USP - THO 3347 (H 2012) - Syllabus

THO 3347 (H 2012) – Byzantine Liturgy of the Hours and Liturgical Year

Class Meets – Guiges #50: Fri. 9-12 noon; Office Hours – Laframboise #237: by appointment (bbutcher@ustpaul.ca)

DESCRIPTION

An overview of the history, theology and practices related to the Byzantine Christian Liturgy of the Hours (especially Vespers and Matins) and the Liturgical Year (moveable and immoveable cycles)

OBJECTIVES

• To study the theology borne by the services of the Horologion (Book of Hours) and their constitutive parts (psalmody, hymnography, intercessory prayer) and to analyze the worldview generating—and resulting from—this form of worship, especially the underlying ideas of time, history and memory
• To trace the volatile history of the Byzantine office
• To familiarize the student with the feasts, seasons and important commemorations of the moveable (paschal) and immoveable cycles (monthly & weekly) of the Byzantine liturgical year
• To reflect on the issues arising from the attempt to celebrate the Byzantine Hours today, and to elucidate principles for responding to these concerns

EVALUATION

• Class Participation 5%
• Liturgical Journal (3 x 5% [500 words each])† 15%  
• Reflection on a particular liturgical experience in light of the course readings
• Reading Quizzes (3 x 5%) 15%
• Research Essay (2500-3000 words)† 25%
• Oral Presentation of Research 10%
• Final Oral Exam 30%

†May be submitted on-line, as attached MS Word (97-2003 compatible) file, formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style. Marks will be deducted for grammatical/orthographic errors. Please (have a peer) proofread!
 

REQUIRED TEXTS

• George Guiver, Company of Voices: Daily Prayer and the People of God (Wipf & Stock, 2008)*
• THO 3347 Supplemental Readings (SR) – available on-line (list with hyperlinks will be e-mailed)

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

1. Robert Taft, Liturgy of the Hours in East and West, 2^nd ed. (The Liturgical Press, 1993) [LHEW]*
2. Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent (Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1974)*

*Available for purchase in the Librairie Saint-Paul/Canterbury House Bookstore

DATE	TOPIC/EVENT	READING/ASSIGNMENT
Jan. 13	Intro/Liturgical Year I
Jan. 19 Thurs.	FIELD TRIP 5-7 pm	Great Blessing of Water for the Feast of Theophany (Julian Calendar) Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, Quebec
Jan. 20	Liturgical Year II: Nativity Fast (Advent), Christmas & Theophany	Guiver, Part I: “Prayer and Human Nature” (Ch. 1-4) Taft, “What Is a Christian Feast?” (SR #1) Taft, LHEW, Part I: “The Formation of the Tradition” (Ch. 1)
Jan. 27	Liturgy of the Hours I: Historical Contours & Theological Principles	Guiver, Part I: “Prayer and Human Nature” (Ch. 5-7) Taft, “The Divine Office, Icon of Our Prayer Life” (SR #2)  Taft, LHEW, Part I: “The Formation of the Tradition” (Ch. 2-3)   LITURGICAL JOURNAL #1
Feb. 1 Wed.	FIELD TRIP 6-7:30 PM	Great Vespers for the Feast of the Encounter (Presentation of Christ in the Temple) St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa
Feb. 3	Liturgy of the Hours II: Vespers	Guiver, Part II: The History of Daily Prayer” (Ch. 8-13) Taft, LHEW, Part I: “The Formation of the Tradition” (Ch. 4-5)         READING QUIZ #1
Feb. 10	Liturgical Year III: 12 Great Feasts & Menaion	Larin, “Feasting and Fasting According to the Byzantine Typikon” (SR #3) Theokritoff, “Celebrating the Incarnation in the Feasts of the Orthodox Church” (SR #4)  Schmemann, Great Lent, Introduction & Ch. 1
Feb. 17	Liturgy of the Hours III: Compline, Mesonycticon & Little Hours	Guiver, Part II: The History of Daily Prayer” (Ch. 14-16) Taft, LHEW, Part I: “The Formation of the Tradition” (Ch. 10-11) READING QUIZ #2
Feb. 19 Sun.	FIELD TRIP 6-7:30 pm	Forgiveness Vespers St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa
Feb. 24	Study Week	NO CLASS
Mar. 2	Liturgical Year IV: Lent Triodion, Akathist Hymn & Great Canon of St. Andrew Approval of Research Paper Title & Bibliography	Wybrew, “The Development of Lent, Holy Week and Easter in the Byzantine Rite” & “The Pattern of Orthodox Lent, Holy Week and Easter” (SR #5) Taft, “Great Lent, Icon of Our Prayer Life” (SR#2) Schmemann, Great Lent, Ch. 2 LITURGICAL JOURNAL #2
Mar. 9	Liturgy of the Hours IV: Matins	Guiver, Part III: The Content of Daily Prayer” Taft, LHEW, Part II: “The Divine Office in the Christian East” (Ch. 17) Schmemann, Great Lent, Ch. 3 READING QUIZ #3
Mar. 16	ORAL PRESENTATIONS	Schmemann, Great Lent, Ch. 4
Mar. 21 Wed.	FIELD TRIP 5:30-7:30 pm	Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa
Mar. 23	Liturgical Year IV: Holy Week Liturgy of the Hours V	Schmemann, Great Lent, Ch. 5 Guest presentation by Harold Visser, M.A., on the reform of the Hours and the domestic church RESEARCH ESSAY
Mar. 24 Sat.	FIELD TRIP 5-7 pm	Vigil (Vespers & Matins) for the Feast of the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation & St. Nicholas (OCA), 15 Eccles Street, Ottawa
Mar. 30	Liturgical Year IV: Pascha (Easter) & Pentecost	Guiver, Part IV: Interpreting the Facts Schmemann, Great Lent, Appendix LITURGICAL JOURNAL #3
Apr. 6	Good Friday	NO CLASS
Apr. 10	Conclusion	According to USP schedule, this Tuesday class makes up for Good Friday
TBD	FINAL ORAL EXAM