The Rite of Dedication of a Church in the Hungarian Church from Its Beginnings until Today

Abstract

Liturgy is theology. The best way to understand the Church’s teaching on the role of the church building, it’s connection with the Church as the body of Christ, and with Christ himself, is to examine the Rite of Dedication of a Church. The historical analysis shows that the liturgy, thus theology itself underwent constant changes and transformations along the course of the two millenia of the Church. It welcomed new elements, transformed old ones, persistently shifting the rite’s theological focus. In the Church’s beginnings, from a theological point of view, a church building was not even needed to celebrate the sacred mysteries. From the high Middle Ages until the middle of the XX. century, the church building appears as a sacred place, cleansed from demonic influence, sanctified by God. After the II. Vatican Council deepened the understanding of the liturgy and regained the Church’s biblical ecclesiology, the Rite of Dedication of a Church had to change to reflect that theology: the importance of the Spiritual Church which is built from living stones, as well as her relationship with Christ.