Worship in the Early Church: An Anthology of Historical Sources (4 vols.)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Worship in the Early Church is a four-volume collection of excerpts from early Christian writings illustrating the Church’s liturgical practice in both East and West, from its Jewish beginnings through the end of the sixth century. Source material includes doctrinal and historical treatises, scriptural commentaries, sermons, letters, synodal legislation, early church orders, monastic rules, and baptismal and funeral epigrams. Each author or major selection is preceded by a short introduction containing such information as dates, country of origin, and various other background details. A bibliography of pertinent periodical and liturgical literature is given, as well as a bibliography referencing standard encyclopedias of religion and manuals of patrology.
Reading these volumes in Logos—whether on your phone, tablet, or computer—is intuitive and easy. Search for topics or patristic writers instantly, and follow footnotes and biblographic references with just a click. With this essential collection, your Logos-powered research into the patristic sources of worship and liturgy becomes that much easier.
Worship in the Early Church was named a 2010 Outstanding Academic Title by Choice Magazine!
- English translations of a wide range of ancient sources
- Separate bibliographies for pertinent periodical and liturgical literature and for standard encyclopedias of religion and manuals of patrology
- Doctrinal and historical treatises, scriptural commentaries, sermons, letters, synodal legislation, early church orders, monastic rules, and baptismal and funeral epigrams
Worship in the Early Church is a rich treasure trove of source materials for those who study early Christian worship. This anthology gives them access to English translations of a wide range of ancient sources that may not be otherwise available to them. The author, who studied under Pierre Marie Gy and Pierre Jounal at the Institut Catholique in Paris, has done scholars a great service in providing these translations, the majority of them his own. Johnson’s bibliography, with entries covering the past century and a half, will be a welcome bonus for those wishing to trace the development of scholarship on these early documents. A truly remarkable and indispensable resource!
—Gilbert Ostdiek, professor of liturgy, Catholic Theological Union
This set will be a great resource. I was impressed with the thoroughness of Johnson’s bibliography and his attention to detail. In addition to scholars in the area of worship or liturgy, this collection could also serve those in theology and historical theology. . . . It could have significant ecumenical appeal.
—Judith M. Kubicki, associate professor, department of theology, Fordham University
It will be very useful to have all these texts in one location. . . . The bibliography is very useful and the translations are excellent.
—Dominic E. Serra, associate professor and director of liturgical studies and sacramental theology, The Catholic University of America
The project looks tremendous . . . eminently usable for classroom purposes. This is a volume that can be used for years to come. A much-welcomed product.
—Paul Turner, Saint Munchin Parish, MO
- Title: Worship in the Early Church: An Anthology of Historical Sources
- Editor: Lawrence J. Johnson
- Publisher: Liturgical Press
- Volumes: 4
- Pages: 1,552
Lawrence J. Johnson is the former executive secretary of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and the former editor/director of The Pastoral Press. He has written several books on the liturgy and its music, including The Mystery of Faith: A Study of the Structural Elements of the Order of the Mass.
Reviews
5 ratings
Dr. John W. Hatton
10/28/2020
Ralph A. Abernethy III
9/7/2017
Larry Cantrell
8/18/2013
Unix
5/13/2013
This is a review of volume 1. Lawrence Johnson, born 1933, serves us with introductions, texts with translation notes, Bible cross-references (RC canon), & bibliography. The volume is as can be expected. The coverage of Fathers is good, I'm however a bit disappointed that the excerpts from Origen are not longer than this: 9 pages text. And recently there's been new finds. To take Origen as an example, the introduction is 1 page, bibliography 2 pages. The Didache is treated at similar length (the text a couple of pages shorter). Many of the books in the bibliographies are old. Most texts are translations from French (mostly 1958-1985 Sources chrétiennes). Also from Latin (for example Pliny the Younger) & Hebrew. In some cases the text in the original language was not available to Lawrence, for example Dialogue with Trypho the Jew which was therefore translated from a 1994 French translation. Lawrence seems to know many languages, as there are also translations from Italian & German.
