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Introduction to Liturgical Theology Paperback – December 31, 1966

by Alexander Schmemann (Author), Asheleigh E. Moorhouse (Translator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings
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Alexander Schmemann's Introduction to Liturgical Theologyis a masterful historical and critical introduction to the study of modern Orthodox liturgics and theology. There is scarcely a student of Christian worship who has not been stirred by the brilliant mind of the late Orthodox theologian Alexander Schmemann.

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  1. Print length
    220 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    St Vladimirs Seminary Pr
  4. Publication date
    December 31, 1966
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780913836187
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0913836187
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Father Alexander Schmemann was a prolific writer, brilliant lecturer, and dedicated pastor. Former dean and professor of liturgical theology at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary, he passed away in 1983 at the age of sixty-two. Father Alexander Schmemann’s insight into contemporary culture, church life, and liturgical celebration left an indelible mark on the Chrisitian community worldwide.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0913836184
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St Vladimirs Seminary Pr; Subsequent edition (December 31, 1966)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 220 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780913836187
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0913836187
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 53 ratings

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  1. Alexander Schmemann

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
53 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

BB
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2017
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All good, ty!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
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A must read for students of liturgy.
3 people found this helpful
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Ben Crawford
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2014
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Great Book, Well Written!! Thank You for sending this in to me!!!
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PtrIoannis
5.0 out of 5 stars Tracing the roots of Liturgy to the seed of the Eternal
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2009
The late Father Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983) distills his principal reflections on liturgical theology in 'Introduction to Liturgical Theology.' Initially released as a 1966 translation from Russian by Asheleigh E. Moorehouse, the book entered its fourth reprint by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press in 2003. The origin for the book was the author's 1962 doctoral dissertation approved by the faculty of St. Sergius Theological Institute in Pairs.

The book brings precision to discourse as characterizes everything that the author penned. However, it also carries a scholarly tone, which can explore topics and level of inquiry better suited to it. This tone does not sacrifice the author's vigor and enthusiasm for his subject, as many academic books sacrifice. Instead, the scholarly tone helps to leave an indelible imprint on liturgical theology for generations to come.

Immense credit is due the book for several reasons. First, Schmemann engaged in an active dialogue with contemporary French theologians, who influenced liturgical reforms of the (Roman Catholic) Second Vatican Council. For example, his multiple references to prominent French theologians included Yves Congar [cf. 13,18, 101, et al.], Jean Danielou [cf. 77-9, 83, et al.], and many others. These textual references illustrate Schmemann's exercise of Orthodox theology, without ignoring important sources of information and inquiry about the 'lex orandi' of a global Communion that characterized the first Christian millennium. Moreover, the author concluded that comparative liturgics produced salient results for appreciating monastic and non-monastic historical sources of prayer [83-5].

Second, while the schema for the book follows a common chronological approach to liturgical theology, its method is novel. An equally common mistake would assign preference to older variants in the 'ordo'. However, Schmemann's method set a course toward studying the theory of the Church's worship [21 passim]. Historical comparison of the ordo's provided data for analysis, but antiquity alone should not determine the proper focus of "the theological interpretation of the rule of prayer" [21], which theory should maintain as central to liturgical theology. In summary, Schmemann concluded: "Historical liturgics establishes the structures and their development, liturgical theology discovers their meaning: such is the great methodological principle of the task" [22].
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Stephen Long
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative Introduction
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2008
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A good introduction to the development of Byzantine rite, though the text can be a bit dry at times. Schmemann emphasizes the eschatological and communal focus of early Christian worship as well as the central place of the Resurrection to Church piety.
Schmemann does an excellent job of emphasizing the importance of the character of the devotion we express rather than the importance of outward forms. Ultimately this is more a book of the history of the liturgy and does not contain the same inspirational impact of "Life of the World", but certainly proves a valuable read.
11 people found this helpful
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M. J. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars The CANON on liturgical theology
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2000
By calling Introduction to Liturgical Theology 'Canon' I mean that it is the fundamental book you must read - its influence on the liturgical theologists of today is profound regardless of their dominational persuasion. After reading this book you will understand the distinction between theology of liturgy, liturical studies and liturgical theology.
Liturgical theology is the theology embedded in the rituals and words of liturgy ... it is the theology embodied in our liturgy. Understanding Schmemann's view of liturgy provides a framework for understanding the liturgical practices of any denomination including those claiming to be nonliturgical. It also provides the non-Orthodox a real insight into the Orthodox faith and makes concrete some of the differences between the Eastern and Western Church.
If you have any interest in liturgy please put this on a must read list.
46 people found this helpful
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Christopher Scott Mose
3.0 out of 5 stars More than rubics and ritual, worship is an experiential expression of Her theology
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2012
More than rubics and ritual, worship in the Orthodox Church is the experiential expression of Her theology. Since I'm teaching catechism on Sundays at my local parish, it's serves as a good foundation for me to answer the inevitable question from a 9 year old. However, I found the writing awkward, and its thesis difficult to discern -- very different from the style of Schmemman's "Great Lent." Admittedly, this subject is more dense, but the writing lacked clarity. In general, I found it spiritually enlightening and thought provoking, even though it required re-read many paragraphs and chapters more than once.
4 people found this helpful
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Jacob
4.0 out of 5 stars Church of the 'gaps' thesis?
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2012
The title of the book is misleading, especially for those protestants who read and devoured *For the Life of the World* and are looking for an expansion upon that in *Liturgical Theology.* This book is *not* an explication of key concepts in Byzantine Liturgical Theology, even if its title somewhat suggests that. Rather, it is a history of the first six centuries, give or take, of the development of Liturgy in the Byzantine world.

In some ways it is a response to, and evaluation of, Dom Gregory Dix's book on Liturgy. I don't think Schmemann is a liberal, but sometimes it's hard to avoid that charge when reading this book. He does view much of the liturgy, if not the very *continuing* authority of the church as a historical accident. It's not too much different from Protestantism, if only it has much cooler liturgy.

There are some golden moments, though, and the book is still quite useful. One is given a very thorough and competent review of mid-20th century scholarship on liturgics. Given that Orthodoxy was still quite new to the scholarly world (its key thinkers having been enslaved under Islam for 7 centuries and many were still being slaughtered under London-D.C.-financed Soviet terror), this book represents an important historical moment for the church. He also has an interesting section on how the chant corresponded to the music of the angels, ala Dionysius the Areopagite.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

e
5.0 out of 5 stars Schmemann gives a very good, and very thorough introduction to Liturgical Theology
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2014
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The book was written in the 1980s, this is a reprint. Schmemann gives a very good, and very thorough introduction to Liturgical Theology, with clear definitions, and careful exploration of background issues. He draws on sources from both the East and the West, citing eg. Florovsky and Dom O. Rousseau in the same section. Very valuable for Christians of the West, as well as the East.
4 people found this helpful
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Patricia Lynch
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2016
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I do not WANT to write a review, thank you
2 people found this helpful
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Robert Pius Manik
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2015
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Thank you so much
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