Christine Chaillot has a fascinating summary of the liturgical traditions of the "Ancient Oriental Churches" (Egyptian, Ethiopian, Syrian, Assyrian, Indian) in The Oxford History of Christian Worship . She quotes this Eucharistic hymn from the fifth-century Saint Yazdin (p. 164): "Strengthen, O our Lord, the hands which reach out and take the sacrament for the pardon of debts. Make them worthy every day to yield fruit to Your Godhead. Make worthy to sing glory the mouths which have given praise within the sanctuary. May the ears, which have heard the sound of Your praises, never hear, O my Lord, the sounds of disquiet. May the eyes, which have seen Your great compassion, O my Lord, see again Your blessed hope. So form the tongues, which have cried out 'holy,' that they may always speak the truth. Lead the feet, which have walked within the churches, into the land of light. Renew the bodies, which have eaten Your living Body, with new life ."
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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