Anaphora of the Apostolic Tradition
The Anaphora of the Apostolic Tradition (or Anaphora of Hippolytus) is an ancient Christian anaphora (Eucharistic prayer) which is found at chapter four of the Church Order known as Apostolic Tradition.
It was used extensively by Gregory Dix in his research for his book The Shape of the Liturgy published in 1945 and subsequently by theologians such as Dr. Charles (Ted) Hackett and Dr. Don Saliers among others in preparing reforms for the Book of Common Prayer and the United Methodist Liturgies found in the current United Methodist Hymnal. This anaphora is also the inspiration for the Eucharistic Prayer n. II of the Catholic Mass of Paul VI.[1]
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[edit] Date and origin
The dating of this anaphora is strictly related to the attribution of the Apostolic Tradition which includes it. In 1906 Eduard von der Goltz was the first to suggest that the anonymous manuscript discovered in the 19th century was the Apostolic Tradition historically attributed to Hippolytus of Rome, thus dating the anaphora to the mid 3rd century AD and using it in reconstructing the early worship in Rome. This understanding was subsequently accepted by the great majority of scholars of the 20th century, including Gregory Dix, and played a crucial role in the liturgical reforms of main mainstream Christian bodies.[2]
More recent scholarship doubts the attribution to Hippolytus and suggests that the Apostolic Tradition is a composite work modified over the centuries. According to these recent studies, the anaphora probably attained its final form around the mid of the 4th century AD and it shall not to be related to Rome but to West Syria or even to Egypt.[2] Some scholars also suggest that the Apostolic Tradition portrays a liturgy that was never celebrated.[3]
[edit] Selections from the Anaphora
The Sursum Corda shows slight differences from current Sursum Corda of various liturgies. Notable is the turning of the hearts to God, bringing to mind the concept of "repentance" as a turning away from sin and toward God. The Thanksgiving is notable when compared to the Nicean creed. The Epiclesis is thought to be 'weak'. It shall be noted the lack of the Sanctus and the differences with the Roman Canon.
[edit] Sursum Corda
Priest: The Lord be with you!
All: And with your spirit!
Priest: Let us lift up our hearts.
All: They are turned to the Lord!
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord.
All: It is right and just!
[edit] Thanksgiving
Priest: We give you thanks, O God,
through your beloved Child Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent us in the last days as Savior,
Redeemer and Messenger of your will.
He is your Word, inseparable from you,
through whom you have created everything
and in whom you find your delight.
You sent him from heaven into the womb of a Virgin.
He was conceived and became flesh,
he manifested himself as your Son,
born of the Spirit and the Virgin.
He did your will, and,
to win for you a holy people,
he stretched out his hands in suffering to rescue from
suffering those who believe in you.
When he was about to surrender himself to voluntary suffering
in order to destroy death,
to break the devil's chains,
to tread hell underfoot,
to pour out his light upon the just,
to establish the covenant, and manifest resurrection,
[edit] Words of Institution
he took bread, gave you thanks and said:
"Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you."
In like manner for the cup, he said:
"This is my blood which is poured out for you. When you do this, do it in memory of me."
[edit] Anamnesis and Oblation
Remembering, therefore, your death and your resurrection, we offer you the
bread and the wine, we thank you for having judged us worthy to stand before
you and serve you.
[edit] Epiclesis
And we pray you to send your Holy Spirit on the offering of your holy Church,
to bring together in unity all those who receive it.
May they be filled with the Holy Spirit
who strengthens their faith in the truth.
[edit] Doxology
May we be able thus to praise and glorify you through your Child, Jesus Christ.
Through him glory to you and honor, to the Father and the Son, with the Holy
Spirit, in your holy Church, now and forever! Amen.
[edit] References
- Dom Gregory Dix, The Shape of the Liturgy, 1945.
- Lucien Deiss, Springtime of the Liturgy, 1979
- ^ Father Cassian Folsom, O.S.B. (1996). "From One Eucharistic Prayer to Many". Adoremus Bulletin Vol. II, Nos. 4 - 6 : September - November 1996. http://www.adoremus.org/9-11-96-FolsomEuch.html. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ a b Bradshaw, Paul F. (2009). Reconstructing early Christian worship. SPCK. pp. 47–51. ISBN 9780281060948.
- ^ Johnson, Lawrence J. (2009). Worship in the Early Church: An Anthology of Historical Sources. Vol 1. Liturgical Press. p. 194. ISBN 9780814661970.
[edit] External links
- Anaphora of Hippolytus, Latin text.
