St. Augustine. Sermon 56, on Lord’s Prayer. Translation, preface and comments by P. S. Ozersky; edited by S. A. Stepantsov

Abstract

This paper is the first Russian translation of St. Augustine’s Sermon 56, dedicated to the interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer, along with the Creed, was considered a “sacrament” and played a significant role in preparation for baptism. The rule of “disciplina arcani”, which had formed by the 4th century, strictly prohibited the profanation of the sacraments, including the text of the Lord’s Prayer. The text was kept secret from the catechumens and was communicated to those preparing for baptism (“competentes”) shortly before Easter during a special rite of “handing-over” of the Lord’s Prayer (“traditio orationis”). This ceremony was the occasion for preaching Sermon 56. According to the most common view, the sermon was preached around 411–412 AD, as evidenced by the echoes of the polemics with the Pelagians. Augustine comments on each petition and reveals the importance of the Lord’s Prayer for the faithful. Containing a lot of references to St. Augustine’s catechetical practice, the sermon is an important source on the history of catechesis. The present translation is based on the critical edition by P.-P. Verbraken (CCSL, v. 41 Aa. Turnholti, 2008). The translation is annotated and prefaced by the translator in order to provide the readers with information necessary to understand the sermon.

Keywords

• patristic studies
• history of catechesis
• augustine’s catechumenate
• exegetics
• lord’s prayer
• the rites of “handing-over” and “handing-back” of the lord’s prayer
• traditio et redditio orationis