The Holy Spirit in the Syrian Baptismal Tradition (Gorgias Liturgical Studies)

"The Holy Spirit in the Syrian Baptismal Tradition is a sensitive and evocative treatment of an issue key to any liturgical tradition—that of the role of the Holy Spirit in worship. With a keen awareness of the tradition of Syrian Christianity, Brock begins his exploration with the concept of ruha d-qudsha and the role of the Holy Spirit in the Syriac Bible. A striking aspect of this ancient liturgical tradition is the imagery used for the Spirit, including that of a compassionate mother, fire, and olive oil (myron, used for anointing), as well as the more common image of a dove. Next, Brock considers the various sources of the imagery including the East Syrian/Chaldean; Syrian Orthodox and Catholic; Maronite and Melkite traditions. He also summarizes commentaries and other Syriac literature on the rite of baptism, touching on Syriac literature from Late Antiquity and works translated from the Greek that bear on the issue. Considering the vehicle and nature of the gifts of the Spirit, Brock provides the distinctive fullness of this concept for readers in these traditions. The study includes a discussion of the invocation over the water and oil, and their symbolism of the Spirit, as well as the Holy Spirit in the Eucharistic setting and in regard to the Virgin Mary. Baptism and Pentecost are compared, and the study concludes with the role of anointing in the post-baptismal life of the Christian"--P. [4] of cover. A fitting contribution to Gorgias Liturgical Studies, Sebastian Brock's The Holy Spirit in the Syrian Baptismal Tradition is a sensitive and evocative treatment of an issue key to any liturgical tradition-that of the role of the Holy Spirit in worship. With a keen awareness of the tradition of Syrian Christianity, Brock begins his exploration with the concept and the role of the Holy Spirit in the Syriac Bible, symbols of the Spirit, the sources used to glean this information, and how it ties in with the Eucharist and Pentecost, as well as baptism itself and the subsequent practice of anointing. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS METHOD OF CITATION 1. INTRODUCTION 2. THE SYMBOLS OF THE SPIRIT 3. THE SOURCES 4. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT 5. THE INVOCATIONS TO THE SPIRIT 6. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE EUCHARIST 7. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MARY 8. BAPTISM AS PENTECOST APPENDIX 1. THE TRANSITION TO A POST-BAPTISMAL ANOINTING IN THE ANTIOCHENE RITE APPENDIX 2. THE HOLY SPIRIT AS FEMININE IN EARLY SYRIAC LITERATURE INDEX OF BIBLICAL REFERENCES INDEX OF SYRIAC PASSAGES QUOTED IN TRANSLATION INDEX OF PERSONS, PLACES, SELECT TERMS INDEX OF MODERN SCHOLARS