The present study is an overview of the general development of the Syriac liturgical traditions until the end of the 13th century. It traces some of the aspects of the encounter between Syriac Christianity and its surrounding cultural milieu. Literary genres and styles from the Early Jewish, Mesopotamian, Syro-Hellenistic and Arabic cultures were adapted in a process of encounter and inculturation. Along with Judaism, Mesopotamian pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures provided poetry, music and kinetic arts (gestures, movements and processions). The demonstrative piety of Antioch and Edessa has left traces of influence on the early Syriac liturgy. A few pagan and agrarian festivals were adapted, giving a Christian meaning. Throughout its history, Syriac liturgy is characterized by adaptability which is particularly evident in the history of the East Syriac Church in Central Asia and China where the liturgy was adapted to the culture of the nomadic tribes, introducing some unique para-liturgical practices.
Author(s): Baby Varghese
Series: Göttinger Orientforschungen, I. Reihe: Syriaca, 62
Publisher: Harrassowitz Verlag
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 160
City: Wiesbaden
Cover
Title Pages
Table of Contents
Foreword
Vorwort
Preface
I. Introduction
1. Early history of Edessa
2. Origins of Christianity in Edessa
3. Earliest historical references to the Christianity in Mesopotamia
II. Early Syriac Literature and Hymnography before St Ephrem
1. Translation of the Scriptures
2. Early Christian hymnody in Syriac
2.1 Odes of Solomon
2.1.1 Odes of Solomon and early Syriac baptismal theology
2.1.2 The stream of baptism
2.1.3 The crown
2.2 The Odes of Solomo and early liturgical theology
2.3 Ode 19 and the ‘enigmatic imageries’
3. Psalms of Solomon
4. Manichaean Psalm Book
5. Bardaisan (c. 154-222) and his works
5.1 Bardaisan and madrashe
5.2 Mani and madrashe
6. The hymns of the Acts of Thomas
6.1 Hymn of the Bride
6.2 Hymn of the Pearl
6.3 The Song of Praise
III. Saint Ephrem
1. Ephrem and Greek hymnography
2. Origins of madrashe
3. St Ephrem and the women’s choirs
4. Dialogue poems
4.1 Different types of dialogue poems
4.2 Alphabetic acrostic
4.3 Use of rhyme
4.4 Examples of dialogue poems
IV. Jacob of Serugh and Later Poets
1. Jacob of Serugh
1.1 Memre and turgome
1.2 Literary style
1.3 Jacob and the bo‘woto
2. Balai and the bo‘utho
3. Simon Quqoyo (Simon the Potter, c. 500)
4. Isaac of Antioch
5. Later Poets
V. Origin and Development of the Syrian Orthodox Fenqitho
1. Psalms and hymns
2. Earliest collections of hymns
2.1 Madrashe, sogyatha and seblatha
2.2 ‘enyane/‘enyone
3. Hymns of Greek origin: ma‘nyatha/ma‘nyotho
3.1 Quqoye
3.2 Greek canons
3.3 Syriac canons
4. Prayers, homilies and thurgome (discourses)
4.1 Homilies, turgome and selected portions from Bible commentaries
4.2 Hagiographies
5. Further additions of hymns
5.1 Bo‘utho
5.2 Qole
5.3 Quqliun
6. Origins of qauma
VI. Adaption of Elements from the Mesopotamian Culture
1. Feasts and liturgical processions
2. School culture
3. Church and the common people
4. Syriac Christianity and the Islamic culture
5. Art and architecture
VII. Liturgical Adaptations in the East Syriac Church
1. Synod of Mar Isaac (410 AD) and liturgical adaptations
2. The ‘Western rite’ and the Anaphora of the Apostles Addai and Mari
3. Introduction of the Anaphoras of Nestorius and Theodore
4. Isho‘yahb I (582-596) and the East Syriac liturgy
5. The liturgical reforms of Isho‘yahb III (580-659)
6. The Turfan Hudra
7. Christian communities in Pahlavi speaking regions of Persia
VIII. Inculturation in the East Syriac Church in Central Asia and China
1. China and Central Asia
2. Possible phases in inculturation
2.1 Translation of the Scriptures
2.1.1 Middle Persian and New Persian texts
2.1.2 Sogdian Texts
2.1.3 Uyghur Turkic Texts
3. Translation of prayers
4. Adaptation of prayers
4.1 Chinese version of the Gloria
4.2 Sogdian version of the Gloria
4.3 Praise to the transfiguration of the Great Holy One (Chinese)
4.4 On the meaning of worship (Chinese)
5. Adaptations of liturgical practices: fasting rules
6. Para-liturgical rites
6.1 Blessing of Koumis
6.1.1 Ceremonial Drinking
6.2 Spring festival
6.3 Holy Week and the blessing of bread
6.4 Prayers for blessing
6.5 A healing ritual
7. The Cross in the world of religious pluralism and Shamanism
7.1 In China proper: the Cross on tombstones
7.2 Inner Mongolia
7.3 Central Asia
7.4 Amulet Cross
8. Tent Chapels
9. Conclusion
IX. Conclusion
Abbreviations
Bibliography
