The Ecumenical Dimension of the Rite of the Foundation of a Church in the Byzantine and Latin Traditions

Mateusz Potoczny

Abstract

The dedication of a Church is not the only rite that is used for the initiation of a new place of Christian worship. At the beginning of the construction of a building, liturgical sources provide for the Rite of Foundation of a Church in which blessings are asked on both the workers and also on the future edifice. This paper gives a comparative analysis of prayers used in the rites of the ByzantineGreek and Latin traditions. Although both traditions have different theological emphasis they also have similarities too. This study bears fruit in allowing us to create a common ecumenical definition of the church-building arising from these analysed texts – it is the future place of Christian worship which (ἐκκλησία, ecclesia) is a house (οἶκος) constructed (opus) for God, to celebrate His glory (cf. Es 40,34-35; Ez 9,3) in and through the divine mysteries (templum). This place is made by the community of the faithful and it from this same community it takes its name (ἐκκλησία, ecclesia).

 

Keywords:

Church foundation, ecumenism, Byzantine liturgy, Latin liturgy, Christian temple