Issue 37. Worship in the Early Church

Summary
Justin Martyr reveals that 2nd century Christian gatherings were not unlike contemporary Christian worship services. Hippolytus' 3rd century Eucharistic prayer has provided a template for the Church's timeless Communion liturgy. Clement of Alexandria wrote hymns to be sung corporately and strongly supported the visual arts in worship. Learn about these and many more Early Church worship practices in a fact-packed issue of Christian History & Biography that will have you reveling in the splendor of church tradition from cover to cover.

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Inside this issue you'll find:

  • How We Christians Worship
    From about the year 150, perhaps the most complete early description
  • Also: Did They Sing Hymns?
    Why doesn't Justin say they did?
  • Worshiping Like Pagans?
    How much did Christians borrow from Greek and Roman religions?
  • Also: Inside Pagan Worship
    In the Roman mind, heaven was populated by dozens of deities
  • Early Glimpses
    Historical documents describing Christians at worship
  • The Gallery: Wordsmiths of Worship
    In their writings, these people preserved early church worship—and shaped Christian worship since
  • Also: Praying to the "Dead"
  • Where Did Christians Worship?
    Tracing the move from simple houses to splendid public buildings
  • Also: Converting a House into a Church
  • Prayers of the Earliest Christians
  • Repeating the Unrepeatable
    How did we get from Jesus' Last Supper to Holy Communion?
  • Also: An Awe-Inspiring Ceremony
    In third-century Rome, baptism was high drama
  • Following in the First Christians' Footsteps
    How much should we imitate the worship practices of the early church?
  • Also: Washing Souls by Washing Feet
  • Let Us Repent Immediately
    Excerpts from an ancient Christian sermon
  • Chanting in Honor of Christ
    How early Christians expressed their joy
    Departments
  • Did You Know?
  • From the Editor
  • CH Timeline
  • Recommended Resources


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