People's Faith

Those who study the liturgy most often focus on its historical development, the effects of change and renewal and how liturgy is celebrated, but mostly by leaders. Nicholas Denysenko goes where few if any have, right into the people of God, to parish members who celebrate the liturgy with their clergy. The findings are provocative and a revelation--what the members of the body of Christ see, hear, feel, and take away from worship. Readers will want to hear much more from the pews, about how liturgy is experienced and lived--this is a groundbreaking study. -- Michael Plekon, The City University of New York
Informative and well written, The People's Faith is a landmark contribution to the growing literature dedicated to exploring the "lived" religion of American Orthodox Christians today. Denysenko's work highlights the ways that lay church members understand and experience Orthodox liturgical life, from the weekly Eucharistic celebration to Holy Week/Pascha, the rituals of baptism and confession, and other issues significant to contemporary church life such as the roles of women and LGBT persons within Orthodoxy. Each of these topics is incredibly rich and timely not only in reflecting concerns within Orthodox parish life, but, especially in the case of gender issues and inclusiveness, themes more broadly found within contemporary American society. -- Amy Slagle, University of Southern Mississippi
Field research, theological depth, pastoral reflection - leading liturgical scholar Fr. Nicholas Denysenko provides all this and more in this fascinating synthesis of ongoing developments in Orthodox worship in the United States. -- Anthony Ruff, Saint John's University