Meditations on the Divine Liturgy

by Nikolai Gogol

With a new subject and scriptural index, as well as a short abstract on Nikolai Gogol as a religious personality, this reedited commentary on the Divine Liturgy—the primary public worship service of the Orthodox Church—is as practical as it is mystical. Gogol, one of the most prominent Russian writers of the 19th century, draws from the early Church Fathers and his own experience to explain the sublime mystery of the Orthodox divine services. In doing so, he also provides a fascinating look into his own religious character and profound liturgical spirituality.

Genres: Nonfiction, Russia, Spirituality, Christianity, Religion

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2014

About the author

People consider that Russian writer Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (Николай Васильевич Гоголь) founded realism in Russian literature. His works include The Overcoat (1842) and Dead Souls (1842).

Ukrainian birth, heritage, and upbringing of Gogol influenced many of his written works among the most beloved in the tradition of Russian-language literature. Most critics see Gogol as the first Russian realist. His biting satire, comic realism, and descriptions of Russian provincials and petty bureaucrats influenced later Russian masters Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, and especially Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Gogol wittily said many later Russian maxims.

Gogol first used the techniques of surrealism and the grotesque in his works The Nose , Viy , The Overcoat , and Nevsky Prospekt . Ukrainian upbringing, culture, and folklore influenced his early works, such as Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka .
His later writing satirized political corruption in the Russian empire in Dead Souls .

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As my Godmother once said, " I love Gogol very much." Such insightful comments on the beauty of the Liturgy.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meditations on the Divine Liturgy is divided into three sections - "The Office of Preparation," "The Liturgy of the Catechumens," and "The Liturgy of the Faithful." Each section contains description and commentary of all that is taking place leading up to the Divine Liturgy and during the Divine Liturgy. It also contains, in bold typeface, the words spoken by the priest, deacon, and lay faithful in attendance. I found these parts especially helpful, as the book also contained the secret prayers the priest says and that the laity doesn't get a chance to hear.

The section I enjoyed the most was "The Office of Preparation." I never realized how much went preparation went into the Divine Liturgy. The prayers made you pause and reflect, and the great detail on how the bread is cut; what each piece of bread symbolizes; and the how and why of the way the bread is arranged on the diskos or paten. There is so much rich and beautiful symbology in this office that I never knew existed. I also appreciated how the book started. It begins, "The priest who intends to celebrate the Liturgy should be abstinent in body and spirit from the previous evening, should be at peace with all, and should avoid holding a grudge towards anyone." This is excellent advice for laity as well.

Most of the time religious books of this nature are written by the clergy or those with advanced degrees in theology. What is refreshing about this book is that it was written by a layman, Nikolai Gogol, who was one of the great Russian authors of the 19th Century. He understood the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church and used his talents to serve the Church. To read more about him, check out the publisher's page on this book or by clicking here for a PDF. If you're looking for an excellent introduction and thorough guide to the Divine Liturgy check out this book. In fact, I'd pair it with the book Journey to the Kingdom.

[Wesley Giesbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not the same caliber as the great commentary of St. Nicholas Cabasilas on the Divine Liturgy, Gogol's commentary displays his intimate knowledge of both the ritual and the symbolic meaning of the Divine Liturgy. He comments on the liturgy following the great patristic tradition of recognizing the liturgy as a symbolic representation of the life of Christ. While he comments on many parts of the liturgy, often the case is that he merely gives a description of the ritual itself without any symbolic comments. The commentary itself is therefore an overview of the liturgy, containing fairly detailed descriptions of the liturgical actions, with frequent symbolic interpretations throughout.

[Tsunami Noai · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short yet deep description of the Divine Liturgy that is easily accessible and from one of the great Russian masters of literature. I wish it was longer.

[Iancu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autorul mi-a prezentat în stilul său propriu și din perspectiva sa tainele Dumnezeieștii Liturghii, ce are o continuitate de două mii de ani, acesta făcând uneori completări, mențiuni și comparații cu privire la modurile în care se săvârșea această slujbă în timpurile Bisericii Primare.

La final am rămas cu un gând: Dragostea, hrana întregii vieți.

Am citit varianta în limba română "Meditații la Dumnezeiasca Liturghie" de Nikolai Vasilievici Gogol, traducere și prefață de Boris Buzilă, care mi-a venit ca o mănușă în completarea lecturii anterioare a cărții "Dumnezeiasca Liturghie A Sfântului Ioan Gură de Aur", editura Institutului Biblic și de Misiune ortodoxă București 2012, care cuprinde textul exact al Liturghiei ce are loc în prezent în Biserica Ortodoxă Est-Europeană.

[Tighy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Asta cu siguranță nu este pentru mine, cel care nu poate pica în iubire, însă este pentru cel vrednic de al primi pe buzele sale pe Dumnezeu însuși; pentru cel ce dorește să se întărească în dragoste și care are obligația de a fi de față cât mai des -cu cutremur, cu credință și cu evlavie, la sfântul ospăț al dragostei.

[Невен Паштар · Rating 5 out of 5]

Гогољев опис литургије је и умјетнички и духовно супериоран, али и едукативан (како за оне који нису православни, тако и за оне који мисле да су православни).
За 5 звјездица ипак доприноси поговор (бар у српском издању) Константина Мочуљског-бриљантно!

[Paul Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book describing the Divine Liturgy. A good starter. Easy to read, not as indepth or advanced as Cabasilas.

[Vitus Kastfelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Henry Tanaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great explanation of the Divine Liturgy!