In thinking more about eastern spirituality, I have decided that at this point I would like to present some information about the historical development of this spirituality. Some of this information, I believe, will put into context some of the things I have been writing about it.

In its present form, eastern spirituality is the result of 19 centuries of evolution: an evolution to which various ethnic and cultural factors have contributed (e.g., Slavic, Palestinian, Syrian) but whose homogeneity has been secured by a common Christian faith. The elements that have been revealed in the course of this evolution must not be conceived as superimposed layers, each of which finishes where another begins. They are, rather, dynamic streams, rising one after another; they diverge, cross one another, meet and continue down to the present time.

There are six main elements to eastern spirituality: the Scriptural element; the primitive Christian element; the intellectual element; the early monastic element; the liturgical element and the contemplative element. All six elements have contributed to the spirituality of our Church.

I would like to start by looking first at the liturgical element since I believe that this is perhaps the most critical element. For Eastern Christian spirituality is liturgical in many ways. First, our Church dispenses not only the Word (Scripture) but the seven Mysteries. Second, the liturgical worship of our Church is extremely elaborate, full of spiritual meaning and beauty. Third, collective forms of worship, that is our forms of communal prayer, predominate over private devotions. Last, the Church calendar frames the whole year in the stages of the Savior’s earthly life.

But, besides the general setting and   inspiration which the Church’s ritual gives to the religious life, there exists, within our tradition, a properly “liturgical” line of thought and piety. A whole school of saints and doctors have conceived the entire Christian life according to a liturgical type of rhythm; it is in the Church ritual that we seek and find the successive stages of the development of the soul.