Liturgy of the Byzantine Rite

The present entry deals with the Byzantine rite, a term employed here in its broad meaning to refer to the liturgical tradition of Eastern Chalcedonian Christians. These are Eastern Orthodox and various Eastern rite Catholics, who share a common liturgical tradition shaped in the Eastern parts of Christian world among those in communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. After a brief exploration of its historical development in the two main centres of Byzantine liturgical life – Palestine and Constantinople – the current structure of the received tradition of the Byzantine rite is described. Special attention will be given to the three eucharistic liturgies in contemporary use of Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, and the ‘liturgy’ of the pre-sanctified gifts. Finally, some theological considerations of the character of the Byzantine rite shall be provided, based mainly on historical Byzantine liturgical commentaries. Sacraments – called ‘mysteries’ in the Byzantine tradition – are treated only briefly.