Greetings:
Fishing for fact/fancy/insight/hunch/speculation/ or actual
reference to the phenomenon of the disappearance of any liturgical
celebration commemorating the raising of Lazarus from the Latin West after
the 11thc, especially in light of its axial mounting in the Eastern Paschal
Cycles (bookending the celebration of Holy Week and Pascha as a unit
between the raising of Lazarus and Christ's resurrection ) and its
prominence in Byzantine theology and exegesis in general.
While references ( homiliies, commentaries, etc) are scarce in the
West prior to the 11thc ( homiletic treatment__ from passing remark to
fully dedicated homily__ seems to have disappeared with Haimo of Auxerre ),
we can 'trace' ( loosely offered) Augustine's treatment of the event as as
a moral analog to being unbound from the 'Law' and 'arising to walk in
Grace', up through Haimo. [As a bonus for bearing with me this far:While
Augustine tactfully omitted any comment upon the 'for he stinks'passage,
this comment received much rich development in the East] While I have my
hunches on the problem__and I must admit a hesitation to yet again so
casually and easily 'blame' Augustinian exegesis___I wonder what any of you
might think.
The corollary issue of the failure of a return engagement of
Lazarus ( liturgically and homiletically) in light of 12th -13thc affective
piety, which tended to recaim precisely such moments of human bonding as
the friendship of Jesus and Lazarus, Mary, Martha; weeping over his
friend's condition, etc, seems surprising. Did Lazarus simply get relegated
to few cameo walk-ons in Mystery Plays or para-liturgical mini-dramas ?
Any thoughts/suggestions would be welcome.
Garlands of thanks..
Josef Gulka
Josef Gulka
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215- 732-8420
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