Work dossier · summary and historical context
The Old Georgian version of John Chrysostom's Liturgy survives in multiple manuscripts from the 9th–10th centuries, reflecting a complex transmission from Greek originals via Armenian and Syriac intermediaries. Attributed traditionally to John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), the text was widely used in the medieval Georgian Church. The edition presents a reconstructed text based on a single manuscript from the TITUS project, without a critical apparatus or full collation of variants, limiting its use for detailed textual criticism. The liturgy includes rubrical moments such as the deacon's entry and censing, with Christological proclamations and terms like 'sak'urt'khevelsa' (altar) and 'usiskhloy' (bloodless), echoing Greek liturgical vocabulary.
This work is significant as a witness to the reception of Byzantine liturgy in the Georgian Church, illustrating how Greek liturgical texts were adapted through Armenian and Syriac intermediaries. It provides insight into the liturgical practices and theological vocabulary of medieval Georgian Christianity, including the use of Christological imagery and rubrical structures. The text's survival in multiple manuscripts underscores its importance in Georgian ecclesiastical tradition, though the lack of a critical edition limits its use for detailed textual criticism.
The Old Georgian text of Chrysostom's Liturgy was transmitted through a complex process involving Greek, Armenian, and Syriac intermediaries, reflecting the multilingual liturgical landscape of the Caucasus. The earliest Georgian witnesses date from the 9th–10th centuries, long after Chrysostom's death in 407, and the attribution to him is traditional rather than historical. The liturgy was widely used in the Georgian Church, as shown by its inclusion in multiple medieval liturgical manuscripts. The edition is based on a diplomatic transcription from the TITUS project, which provides a single manuscript without systematic comparison to other witnesses. The text includes rubrical moments and Christological imagery, such as the 'lamb of God' and 'bloodless sacrifice,' which are standard in Eastern liturgies. The Georgian terms are often calques of Greek originals, indicating a close but adapted translation tradition.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
| Coptic | Rendering | Count | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| no glossary terms recorded | |||