Old Testament Canticles in Christian Liturgy.Usage, Interpretation and Impact, exemplified by Daniel 3

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Annette Albert-Zerlik
• Subject Area: Roman Catholic Theology
• Term: from 2012 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233460834

Canticles are psalm-like songs in the Bible. Since the earliest Christian times, these songs, and in particular those from the Old Testament, have formed an elementary part of the central service of the Easter Vigil and, consequently, of the morning office [lauds]. This is true for all Offices in the Eastern and Western traditions. The fact that, in numerous translations of the Bible, canticles feature separately as fixed sequences following the Book of Psalms, as early as the Codex Alexandrinus, demonstrates how significant canticles were.Despite the importance of the canticles, their usage, interpretation and impact have rarely been the subject of scientific studies. Some individual studies are available, but only up to about 1950. A complete overview, especially with a view to the history of the impact of the canticles, does not exist at all yet. This project proposes to address that gap.The first part deals with the canticles in general. It builds on the results of previous studies and thereby aims initially to develop an overview of the canticles' usage and the context of their usage in the various liturgical traditions. Additionally, the intention is to catalogue the canticles' illustrations in the psalter manuscripts. These illustrations have so far barely received any scientific attention. This will form the basis for an examination of the theological understanding of the songs and the iconographic illustrations whilst referencing any potential significant links and the individual cultural-historical contexts of the songs and illustrations.The second part deals, by way of example, with the history of the interpretation and the impact of the canticle that can be considered the most significant since the times of the Old Church: the 'Song of the Three Hebrew Children' [Daniel 3, 52-90] and the whole of the third chapter of Daniel of which this song is a part. Subject of the study are the different contexts of its usage: in the Bible, in homily, in liturgy, in hymnology, in iconography, and in hagiography. With regard to the relevance of this study for the present day, the question arises in how far Daniel 3 continues to have an impact on the socio-cultural environment of the 20th and 21st centuries. To find the answer, it is helpful to consider examples of artworks ranging from literature to music and to visual art.A monograph will serve to allow the public access to the results of both parts of this project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants