The Divine Liturgy of St. James

The Divine Liturgy of St. James is one of the ancient treasures of the Church, linked to the holy city of Jerusalem and to St. James, the brother of the Lord and first bishop of Jerusalem. In this reflection, Fr. Chrysostom Nassis speaks about its history, development, and modern recovery. With Fr. Chrysostom Nassis, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Theology and Christian Culture at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This liturgy preserves the memory of the city where Christ lived, was crucified, and rose from the dead. Though once connected with Jerusalem, Antioch, and other Eastern traditions, it gradually fell out of regular use as the Byzantine rite became dominant. Today, it is celebrated only occasionally in certain places. Recovering this liturgy requires care, study, and humility. Because its living practice was interrupted, many rubrics are difficult to perform with certainty, and modern celebrations often fill gaps through familiar Byzantine forms. The Liturgy of St. James remains a revered text, calling the Church to remember the depth of her liturgical inheritance.