Liturgy and the Emotions in Byzantium
Compunction and Hymnody

Emotions in Byzantium came to life through hymnody, which invited the faithful to step into a liturgical world of compunction.

Andrew Mellas (Author)

9781108487597, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 July 2020

222 pages
15.5 x 23.5 x 2 cm, 0.48 kg

'… the book makes a firm statement of the importance of Byzantine hymnody and it is an excellent example of such a study. Furthermore, it convinces the reader of the beauty and spirituality of the ocean of Byzantine texts.' Per-Arne Bodin, Journal of Early Christian Studies

This book explores the liturgical experience of emotions in Byzantium through the hymns of Romanos the Melodist, Andrew of Crete and Kassia. It reimagines the performance of their hymns during Great Lent and Holy Week in Constantinople. In doing so, it understands compunction as a liturgical emotion, intertwined with paradisal nostalgia, a desire for repentance and a wellspring of tears. For the faithful, liturgical emotions were embodied experiences that were enacted through sacred song and mystagogy. The three hymnographers chosen for this study span a period of nearly four centuries and had an important connection to Constantinople, which forms the topographical and liturgical nexus of the study. Their work also covers three distinct genres of hymnography: kontakion, kanon and sticheron idiomelon. Through these lenses of period, place and genre this study examines the affective performativity hymns and the Byzantine experience of compunction.

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
2. The liturgical world of compunction
3. Romanos the melodist
4. Andrew of crete
5. Kassia
Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Christianity [HRC], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], History [HB], Humanities [H]