Why Boring Liturgy is Good--Or At Least Not Bad

Debra Dean Murphy at the Ekkelsia Project has some interesting things to say about Liturgy and human emotions. Her main point is that, in a certain sense, Liturgy is "supposed to be boring, or at least seriously underwhelming."

This I think is a serious challenge to what is sometimes overdone approach to Liturgy in some Orthodox parishes. The parish is not Hagia Sophia during the time of the Emperor Justinian or Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

If boring isn't quite right, maybe a bit of simplicity. For example in some smaller communities, especially missions, Vespers & Orthros are often simply intoned and the Divine Liturgy is sung simply by the congregation lead by a chanter.

Anyway, if you are interested in Debra Murphy's thought you can read more here: Just There.

In Christ,

+Fr Gregory