SSF214 – Liturgies and Devotions of the Byzantine Rite

In this course we will explore the rich spiritual treasures of the Byzantine tradition, focusing on the sublime liturgical and devotional practices that are to be found in the eastern lung of the Church. Working with texts and videos of the services, we will dig into the Divine Liturgy, both that of John Chrysostom and that of Basil the Great; the Divine Praises, especially Vespers and Matins; and the special devotional services: Molebens, Akathists, and Panachidas. Students who complete this course may still be overwhelmed when they visit a Byzantine church, but they will be less confused, having already been introduced to the structure and principal elements of the most common kinds of services they are likely to encounter.