With angels and archangels : the background, form and function of the sanctus in the eucharistic prayer
The origin of the sanctus as a constituent element in the eucharistic prayer is one of the unsolved mysteries of Christian liturgy. In a Prolegomena, certain specific older theories are rejected. The use of the qeduasah in Judaism, from its biblical setting to its use in Jewish liturgy and mysticism is examined, and the continuity of these usages in Christian non-eucharlstic contexts is illustrated. From this wider background, the study examines the setting and function of the sanctus in the anaphoras of East and West to the seventh century, showing that the earliest attestations and the most logical use of the sanctus both originate in Syria and Palestine. In the peculiar Egyptian anaphoral family, it is used within Intercessions, and at Rome it appears to be a late fourth century addition, which was never given a logical setting in the canon missae. Possible origins are the Jewish Synagogue berakot, the Jewish mystical tradition, or some biblically-minded celebrants. But these possible origins are better accounted for when a variety of models for early eucharistic prayers is accepted, rather than the single model of the Birkat ha-mazon. The development of the sanctus in later Eastern and Western traditions
Spinks, Bryan D.
Liturgy
With angels and archangels : the background, form and function of the sanctus in the eucharistic prayer. The origin of the sanctus as a constituent element in the eucharistic prayer is one of the unsolved mysteries of Christian liturgy. In a Prolegomena, certain specific older theories are rejected. The use of the qeduasah in Judaism, from its biblical setting to its use in Jewish liturgy and mysticism is examined, and the continuity of these usages in Christian non-eucharlstic contexts is illustrated. From this wider background, the study examines the setting and function of the sanctus in the anaphoras of East and West to the seventh century, showing that the earliest attestations and the most logical use of the sanctus both originate in Syria and Palestine. In the peculiar Egyptian anaphoral family, it is used within Intercessions, and at Rome it appears to be a late fourth century addition, which was never given a logical setting in the canon missae. Possible origins are the Jewish Synagogue berakot, the Jewish mystical tradition, or some biblically-minded celebrants. But these possible origins are better accounted for when a variety of models for early eucharistic prayers is accepted, rather than the single model of the Birkat ha-mazon. The development of the sanctus in later Eastern and Western traditions
angel background form_function eucharistic prayer origin constituent_element eucharistic prayer mystery christian liturgy prolegomena certain specific old theory reject use judaism biblical setting use jewish liturgy mysticism examine continuity usage christian non context illustrate wider background study_examines set function east_west show early attestation logical use originate syria_palestine peculiar egyptian family use within rome appear addition never give logical set canon possible_origin jewish synagogue jewish mystical tradition minded possible_origin well account variety model early eucharistic prayer accept rather single model development later eastern western tradition