CHURCH THE BRIDE AND CHRIST THE BRIDEGROOM

Authors

  • Naiju Jose Kalambukattu Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome

Keywords:

Bridegroom and Bride, Bride-Price, East Syriac Tradition, Heavenly Banquet, Heavenly Bridal Chamber, Mystery of Christ, Symbolism of Marriage, Type and Anti-type

Abstract

The nature and significance of the Church, and her relation with Christ have been expounded through various images and models. The East Syriac Fathers explicate the profound relation and intimate union between the Church and Christ by the image of the bride and bridegroom. As a pledge of His love for the bride and as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, Christ has hallowed and adorned her with His body and blood as spiritual food and drink. The Church the bride born from the side of Christ the bridegroom has the same mission of Christ in the world. How genuine is she in imbibing and interiorizing the vision and accomplishing and achieving the mission of her Groom — is the query.

Author Biography

Naiju Jose Kalambukattu, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome

Fr Naiju Kalambukattu is a doctoral student at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome. He holds an LTh from DVK, Bangalore and a post-graduate degree in English from Garhwal University. He has taught Liturgy in Samanvaya Theological College, Bhopal. His publications include Apostolic Roots of Syro-Malabar Liturgy, Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2011, and articles and book reviews in Asian Horizons, Christian Orient, Ephrem’s Theological Journal, Journal of St. Thomas Christians, Journal of Dharma, In Christo, Sangam Darshan, and in edited works. Email: kalambukattunaiju@gmail.com

References

A. Vööbus, Didascalia Apostolorum in Syriac, CSCO 402, Scr. Syr. Tom. 176, Leuven: Secrétariat du Corpus SCO, 1979.

A.F.J. Klijn, The Acts of Thomas: Introduction, Text, and Commentary, sec. rev. edn., Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2003.

Aphrahat, Demonstrations, Parisot, ed., in R. Graffin, ed., Patrologia Syriaca, Tomus Secundus, Parisiis: Firmin-Didotet Socii, 1907.

B. Haering, “Liturgical Piety and Christian Perfection,” Worship 34, 9 (October 1960).

C. Johnson, Prosper Gueranger (1805-1875) A Liturgical Theologian: An Introduction to His Liturgical Writings and Work, Roma: Pontificio Ateneo S. Anselmo, 1984.

Commission for Liturgy, Syro-Malabar Sabhayude Pontifical Kramam, Kakkanad: Commission for Liturgy, 2007.

Commission for Liturgy, Syro-Malabar Sabhayude Qookashakal, Kakkanad: Commission for Liturgy, 2005.

E.J. Kilmartin, “When is Marriage a Sacrament?” Theological Studies 34, 2 (1973).

E.J. Kilmartin, Christian Liturgy: Theology and Practice, Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward, 1988.

E.J. Kilmartin, The Particular Liturgy of the Individual Church: The Theological Basis and Practical Consequences, Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 1987.

E.P. Hahnenberg, “The Mystical Body of Christ and Communion Ecclesiology: Historical Parallels,” Irish Theological Quarterly 70 (2005).

Ephrem, Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen contra Haereses, E. Beck, ed., CSCO 169, 170, Syr. 76, 77, Louvain: Le Durbecq, 1957.

G. Farnedi, ed., La celebrazione Cristiana del Matrimonio: Simboli e Testi, Roma: Pontificio Ateneo S. Anselmo, 1986.

G. Saber, La Théologie Baptismale de Saint Ephrem: Essai de Theologie Historique, Kaslik: Bibliothèque de l’université Saint-Esprit, 1974.

H. Engberding, “Die Kirche als Braut in der ostsyrischen Liturgie,” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 3, 1-2 (1937).

J. Moolan, “Structure and Theology of East Syrian Baptism,” Malabar Theological Review 9, 2 (2014).

J. Naduvilezham, “Ecclesiological Perspectives of St. Ephrem of Nisibis,” Christian Orient 22, 1 (March 2001).

J. Theckanath, The Church Bride of Christ, 212; L. Arangassery, “Sacramentality (Razanayuta) of the Church in the East Syriac Tradition,” Ephrem’s Theological Journal 13, 1 (March 2009).

J. Theckanath, The Church Bride of Christ: A Historical, Analytical and Theological Study of the Season of the Consecration of the Church in the East Syrian Tradition towards a Liturgical Ecclesiology (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation), Rome: Pontificio Athenaeum Anselmianum, 1987.

J.H. Charlesworth, ed., & trans., The Odes of Solomon, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1973.

J.P. Smith, ed., A Compendious Syriac Dictionary Founded upon the Thesaurus Syriacus, Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1998.

Narsai, The Liturgical Homilies of Narsai, R.H. Connolly, trans., Texts and Studies 8, Eugene, Oregon: Wipt and Stock Publishers, 2004.

P. Kalluveettil, Syro-Malabar Sabhayude Qurbana: Bible Darsanangal, Kakkanad: Liturgical Research Centre Publications, 2004.

P. Maniyattu, “Inculturation of the East Syrian Liturgy of Marriage by the St. Thomas Christians in India,” in S.H. Teeples - B. Groen - S. Alexopoulos, ed., Studies on the Liturgies of the Christian East, Leuven-Paris-Walpole, MA: Peeters, 2013.

P. Yousif, “An Introduction to the East Syrian Spirituality: Liturgical Ecclesial and Theological Dimensions,” in A. Thottakara, ed., East Syrian Spirituality, Rome-Bangalore, Centre for Indian and Inter-religious Studies & Dharmaram Publications, 1990.

R. Murray, “The Theory of Symbolism in St. Ephrem’s Theology,” Parole de l’Orient 6-7 (1975-1976).

R. Murray, Symbols of the Church and Kingdom: A Study in Early Syriac Tradition, London-New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.

R.J. Murray, “The Rock and the House on the Rock: A Chapter in the Ecclesiological Symbolism of Aphraates and Ephrem,” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 30, 2 (1964).

S. Athappilly, Theology in India. Essays on Christ, Church and Eucharist, Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2005.

S.J. Beggiani, Early Syriac Theology with Special Reference to the Maronite Tradition, Lanham, MD, University Press of America, 1983.

S.M.B.C., The Syro-Malabar Qurbana: The Order of Raza, Trivandrum: San Jose Press, 1989.

S.M.B.C., Yamaprarthanakal, Changanacherry: S.M.B.C. Committee for Divine Office, 1986.

S.P. Brock, “‘The Wedding Feast of Blood on Golgotha’ an Unusual Aspect of John 19:34 in Syriac Tradition,” The Harp 6, 2 (November 1993).

S.P. Brock, “Jacob of Serugh on the Veil of Moses,” Sobornost 3, 1 (1981).

S.P. Brock, The Luminous Eye: The Spiritual World Vision of Saint Ephrem, Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 1992.

T. Spidlik, “Some Aspects of Syrian Spirituality,” in C. Payngot, ed., Homage to Mar Cariattil: Pioneer Malabar Ecumenist, Rome: Mar Thoma Yogam, 1987.

Theodore of Mopsuestia, Commentary on the Lord’s Prayer and on the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist, in A. Mingana, ed. & trans., WS, VI, Cambridge: W. Heffer, 1933.

Downloads

Published

2016-03-30

How to Cite

Kalambukattu, N. J. (2016). CHURCH THE BRIDE AND CHRIST THE BRIDEGROOM. Asian Horizons, 10(01), 156–170. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/2035