Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology

Research

The genuine task of liturgical studies and sacramental theology is

  • to systematically collect the liturgical practices of the entire Christian tradition.

 Also, the origin and development

  • of their ritual forms
  • as well as their substance regarding sacramental theology shall be explored.

This helps to understand and explain the existent liturgy/liturgies and their continuous need of reform. 
This leads to

  • the ecumenic and interreligious focus of liturgical studies on the one hand and
  • to its interdisciplinary cooperation, which is urged by its pluralism of methods, with the (especially dogmatic, biblical and pastoral) theological, humanities and social sciences disciplines.
Wellcome Library, London

Manuscript of the Mystery Book or Divine Liturgy, 1714. Copied by the scribe Eghiay Marzvantsi in Marzvan, a small village in historical Armenia Minor. Frontispiece depicting 'Communion of the Apostles', The Last Supper, and title page with text in letters in the shape of birds 'Oh Jesus Christ our Lord who art clothed',1714.

Other key research areas

The following research projects are being conducted in the Department of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology at the University of Vienna:

  • Ordination Rites
  • Interim Missals after the 2nd Vatican Council
  • Fundamental Research of Rites according to "Comparative Liturgical Studies"
  • Byzantine Liturgical Studies

Doctoral Thesis (PhD)

Current Doctoral Theses (PhDs) being supervised or co-supervised in the field of liturgical studies (working titles)

  • Amrehn, Timo [Germany/Austria]:
    "Er heilt, die gebrochenen Herzens sind, er verbindet ihre Wunden" (Ps 147,3). Vulnerabilität in liturgischen Ritualen.
  • Bradley, James [UK/USA]:
    The Liturgical and Jurisdical Context of Divine Worship: The Missal.
  • Brahm, Daniyel [Germany]:
    Die vorweihnachtlichen Ḥusōye-Gebete der Syro-Antiochenischen Kirchen. Dekodierung des Ḥusōyō in der Syrischen Tradition.
  • Chittaruvickal, Anoop [India/Austria]:
    Resurrection as Union with Christ: A Comparative Study on the Eschatological Perspectives between the Service of Lazarus Saturday based on Mosul Fenqitho According to Malankara Syrian Catholic Church and the Homily of Jacob of Serugh on Lazarus.
  • Cvjetkovic, Danijel N. [Bosnien-Herzegowina/Austria]
    Sakrament (Mysterium) der Buße in der Serbisch-Orthodoxen Kirche – unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Einflusses der römisch-katholischen Theologie durch die Jahrhunderte.
  • Dietl-Stade, Christina [Austria]:
    Liturgischer Dienst zwischen Taufe und Ordination – Eine pastoralliturgische Studie zu den Cheirothesien in der byzantinischen Orthodoxie.
  • Garcia, Derlis Rogelio [USA]:
    The Latin–Spanish 1967 Transitional Missal in the Context of the Reform of the Liturgy in Latin America.
  • George, Sijo [India/Austria]:
    Re-Reading the Reformation Movement in the Malankara Church: A Study of Liturgical Renewal.
  • Haslwanter, Elias [Austria]:
    "Comple in sacerdote tuo mysterii tui summam". Eine liturgiewissenschaftliche und sakramententheologische Studie zur Sakramentalität der Bischofsweihe.
  • Kimes, Elizabeth [USA]:
    Towards a Theological Reading of Ritual and Liturgy in the Personal Ordinariates.
  • Lloyd, Daniel [UK]:
    "An Honourable Estate": The Solemnisation of Holy Matrimony in Divine Worship.
  • Mecheril, Mathew [India]:
    Role of the Liturgical Music in the Syro-Malabar Liturgy: A Search for the Identity of the Liturgical Music of the Syro-Malabar Church.
  • Tadevosyan, Meri [Armenia/Austria]
    Der Trauungsritus in der Armenischen Apostolischen Kirche. Eine Untersuchung seiner historischen Entwicklung und gegenwärtigen Praxis.
  • Vettikkattil Marcose, Joshy Mon [India/Austria]:
    A Study of Historical and Theological Developments in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in the Syrian Orthodox Church in India.
  • Williams, Aaron Michael [USA]
    Toward a Diocesan Implementation of “Desiderio Desideravi”: On Liturgical Formation in Dioceses of the United States.
derknopfdruecker.com

Completed Doctoral Theses (PhDs)

  • Fallmann-Kerrutt, Maria [Austria/Germany]
    The Marriage Ritual in Western Christianity. Its Genesis and Form in the Liturgy of Selected Denominations.
  • Haslwanter, Elias [Austria]
    Western Rite Orthodoxies. Geschichte, Kontexte und Liturgien.
  • Hill, Stephen [Australia]
    The Language of “Divine Worship” and its Pastoral Implications.
  • Kutarna, Alexis [USA]
    The "Musification of the Word" (Joseph Ratzinger): An Approach to the Primacy of the “Logos” in Liturgical Music With Regard to Divine Worship.

  • Erdinc, Philipp [Germany]
    Der Syrisch-Orthodoxe Inthronisationsritus. Kritische Edition, Übersetzung und liturgievergleichender Kommentar.

  • Kiesewetter, Stefan [Austria/Switzerland]
    Das Interimsmissale für die Diözesen Italiens von 1965. Eine Untersuchung zur Entstehung des ersten italienischsprachigen Messbuchs.

  • Kolliyelil, Thomas Prasobh [India]
    Episcopate - Martyrdom for the Unity of the Sheep. Liturgical Ecclesiology of Communion in the Episcopal Consecration in the West Syrian Tradition.

  • Er, Sabri Saliba [Syria/Turkey]
    Eucharistic Theology in the West Syriac Tradition. A Contemporary Examination of the Select Writings of the Syriac Fathers.
  • Smbatyan, Hayk [Armenia]
    Christologische Dimensionen der armenischen liturgischen Tradition. Unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Eucharistiefeier (Surb Patarag).

  • Chavanne, Jakob (Johannes Paul) [Austria]
    Pax. Friedensbegriffe in der Eucharistiefeier im Römischen Ritus.
  • Kabaya Enkawa, Rena [Japan]
    Die Entstehung und die Entwicklung der Eucharistieepiklese in den Ostsyrischen Liturgien. Die Klassifizierung der Epiklese und die Klarstellung von einigen ursprünglichen Eigenschaften der Ostsyrischen Epiklese.
  • Kaiser, Andreas [Austria]
    Das lateinisch-deutsche Altarmessbuch (1965). Der vergessene Schritt in der Umsetzung der Liturgiereform.
  • Mikhail, Ramez [USA] [*PostDoc-Fellow der Yale University]
    The Presentation of the Lamb. A Historical and Theological Analysis of the Prothesis and Preparatory Rites of the Coptic Liturgy.
  • Monteiro, Yohanes Hans  [Indonesia]
    Die Semana-Santa-Feier in Larantuka, Flores (Indonesien). Eine liturgievergleichende Untersuchung zur portugiesischen Tradition.
  • Papathomas, Constantinos [Zyprus]
    Contextualising Liturgy: Fountoulis Revisited
  • Seper, Daniel  [Austria]
    Das Book of Divine Worship - eine Untersuchung des liturgischen Buches für Katholiken anglikanischer Tradition.
  • Thomas, Sibichen [India]
    The Liturgical Year with Reference to the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours in the Syro-Malabar Church.
  • Tricarico, Girolamo [Italy]
    Der Aspekt der Sündenvergebung im Sakrament der Krankensalbung.

Additional expert opinion

  • Narloch, Aleksander [Austria]
    Respiritualisierung in der bildenden Kunst Österreichs nach 1945.

  • Bukovec, Predrag [Germany] [*Roland-Atefie-Preis der ÖAW]
    Der Einsetzungsbericht: Die Genese des Eucharistischen Hochgebets.

  • Njoku, Annistus [Nigeria]
    Igba Oriko Rite of the Igbos (as a Meal of Reconciliation) vis-à-vis the Christian Agape. An Impulse to Liturgical Inculturation.
  • Schnabel, Nikodemus Claudius [Israel]
    Die liturgische Verehrung der Heiligen des Alten Testaments in der lateinischen Kirche.

Additional expert opinion

  • Gratzl, Peter [Austria]
    [Doctoral dissertation at the Institute for Church History]
    Der nationalsozialistische "Klostersturm" im Gau "Niederdonau" und die Geschicke nicht enteigneter Klöster am Beispiel des Zisterzienserstiftes Zwettl.

Co-supervision

  • Mijic, (Sr. Stela) Ikica [Croatia]
    [Doctoral dissertation at the Department of Practical Theology]
    Die pastoral-liturgische Entwicklung in Kroatien. Dargestellt am Beispiel der Messe vom Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts bis zum Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs.

  • Ogunbanwo, Lawrence Oluwawole [Nigeria]
    Being Born a Yoruba and Becoming a Christian. A Nigerian Attempt at Liturgical Inculturation of Yoruba Initiation Rites in Reference to Catholic Rites of Initiation after Second Vatican Council.

  • Štrbák, Martin [Slowakia]
    Die ältesten erreichbaren Offiziumsantiphonen des Palmsonntags.

  • Abazie, Nikolas Okwudili [Nigeria]
    Inculturating Igbo Liturgical Rites. Fundamental Principles.
  • Lelei, John Kiplimo [Kenia]
    The Challenges of and Hopes for Liturgical Inculturation within the Framework of the Traditional Understanding and Celebration of Customary Marriage among the Nandi of Kenya. A proposed African Christian Rite of Marriage.