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152
THE LESSER EASTERN CHURCHES

originally from Antioch, but considerably modified in the East (p. 141). The Theodore anaphora is a not very important variant of this, with, however, one important difference (p. 155). The so-called Nestorius anaphora is considerably different. It has long been suspected of being a foreign element, imported independently from somewhere else. Dr. A. Baumstark has now, perhaps, solved the riddle. By a careful comparison he shows its close resemblance, not only in arrangement, but in many liturgical forms, with the Byzantine St. Basil rite. He concludes that it is nothing but the old rite of Constantinople, with heretical modifications, which may be the work of Nestorius himself, translated into Syriac by Mârabâ I (536–552; see p. 82).[1]

On the Sundays from Advent to Palm Sunday the liturgy of Theodore is used; on five days—namely, the Epiphany, St. John the Baptist (Friday after Epiphany), the Greek Doctors (Friday after the fourth Sunday after Epiphany), Wednesday of the Fast of the Ninevites (p. 148), and Maundy Thursday—that of Nestorius. On all other days the Holy Eucharist, if celebrated, has the rite of the Apostles. The order of this, in outline, is as follows: After the preparation of the offerings the celebrant and deacon begin the Enarxis.[2] They say the beginning of the Gloria in excelsis (l.c. ii. 14), the Lord's Prayer, some psalms farced, the "anthem of the sanctuary," Lâk mârâ (p. 149), Ps. xxv. 6 ("Lavabo"), and a few other prayers. Then begins the liturgy of the catechumens. The Trisagion is sung. Two lessons (normally from the Old Testament and Acts) are read by lectors at the platform outside the sanctuary wall, inside the low wall.[3] An antiphon, called shurâyâ ("beginning"), generally consisting of a farced psalm (προκείμενον, "gradual"), is sung. The deacon reads the "apostle" (always from an epistle of St. Paul), and the choir answers: "Glory be to the Lord of Paul." Incense is blessed and burnt, the Alleluia is sung with verses called zumârâ ("chant"), then a long anthem (turgâmâ, "interpretation"), and the celebrant reads the

  1. A. Baumstark: Die Chrysostomosliturgie u. die syrische Liturgie des Nestorios, in Chrysostomika (Rome, 1908). pp. 771–857.
  2. Ἐνάρξις, the opening of all Eastern rites. The Nestorian enarxis is modelled on the beginning of their evening prayer (Ramshâ).
  3. In practice these are very often omitted.