Salient Features of the Mar Thoma Liturgy
Rev. Dr. George Mathew Kutliyil

Liturgy is the very expression of our faith through words and actions. It is significant in our faith journey and in imparting Christian belief. In this ar­ticle we are looking the liturgy as a subject of our living and experiencing faith. So major features or what is expected from the liturgy and worship is elabo­rated. These salient features may vary from one liturgical tradition to the other and from one particular theological position to the other.

The term Liturgy

"In the singular word 'Liturgy' denotes an act of worship more specially the Eucharist. Derived from the Greek word 'leitourgia', it was used in Hellenistic Greek of an act of public service. In the New Testment it is employed of an act of service or ministry (Phil. 2,30). In time it was confined in Christian usage to the idea of 'Service to God' and finally worship was regarded as the supreme service to God it was applied to the Eucharist'" Liturgy can be interpreted as any service rendered by the people to God or society. At present liturgy has several meanings such as the liturgical service of the church, the Eucharistic Celebration or any particular liturgical function. Now we will look at some important features of Christian liturgy.

Christological Nature of Liturgy

The most significant characteristic of the liturgy is its Christological nature, as part of the Trinitarian Theology. In the Christian liturgy, we can experience a living God the Father who reveals his intimate relation with Jesus Christ. The liturgy unfolds the plan of salvation through Christ. In every Eucharistic cel­ebration, the church commemorates the redeeming action of God in Christ and give thanks (Eucharista) to the salvation that has been achieved through Christ.

Pneumotogical dimension of Liturgy

According to Eastern thinkers. Holy Spirit is the source of life and work. Life and energy are considered as the economy of the Holy Spirit by the Church Fathers. The Holy Spirit has the primary place in the life of the Church though he operates within and outside the church. Holy Spirit participates in the cre­ation, redemption and sancitifcation of the human beings and cosmos (1 cor. 6:11; Ps. 104:30). We understand the Holy Spirit who is operative in the entire salvation history, in and through our liturgical prayers^.

Epiclesis-Invocation of the Holy Spirit

Invocation of the Holy Spirit during the worship and each sacrament is an important prayer of the Church. Epiclesis is the prayer which expresses the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is the prayer addressed to God the Father the first person of the Trinity to send, descend the Holy Spirit. It is the collective prayer and wish of the worshippers-the Church, to descend and sanctify the Holy elements offered in the Eucharist and the faithful believers. Epiclesis during sacraments especially in the Euharist is the time of daily experiencing the Holy Spirit who once descended upon the believers. It is the common prayer of the Church to keep her continuously in the Pentecostal experience. It is the sign of the continuous experience of divine life through the sacraments. St. Ephrem says, "It is through the sacraments that the Church renews the gift of the Holy Spirit given to her. Church through her liturgical prayers and rites live in an extended Pentecost. Epiclesis expresses the Pentecostal nature of the church".

Worship is the act of God in the Holy Spirit. It is an invitation to unite and work with God. We worship in the spirit. Participation in the liurgy lead us to communion with the Holy Spirit. It is within the context of worship, that the spirit bestows the knowledge of God.

Trinitarian dimension of Liturgy

The function of Liturgy is to express the divine experience that has been revealed in Trinity and deepen that experience. In the Eastern Liturgy, espe­cially the liturgy of St. James is centered around Trinitarian dimension. The role of the Trinity in the Divine Salvation (Economy of salvation) is beautifully and profoundly presented in the ante-communion and communion service of the liturgy of St. James. All the liturgical prayers end by glorifying the Father, Son and Holy Spirit like: "We will ascribe glory to you and to the Father and to the Holy Spirit". Life in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit through Christ to God the Father is the real life. In the liturgical prayers of the Eastern Churches, the reference to the Trinity is well emphasised.

Soteriological aspect of the Liturgy

Liturgy is the celebration of God's redemptive action which is also known as Economy or plan of salvation. This is true especially in the Eucharistic cel­ebration of the Church. In every Eucharistic celebration the church commemo­rates the redeeming action of God in Christ and gives thanks to the salvation that has been achieved through Christ. Soteriological themes are well reflected in the early Eucharistic Liturgy, especially in the Anaphora (Liturgy) of St. James. So it is more close to the New Testament faith and preaching, that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. In the writings of the early Fathers this idea is dominant Thus the faith of the early church is well contained in the Liturgy of the Church-Scriptural Basis of the Liturgy

Proclaiming the word of God and administering the sacraments are the very foundations of Christian worship and mission. Bible and Liturgy equip the people for this purpose. They are intrinsically related to each other. Bible has influ­enced the liturgy and liturgy has influenced the formation of the scriptures. So they are mutually complimentary and not contradictory. It can be said that Bible itself was a creedal statement or liturgy of the people of God. It was on the basis of the old Testament, that Christian Liturgy was born. Lucian Deiss says "Jew­ish Liturgy was the womb from which Christian Liturgy was born'

Place of Lectionary in worship

It is in the midst of the believers gathered for worship, the Scripture is read out and expounded. The Scripture is developed for the worshipping commu­nity or liturgical gatherings. The Scripture is read out and expounded by an authorised person of a Church. The Ministry of the Word' which has been adapted from the Jewish tradition is still continued in the Christian worship. The reading of the scripture and its exposition in the midst of worship espe­cially during the Eucharist and other sacraments is a continued practice even today. The first part of the Eucharist itself is known as the Ministry of the Word. The practice of reading from the old Testaments, New Testament, Epistle and Gospel is prevailing even today. The Homely (Sermon) in the liturgy is a usual feature of worship, The Word of God was read out and expounded right from the-Apostolic time in the Christian Church. The practice of reading ;he scrip­ture in a cycle based on the salvation event had developed during the fifth century. This arrangement is known as the 'Lectionary system'. Thus the Lit­urgy of the Church is very much scripture centered and the Word of God give validity and authenticity to the worship and sacraments of the Church

Ecclesial Nature of the Liturgy

The Liturgy is an action of the church and that has its origin in Christ who has endowed his powers to the church. It is the community of believers that can legitimately and meaningfully celebrate the liturgy of the Eucharist. All sacra­ments are the acts of the Church. Here Church herself becomes the means of grace. The sacramentality of the Church is revealed here. Liturgy and sacra­ments are ecclesial acts. That is why the second century Church Father Irenaeus commented "For where the Church is, there the spirit of God and where the Spirit of God is, there is Church, and every kind of grace".⁵ It doesn't mean that there is no Holy Spirit outside the church. This statement reveals the ecclesial nature of the Church⁶

The model of the Church as the worshipping and praising congregation or as a liturgical assembly is rediscovered and emphasised by the Second Vatican Council. It says. "The Liturgy is, thus the outstanding means by which the faithful can express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and line real nature of the true Church (SC-2J. The role of the Church is that all who are made sons/daughters of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of his Church (SC-10). It also could be said that the liturgy convenes the Church, teaches and transforms the Church through her worship and Sacraments. So Liturgy has 2. major ecclesial role to play in the life and Witness of the Church.

Penitential Nature of Liturgy

The acknowledgement by the believer of his/her sin is known as confes­sion. There can be different ways in a liturgy to express their sorrow for sin and receive forgiveness from God through there deeming act of Christ. The confes­sion can occur in a general, personal or a sacramental form.

Through the confession of sin the faithful receive divine forgiveness. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us about sin and enables us to confess before God. The confession and declaration of absolution are channels to participate in the mission of God. The proclamation of forgiveness' is the assurance of divine forgiveness and mercy. It is good news that God forgives our sin and He loves the sinner. To proclaim the divine grace and forgiveness is the call and mission of the Church. The Liturgy of the Eastern Church is more penitential in nature.

The sacrament of confession in the Church enables the believers to come out from their sin and guilt and live in peace and reconciliation within one self, fellow beings and with God. This sacrament is a means of grace for the broken hearted and sinner. It evokes hope and confidence by participating and confess­ing their short comings through me worship of the Church.

Healing (Therapeutic) aspects of Liturgy

In the liturgy of the Church, there is healing and reconciliation to the faith­ful. It is possible through the two sacraments of healing viz, the confession and the Anointing of the sick. Confession is the established sacrament which will help the believers to get complete deliverance from sin. The acceptance of guilt of sin and repentance and the willingness to confess them are the prerequisites for forgiveness of sin. Confession is made to God and forgiveness of sin is done by God. The minister representing the Church declares the absolution. The Holy communion is celebrated by the reconciled community, who have reconciled to oneself, to each other and to God. It is a sacrament of inner heal­ing. So there is healing and inner peace to the believers through the liurgical prayers and the sacrament of healing of the Church.

The sick gets physical and spiritual comfort through the sacrament of heal­ing or Anointing. Forgiveness of sins and deliverance from the disease are at­tributed to the sacrament of healing. When the Anointing the sick is conducted the church is announcing to the sick that the whole Christian community is with him/her. It is the faith of the Church and its prayer that imparts healing to the sick. This service depicts the care and mission of the Church. Through anoint­ing God touches a person in his totality. The sick people experience the grace of God through the service of healing, which was in vogue from the time of Jesus. The Church continues its healing mission inspired by God, without expecting any reward or fame. The Church has the responsibility to retrieve the physical, spiritual and mental health of the sick people through the sacrament of healing⁷

The pedagogic aspect of Liturgy

The purpose of liturgy is to equip the people lo live according to the knowl­edge and grace they receive from God. Christian education is imparted and transmitted through the liturgy of [he Church. It is not just the written prayers or liturgical text alone, but the whole act of worship and prayer is the means of Christian education. Ii is said that the liturgy forms the Church, informs the Church and transforms (he Church. Since liturgy is the source of theology and deposit of the faith it has to be handed over to the worshippers through the act of Christian worship. The pedagogic nature of liturgy can not be overlooked. It is still the means of Christian education.