Grundläggande principer och praktiska ideal för liturgin hos Alexander Schmemann

Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983) is considered by many as one of the twentieth century's most significant theologians. His main contribution to theological research, or at least the one most talked about, is his argument about liturgy in relation to theology and the church. Schmemann said that the task of liturgical theology is to clarify the theological meaning of the church's worship. This was something new. Previous research on liturgy had generally been more concerned with describing the historical background of the liturgy and with explaining what various liturgical actions meant. In this study, I search for basic principles of the liturgy in the thought of Alexander Schmemann. I examine what ideas these principles are based on, and then I explore what ideals for liturgical practice can be gleaned from these fundamental principles. Finally, I examine if these principles and practical ideals of the liturgy are applicable in a Lutheran context. In chapter four, I arrive at six guiding principles for the liturgy according to Schmemann: • The liturgy is the act of the congregation • The liturgy is a journey into the kingdom of God • The liturgy should express the universal and the personal • The entire liturgy is sacramental • The liturgy is a revelation of the content of faith • Baptism is our personal Easter and Pentecost These principles are the result of a systematic reading of Schmemann where I try to present the main tenets of his arguments about the liturgy. From these basic principles, I then try to demonstrate the practical ideals that result. Among other things, I show that Schmemann argues for a greater and more widespread participation by the congregation in the liturgy