamb”
b) 2nd was Blessed Virgin
c) 3rd was St. Michael and Gabriel (+other angels)
d) 4th was Precursor, Apostles, Prophets, Saints…

3. Uniformity:
 14th century, after promulgation of the Constitution of Philotheus;
 Philotheus, Patriarch of Constantinople (1351-1378);
 From 11th-14th century, number of loaves depended on number of
commemorations';
 The list:
1. Mother of God
2. Precursor John the Baptist
3. Apostles (Slav: + Saint of the day)
4. Saint of the day (Slav: + The living)
5. The dead (+ Slav)
 Uniformity was never achieved;

4. Commemoration:
 Mother of God came first after the “Lamb”;
 Today this is category of its own;
 The particle is placed on right side of the “Lamb”;
 This originated from verse 11 of Psalm 44 with distinctive shape;
 Triangular shape (since 15th century);
 Psalm 44 is recited at Matins on feasts of Blessed Virgin;
 Verses 10 – 16 are applied to her as the Spouse of the Holy Spirit;
 …and the Queen of Heaven;