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Instruction for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches

Norms

Instruction for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches

  • Congregation for the Eastern Churches
  • Libreria Editrice Vaticana
  • Vatican City
  • 1996 AD

The Instruction calls the liturgy the primary celebration of the Church’s continuing work of salvation and urges the Eastern Churches to preserve their Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean, and Constantinopolitan traditions through organic renewal rather than arbitrary innovation or imitation of Latin forms. Patriarchs, major archbishops, metropolitans, bishops, and the Apostolic See share responsibility for liturgical governance, while each Church is to prepare a Liturgical Directory. Mystagogical catechesis should be rooted in Scripture and worship. The sacramental life is presented as an integrated whole, especially the unity of Baptism, Chrismation with Myron, and Eucharist, with encouragement for triple immersion and infant Communion after initiation. The Divine Liturgy joins proclamation of the Word to the Eucharistic rite; traditional Anaphoras should be restored, explained, and, where beneficial, proclaimed aloud. The faithful are to participate actively, Communion ordinarily being offered under both species from gifts consecrated at that celebration. The Instruction also addresses fasting, Sunday and feast-day observance, vestments, clergy formation, the diaconate, marriage, individual confession, and the full celebration of Anointing of the Sick. Eastward orientation, the altar, iconostasis, ambo, baptistry, and icons are theological signs of pilgrimage toward Christ’s Kingdom. Sacred art commissions and a Central Office are to protect authentic Eastern architecture and iconography while permitting contemporary development faithful to liturgical meaning.

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