TheLiturgy of Saint Gregory the Theologian (orAnaphora of Saint Gregory,Coptic:Ϯⲁ̀ⲛⲁⲫⲟⲣⲁ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲟⲥ Ⲅⲣⲉⲅⲟⲣⲓⲟⲥ,romanized: Ti-anaphora ente pi-agios Gregorios) is one of the threeAnaphoras retained by theCoptic Church.^[1] The text is named after SaintGregory of Nazianzus, one of theCappadocian Fathers.

Theanaphora orEucharistic Prayer that is part of this liturgy is distinct as it is entirely addressed toChrist and not to theFather as anaphoras usually are.^[2]

This liturgy can be used at present by theCoptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, as well as by theCoptic Catholic Church, in the solemnities of theCoptic calendar. This text doesn't cover the wholeDivine Liturgy, but it extends only from the pre-anaphorical rites to theFraction, so including the anaphora in the strict sense of the word. Along with this section the Liturgy of Saint Gregory includes also other additional prayers which can be used in place of the ones of the Coptic Liturgy of Saint Basil.^[3]

This liturgical text derives from theWest Syriac Rite, being imported inEgypt after the 6th century from Syriac monks who settled inWadi El Natrun.^[4] The authorship of the core of this anaphora byGregory of Nazianzus himself cannot be excluded.^[1] The text however was adapted to the Egyptian use, and it was one of the three anaphoras which use was permitted by the canons ofPatriarch Gabriel II in the 12th century.^[5]

The oldest manuscripts of this liturgy date theHigh Middle Ages: the oldest is a 10th-centurySahidic incomplete manuscripts from theeuchologion of theWhite Monastery, while the earlierBohairic texts are 12th or 13th manuscripts from theMonastery of Saint Macarius.^[4] Also aByzantine Greek recension exists.

The Anaphora of Saint Gregory the Theologian follows theAntiochene (or"West Syriac") structure, which can be so summarized:

• Pre-anaphoric rites:
  • the Prayer of the Veil;
  • the Prayer of Reconciliation.
• Anaphora:
  • theOpening Dialogue
  • thePreface, glorifying Christ and giving thanks to him for the creation.
  • thePre-Sanctus, introducing the Sanctus, first asking to unite with theheavenlyAngelic liturgy, and later glorifying Christ with the choir of angels,
  • theSanctus, conducted with theBenedictus,
  • thePost-Sanctus, recalling the whole history ofSalvation, from theOriginal Sin to theIncarnation,Passion,Resurrection of Christ,
  • theOblation, offering to the Lord theEucharistic bread and wine,
  • Institution narrative,
  • theAnamnesis, referring to thePassion,Resurrection andSecond Coming of Christ,
  • theEpiclesis, asking Christ to convert the Eucharistic bread and wine with his voice, and also to send theHoly Spirit on them in order to purify them and to make them theBody andBlood of Christ,
  • theIntercessions, praying for the Church and for the living (including thediptychs for current pope, bishop and other members of the Church),
• theFraction,
  • introduction
  • the prayer of submission to the Son
  • the absolution of the Son

• Online text of the Liturgy of St. Gregory as used at present by the Coptic ChurchArchived 24 May 2012 at theWayback Machine
• Newman, Nicholas (2019).The Liturgy of Saint Gregory the Theologian - Critical Text with Translation and Commentary. Belleville, Illinois: Saint Dominic's Media. p. 372.ISBN 978-1-7321784-6-5.

• Eastern Christian liturgies
• Anaphoras (liturgy)
• Coptic Orthodox Church
• Coptic Rite

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