Book Series Studia Traditionis Theologiae, vol. 33

A Cosmic Liturgy: Qumran's 364-Day Calendar

Alfred Osborne

  • Pages: xx + 330 p.
  • Size:156 x 234 mm
  • Illustrations:3 tables b/w.
  • Language(s):English
  • Publication Year:2019

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  • ISBN: 978-2-503-58427-0
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  • ISBN: 978-2-503-58428-7
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This clearly-argued work sheds new light on the liturgy associated with the 364-day calendar used at Qumran and its foundation in early myths.

BIO

Dr Alfred Osborne, who retired as a bishop of the Orthodox Church, trained as a Classicist with an interest in Semitic languages. He was the first chairman of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge and has served as a member of the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue.

Summary

This work shows how the importance of Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday in the 364-day Qumran calendar is based on the Priestly creation narrative in Genesis and the myth of a cosmic covenant established between God and the angels on the first day. The myth of the apostasy of the angels guiding the seven planets was used to explain the discrepancy between the 364-day calendar and observation. The Epistle of Jude makes it possible to situate this work in relation to both Jubilees and the Book of the Watchers and confirms the use of the 364-day calendar in the earliest years of the nascent Church.