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The Library

Forty Centuries of Christian Writing

1780 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.

701–800

The Eighth Century

1 work

c. 715–730

Greek

On the Divine Liturgy

Germanus of Constantinople · c. 634–c. 740

A commentary reading each part of the eucharistic service as a moment in the life of Christ, with the church building itself as heaven on earth.

Byzantine · LiturgyRead elsewhere

1201–1300

The Thirteenth Century

1 work

c. 1286–1291

Latin

The Rationale of the Divine Offices

William Durandus · c. 1230–1296

An exhaustive allegorical explanation of the church building, its furnishings, the vestments, the mass, and the year — every column, colour, and gesture given a meaning.

Western · LiturgyRead elsewhere