century they formed quite a school of Greek hymn-writers.[1] In their splendid library they have valuable manuscripts. Now they continue their tradition of learning by publishing a good review[2] and valuable documents.[3] In the twelfth century they had a famous hospital and a Xenodochion for pilgrims.
The great reform of the monastery was under Leo XIII (1878–1903). Formerly there had been considerable Latin-Roman infiltrations in the rite used by the monks. We shall come to these later, since they affected all the Italo-Greeks. Here I note the fact that, when we say that Grottaferrata has never been latinized, we mean that it has always kept the Byzantine rite in Greek. But there was much Latin infiltration in that rite. This came about naturally, in an age when no one cared much about ritual purity, from the influence of their Roman neighbours. But it is all done away with now. In August, 1881, Leo XIII ordered the restoration of the Byzantine rite to its pure form. So it is observed here now. I doubt if anywhere else in the world the Byzantine rite is now celebrated with such punctilious exactness. There is no trace of latinization or of "mixed rite." Indeed, the monks are almost nervously anxious to avoid such a suspicion. It would hardly be possible to find an accusation that would offend them more, or be more unjust, than to say that they are not purest of the pure Byzantines, in their rites, habits, rule, and everything. At the same time Leo XIII founded, in the monastery, a college for Italo-Greeks, youths who are to become priests of their rite. These boys serve the church and sing the offices with the monks most beautifully. Any traveller who goes out from Rome on a Sunday morning may assist here at the Byzantine Liturgy, celebrated perfectly and sung exquisitely.[4] The monks are now Albanians from the Italian colonies. The present
- ↑ Krumbacher, "Byzantinische Litteratur" (2nd edition, Munich, 1897), p. 678.
- ↑ "Roma e l'Oriente, Rivista Criptoferratense per l'Unione delle chiese," published at Grottaferrata, monthly since November, 1910.
- ↑ "Studi liturgici," since 1912. They have a printing press, "Tipografia italo-orientale: S Nilo."
- ↑ In noting this I hope to be excused for adding a personal remark. Years ago, when I was a student at Rome, it was at Grottaferrata that I first learned to be interested in the Byzantine liturgy. It was from a Grottaferrata monk that I learned to speak Greek. After nineteen years, on Sunday, February 9, 1913, I stood again in that church and heard the heavenly music of the Trisagion, the Cherubikon, Εἴς ἅγιος, εἴς κύριος, Ἰησοῦς χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ Πατρός, before the Ikonostasion. So I thought of the days when I had stood there, a boy in my purple cassock, and I thanked God for all Grottaferrata had given me.
