The Armenian Liturgy between the Latin West and the Greek East: Nerses of Lambron (1153-1198) as a Case Study of Intercultural Encounter

• Applicant: Dr. Arman Shokhikyan
• Subject Area: Roman Catholic Theology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566322475

This project examines the liturgical and theological synthesis achieved by Nerses of Lambron (1153–1198), a pivotal figure in medieval Armenian Christianity, within the context of intercultural encounters between the Latin West and Byzantine East. Nerses' Explanation of the Divine Liturgy, offers a rich yet underexplored case study of how liturgical practices facilitated theological innovation and identity negotiation in the multi-confessional milieu of the Cilician Kingdom. Situated at the intersection of Armenian, Byzantine, and Latin traditions, this study investigates Nerses' unique synthesis of liturgical elements. His commentary integrates Byzantine liturgical forms (the Prothesis and Synaxis), while preserving distinctively Armenian theological features, (the Christological Trisagion and the Anaphora of Athanasius). The project highlights how Nerses adapted sources like the Dionysian theology and Latin ecclesiastical traditions, crafting a liturgical framework that reflects both theological depth and cultural diplomacy. Employing a dual hermeneutical approach, the research investigates both the historical context behind Nerses’ work and the theological world it constructs. By analyzing primary sources, including the Venice (1847) and Jerusalem (1842) editions of Nerses' Explanation of the Divine Liturgy, the project situates his liturgical innovations within the specific historical and theological development of the Armenian Eucharistic rite. Comparative analysis with Byzantine texts, such as the Dionysian Corpus on celestial and ecclesiastical hierarchy, Maximus the Confessor, the Dialogues of Gregory the Great, and Romano-Frankish liturgical practices, clarifies Nerses' methods of integrating patristic and liturgical elements into a coherent synthesis that responded to the intercultural challenges of his time. This study aims to fill a significant gap in liturgical scholarship, offering insights into the interplay between liturgical reform, theological adaptation, and cultural identity. The findings will contribute to broader discussions on cross-cultural theological exchanges and the dynamic role of liturgy in shaping medieval Christian thought and practice.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants