On the Ecclesiastical Mystagogy PPS 59

Popular Patristics Series Volume 59

St Maximus the Confessor (c. 580-662) beautifully expounds the meaning of the Divine Liturgy in this work, which had a profound influence on the subsequent tradition, beginning with St Germanus of Constantinople (PPS 8). Maximus' vision of the liturgy contemplates the interpenetrating relationships of all things with each other and with Christ, in whom all things cohere. The church building and the human being and the cosmos are all mutually related and symbolically reflect each other. Further, in the liturgy we enter into the mystery of Christ. As St Maximus puts it, "Let us not be absent from the holy Church of God because she contains such great mysteries of our salvation according to... and she reveals the gift of adoption that is given through holy baptism in the Holy Spirit and that perfects each one into the image of Christ."

I first came across this book while reading excerpts of it found in “The Serbian Christian Heritage of America“. The small passages I read really stood out to me and gave me a special, new understanding of the Divine Liturgy and our Orthodox Church. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain valuable, useful insight from a trusted source (St Maximos).