Hymns, Homilies and Hermeneutics in Byzantium (original) (raw)
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This paper looks at an aspect of early Byzantine popular involvement with hymnody which is massively overlooked. It sets out to highlight the contexts of unease like theological disputes, urban violence between dogmatic factions or contentions around liturgical practices in which hymns had a surprisingly large part to play. The paper also discusses how hymns were engaged by devotees of healing cult in 6th-7th cc. Constantinople. Besides, it briefly touches on the issue of popularity of Romanos' kontakia in this context.
Review of Ecumenical Studies, 2019
This article discusses the role of Byzantine liturgical hymnography within the Jewish- Orthodox Christian dialogue. It seems that problematic anti-Jewish hymns of the Orthodox liturgy were often put forward by the Jewish side, but Orthodox theologians couldn’t offer a satisfactory answer, so that the dialogue itself profoundly suffered. The author of this study argues that liturgical hymnography cannot be a stumbling stone for the dialogue. Bringing new witnesses from several Orthodox theologians, the author underlines the need for a change of perspective. Then, beyond the intrinsic plea for the revision of the anti-Jewish texts, this article actually emphasizes the need to rediscover the Jewishness of the Byzantine liturgy and to approach the hymnography as an exegesis or even Midrash on the biblical texts and motives. As such, the anti-Jewish elements of the liturgy can be considered an impulse to a deeper analysis of Byzantine hymnography, which could be very fruitful for the Jewish-Christian Dialogue.
Byzantine Liturgical Hymnography: a Stumbling Stone for the Jewish-Orthodox Christian Dialogue?
Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu, 2019
This article discusses the role of Byzantine liturgical hymnography within the Jewish-Orthodox Christian dialogue. It seems that problematic anti-Jewish hymns of the Orthodox liturgy were often put forward by the Jewish side, but Orthodox theologians couldn’t offer a satisfactory answer, so that the dialogue itself profoundly suffered. The author of this study argues that liturgical hymnography cannot be a stumbling stone for the dialogue. Bringing new witnesses from several Orthodox theologians, the author underlines the need for a change of perspective. Then, beyond the intrinsic plea for the revision of the anti-Jewish texts, this article actually emphasizes the need to rediscover the Jewishness of the Byzantine liturgy and to approach the hymnography as an exegesis or even Midrash on the biblical texts and motives. As such, the anti-Jewish elements of the liturgy can be considered an impulse to a deeper analysis of Byzantine hymnography, which could be very fruitful for the Jewi...
Political approaches to Byzantine liturgical texts
Roy Eriksen & Peter Young (eds.), Approaches to the Text. From Pre-Gospel to Post-Baroque, Pisa-Rome: Fabrizio Serra Editore [Early Modern and Modern Studies, 9] 2014, pp. 63–81.
The deeply religious character of the Byzantine society gave way to a political system that has been characterized as a “political theology”. Established already during the fourth century, this ideology was based on a close relation between the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of heaven and, thus, between God and the emperor. This ideology was used by emperors to strengthen their own power and/or the legitimacy of their dynasty. To reach its aims, the imperial propaganda used –among other mediums– the sanctification of emperors or royals and the composition of liturgical texts. The paper discusses cases of such a use of hymnology
This chapter explores the relationship between the Bible and Liturgy in the Orthodox Church. It argues that the Bible occupies a place of paramount importance in Byzantine liturgy, and that the Bible is everywhere, permeating all aspects of the life of the church, especially its liturgical life. It demonstrates this by looking at how the Bible is presented and interpreted through the use the lectionary, the psalter, the liturgical year, liturgical prayers, the liturgical hermeneutic of Scripture, iconography, and the ritual place of the Gospel book. It concludes that at the heart of the Scriptures is the proclamation of salva tion in Christ; at the heart of liturgy is the celebration of the salvation in Christ.