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LITURGICAL COSMOLOGY: THE THEOLOGICAL AND SACRAMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF CREATION IN THE ETHIOPIAN LITURGY By Mebratu Kiros Gebru A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Theology of Emmanuel College and the Department of Theology of the Toronto School of Theology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael’s College © Copyright by Mebratu Kiros Gebru 2012 Liturgical Cosmology: The Theological and Sacramental Dimensions of Creation in the Ethiopian Liturgy Mebratu Kiros Gebru Doctor of Philosophy in Theology University of St. Michael’s College 2012 Abstract This study mainly seeks to construct a liturgical cosmology according to the Ethiopian liturgical rite based on the conviction that the prayers (worship) of the church ground its beliefs. To achieve this goal, the thesis has primarily dealt with various themes of creation theology based on the biblico-liturgical texts of the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church (EOTC). As a second method, the thesis has also analyzed the theological and cosmological presuppositions of the use of created matter in the Ethiopian liturgy. The eclecticism and complexity of the Ethiopic liturgical texts has led to the consultation of numerous biblical and apocryphal sources in the thesis, and this was mainly done to identify the sources of the EOTC’s theology of creation as reflected in the liturgical texts and biblical exegesis of the church. Having closely studied the EOTC’s liturgical texts and its sacramental praxis, the thesis demonstrates that both the eucharistic and non-eucharistic services of the Ethiopian liturgy embody creation motifs and incorporate created elements. While the Ethiopian Divine Liturgy (Qəddase) serves as an anamnēsis of both creation and redemption, the ii other sacramental rituals symbolically signify the transfiguration of the entire cosmos. Besides, the sacred liturgical space represents a transformed space where the heavenly and earthly beings praise God in unison. The Ethiopian liturgical tradition, thus, effectively provides elements for the making of a liturgical cosmology. iii Acknowledgements The process of writing this doctoral thesis has been tedious, marked by both apprehensive and exciting periods due to various reasons. While heading towards the end of the journey, primarily, I thank our Gracious and abundantly Merciful God for the grace bestowed on me: “For from him and through him and to him are all things, to him be the glory forever” (Rom. 11:36). I am indebted to my thesis director, Prof. Jaroslav Skira, for his enlightening guidance and corrections since the inception of the writing of the thesis till its completion. Especially I thank Prof. Skira for the patience he showed at the time when I was not writing up to the standard he expected from me. Thanks are also due to my friends Dr. Girma Bekele and Fr. Dr. George Leylegian for the constructive comments they offered on the manuscript of the thesis. I am very grateful to His Grace Abuna Dimetros, EOTC’s archbishop of the diocese of Ontario, for providing me with valuable Ethiopic sources that are relevant to this study. One of the challenges in the journey of writing this thesis was balancing the time that I committed to the research and to my family life. So many times, my daughter Yohanna mumbled: “no reading today, daddy,” urging me to pass quality time with her instead of locking myself in a carrel at Robarts Library. My son Samuel, who is two years old, as well has in many ways expressed his wish to have me in the house. In fact, whenever I left our kids at home and engaged in my research at the library, the burden of taking care of them was on my wife Helen. As a token of my gratitude for her understanding and diligence, thus, I dedicate this thesis to her. iv Table of Contents Page Abstract ........................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ iv INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. THE ETHIOPIAN LITURGY: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW...................................... 14 I. Origin and Development ............................................................................. 15 A. Liturgical Reform During the Golden Period in Ethiopia .................. 29 B. The Final Phase of the Development of the Ethiopian Liturgy .......... 47 II. Celebration and Structural Pattern of the Ethiopian Qəddase ....................... 51 Structure of the Ethiopian Qəddase ............................................................. 52 III. Administration of the Sacraments ................................................................ 59 IV. The Liturgy of Hours .................................................................................. 62 A. Sä῾atat (Horologium) ....................................................................... 62 B. The Divine Offices (Cathedral Offices) ............................................ 65 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 68 2. TOWARD THE THEOLOGY OF CREATION IN THE ETHIOPIAN LITURGY ......................................................................................................... 70 I. God as a Mystery ........................................................................................ 73 A. The Apophatic Way ......................................................................... 75 B. The Essence-Energies Distinction .................................................... 83 v II. Creation as the Work of the Triune God ..................................................... 88 A. The Doctrine of Creatio Ex Nihilo ................................................... 94 B. The Ethiopian Creation Narrative and its Theological Presupposition ............................................................................... 101 The Days of Creation .................................................................... 104 C. The Original Condition of the Human Person ................................ 115 III. The Cosmic Dimension of the Mystery of Salvation ................................. 123 A. The Fall and Its Consequences ...................................................... 123 B. The Orthodox Concept of Salvation .............................................. 128 The Centrality of the Incarnation .................................................. 131 Redemption from Sin .................................................................... 135 The Transfiguration of the Cosmos in Christ ................................ 141 C. Human Responsibility for Creation ............................................... 147 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 150 3. CREATION-CENTRED LITURGY ................................................................ 152 I. Sacramental Cosmology: The World as Sacrament .................................... 158 A. The Lifting up and Celebration of Creation in the Eucharistic Liturgy ......................................................................................... 161 B. Ṭəmqät [Theophany]: The Blessing of the Waters ........................ 168 C. Dämära [Feast of the Cross]: The Blessing of the Four Corners of the Earth ................................................................................. 174 vi II. The Ethiopian Lectionary: A Liturgical Calendar that Embodies Creation. ................................................................................................... 176 III. The Cosmic Liturgical Space: The Meeting Place of Heaven and Earth ......................................................................................................... 185 A. The Cosmic Symbolism of the Ethiopian Church Building .......... 186 Icons: Windows to Heaven .......................................................... 193 B. The Cosmic Liturgy ..................................................................... 199 Conclusion ........................................................................................... 204 4. THE ESCHATOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF THE ETHIOPIAN LITURGY ....................................................................................................... 206 I. Eschatology in the Ethiopian Tradition ...................................................... 210 A. Christ’s Millennial Reign and the Banquet on Mount Zion ......... 211 B. The Resurrection of the Dead and the Transformation of Creation ....................................................................................... 216 II. Liturgy as the locus of Eschatology ........................................................... 228 A. The Eucharist as the Sacrament of the Heavenly Kingdom .......... 229 B. Eschatological Orientation in the Ethiopian Divine Liturgy ......... 234 Conclusion ........................................................................................... 242 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 244 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 262 vii INTRODUCTION In contemporary theological studies, a high value is placed on liturgy due to the powerful
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