Robert F. Taft (Jesuit)
Robert F. Taft (born January 9, 1932, in Providence, R.I., USA) is an American Jesuit priest and archimandrite of the Byzantine rite, expert in Oriental Liturgy and professor at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, of which he was the Vice-Rector between 1995 and 2001.
[edit] Biography
Born the 9 January 1932 in Providence (Rhode Island, USA) Taft entered the noviciate of the Society of Jesus on the 14 August 1949. After a long spiritual and academic training, during which he taught for three years in the Baghdad Jesuit University (1956-1959) where he picked up interest in Christian Oriental religious traditions, he was ordained priest in the Byzantine slave rite on the 7 June 1963.
Developing interest and competence in Eastern liturgical tradition he is appointed at the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Rome in 1970. He completes his thesis under Jesuit Professor Juan Mateos in 1975. The book then published ‘The great entrance’ reveals Robert Taft’s expertise in the field of Oriental Liturgy.
For 38 years professor at the Oriental institute of Rome (1970-2008), he guides numerous theses. His expertise gains him recognition from the Ukrainian, Armenian and Chaldean Catholic churches. From 1972 to 1976 he is director of the specialized journal ‘Orientalia Christian Periodica’ and from 1987 to 2004 editor of the collection ‘Orientalia Christiana Analecta.
Consultor of several ecclesiastical dicasteries he is the founder of the Societas Orientalium Liturgiarum.
[edit] Writings
His numerous publications particularly on the history of Byzantine Liturgy, can be found in a variety of specialized journals. Among his books noteworthy are the following:
- The Great Entrance, 1975 (2004)
- A History of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (6 vols), Orientalia Christiana Analecta, Rome, 1978-2008.[1].
- The liturgy of the Hours in East and West, 1986 (received the ‘Best book in Theology’ prize of the Catholic Press Association, USA).
- The Diptychs, 1991.
- The byzantine rite; a short history, Collegeville 1999 (translated in several languages).
- The Pre-communion Rites, 2000.
- The communion, Thanksgiving and Concluding Rites, 2008.
[edit] References
- ^ John E. Klentos, Preface, in Robert J. Taft, Through Their Own Eyes: Liturgy as the Byzantines Saw It (Berkely, Calif.: InterOrthodox Press, 2006).
