The People's Faith

The Liturgy of the Faithful in Orthodoxy

By: Nicholas E. Denysenko

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eBook | 19 October 2018

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Works of liturgical theology tend to be produced by experts who draw from the sources and explain the meaning of the liturgy to the lay people. When such explanations are firmly grounded in the sources, the academy accepts and celebrates them as genuine works of liturgical theology. Liturgical theology requires an examination from a different perspective: the lay people's. How do the lay people explain their understanding of the liturgy in their own words? Drawing from the results of parish focus groups and a clergy survey, The People’s Faith presents the liturgical theology of the lay people in the Orthodox Churches of America.

The People’s Faith presents original findings on how ordinary laity experience the Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, Lent and Easter, liturgical change, and gender roles in the Liturgy. The author brings the laity’s views into dialog with the prevailing liturgical theology in the Orthodox Church and identifies several topics worthy of theological reflection. The people’s veneration for tradition tops a list of liturgical issues worthy of further research, including ecumenical aspects of the Eucharist, the relationship between liturgy and theological anthropology, and a desire to receive divine compassion during ritual celebration.

Industry Reviews

Informative and well written, The People’s Faith is a landmark contribution to the growing literature dedicated to exploring the “lived” religion of American Orthodox Christians today. Denysenko’s work highlights the ways that lay church members understand and experience Orthodox liturgical life, from the weekly Eucharistic celebration to Holy Week/Pascha, the rituals of baptism and confession, and other issues significant to contemporary church life such as the roles of women and LGBT persons within Orthodoxy. Each of these topics is incredibly rich and timely not only in reflecting concerns within Orthodox parish life, but, especially in the case of gender issues and inclusiveness, themes more broadly found within contemporary American society.