The Liturgy of Saint Gregory the Theologian (or Anaphora of Saint Gregory,
Coptic: Ϯⲁ̀ⲛⲁⲫⲟⲣⲁ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲟⲥ Ⲅⲣⲉⲅⲟⲣⲓⲟⲥ, romanized: Ti-anaphora ente pi-agios Gregorios) is one of the three
Anaphoras retained by the
Coptic Church.[1] The text is named after Saint
Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the
Cappadocian Fathers.
The
anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer that is part of this liturgy is distinct as it is entirely addressed to
Christ and not to the
Father as anaphoras usually are.[2]
Use
This liturgy can be used at present by the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, as well as by the
Coptic Catholic Church, in the solemnities of the
Coptic calendar. This text doesn't cover the whole
Divine Liturgy, but it extends only from the pre-anaphorical rites to the
Fraction, so including the anaphora in the strict sense of the word. Along with this section the Liturgy of Saint Gregory includes also other additional prayers which can be used in place of the ones of the Coptic Liturgy of Saint Basil.[3]
History
This liturgical text derives from the
West Syriac Rite, being imported in
Egypt after the 6th-century from Syriac monks who settled in
Wadi El Natrun.[4] The authorship of the core of this anaphora by
Gregory of Nazianzus himself cannot be excluded.[1] The text however was adapted to the Egyptian use, and it was one of the three anaphoras which use was permitted by the canons of
Patriarch Gabriel II in the 12th century.[5]
the
Preface, glorifying Christ and giving thanks to him for the creation.
the Pre-Sanctus, introducing the Sanctus, first asking to unite with the
heavenlyAngelic liturgy, and later glorifying Christ with the choir of angels,
the
Epiclesis, asking Christ to convert the Eucharistic bread and wine with his voice, and also to send the
Holy Spirit on them in order to purify them and to make them the
Body and
Blood of Christ,
the
Intercessions, praying for the Church, for the livings (including the
diptychs for current pope, bishop and other members of the Church),
^
abSpinks, Bryan (2010). "Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Traditions". In Parry, Ken (ed.). The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity. Malden, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 316–362.
ISBN9781444333619.
^
abGabra, Gawdat (2009). The A to Z of the Coptic Church. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. p. 29.
ISBN9780810868946.
^Chaillot, Christine (2006). "The Ancient Oriental Churches". In Wainwright, Geoffrey (ed.). The Oxford history of Christian worship. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. p. 139.
ISBN9780195138863.