International Conference on Liturgical Renewal

Orthodox Liturgy: Lessons from the Past, Conemporary Trends, and Opportunities

 

Written by Brother Stavros

 

left to right: Fr. Philip Zymaris, Professor of Liturgics,
Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas Professor Emeritus of Liturgics,
former Dean, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Brother Stavros, New Skete

An International Conference on Liturgical Renewal, a two-day event gathering liturgical scholars and practitioners from as far away as Hong Kong, Georgia, Greece, Rumania, and Austria, was held March 15 and 16 as part of the 75^th anniversary of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology,  Brookline, Massachusetts, under the title Orthodox Liturgy, Lesson from the Past, Contemporary Trends, and Opportunities.  A Fellow of the British Academy, Archimandrite the Rev. Dr. Robert Taft, S.J., Professor Emeritus of Oriental Liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, gave the keynote address: “Liturgical Renewal in Orthodoxy: Reflections, Cautions, Suggestions.”  

Ten other papers were delivered, including “Liturgical Renewal: Have We Missed the Boat? Half a Century of Engagement and Praxis,” which Brother Stavros presented along with slides. It documented and illustrated a test case for a reasoned and organic implementation of liturgical renewal in the context of the work and life of New Skete Monastery from its roots in the early 1960s and through the past four decades of the 20^th century up to the present. Acknowledging reliance on the scholarship of others, some of whom were part of this conference, the reform has passed through several stages as the monastic communities themselves have striven for renewal, for pastoral outreach, and for adaptation to a rapidly changing culture. The slide presentation was centered on the Divine Liturgy as it currently unfolds in Holy Wisdom church at New Skete.

Brother Stavros was happy to renew contact with friends of the monastery at Holy Cross; its current dean, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Fitzgerald (who has a New Skete Shepherd); the former dean and Professor Emeritus of Liturgics, the Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas, and Dr. Louis Patsavos, Professor Emeritus of Canon Law. Their association with New Skete goes back several decades.

Two other presenters, the Rev. Dr. Stefanos Alexopoulos, Assistant Professor of Liturgics in Athens and member of the Commission for the Renewal of the Liturgy of the Church of Greece, and Dr. John Klentos, Associate Professor at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkley, California, both graduates of Holy Cross and Notre Dame, both made their acquaintance with New Skete in their student days.

It was also an occasion to make new friends, including the Rev. Dr. Philip Zymaris, Assistant Professor of Liturgics at Holy Cross, who honored the work of New Skete in extending the invitation to Brother Stavros. Father Philip addressed “Liturgical Renewal and the Reception of Communion: Progress and Challenges.”

Brother Stavros and Ms. Christy Ma, presenter at conference
and recent guest at New Skete, from Hong Kong

Other speakers provided a convivial and stimulating atmosphere of shared insights on the nature of liturgical renewal, candid assessments of the obstacles and sticking points it faces in Europe (Sister Dr. Vassa Larin from the University of Vienna had a riveting assessment of the “Liturgical Crisis in Russian Orthodoxy Today”), and, here at home, the possibilities for new beginnings in Asia (another Holy Cross, Notre Dame scholar, Christy Ma, discussed the many challenges of the Orthodox  Cathedral of Hong Kong—we were delighted to have her as a guest just prior to the conference ).

Time does not afford the chance to mention the several other papers, but we look forward to the publication of the entire proceedings from Holy Cross Press before the year is out.



Chapel on campus of Hellenic College/Holy Cross
overlooking Boston

Finally, the seminary students and staff [Nikki] extended utmost hospitality, and it was an honor to join them for Divine Services each day, and the Eucharistic Liturgy on Saturday morning.