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[German Version] is a gesture of courtly homage adopted from oriental proskynesis that found its way via imperial (Roman/Byzantine) into papal and episcopal ceremony. In the liturgy, kissing of the feet can accompany footwashing ( pedilavium), in monasteries since the early medieval period. It is also a symbol of penitence. Preserved until most recently at the papal curia, the kissing of feet disappeared in the reforms of the 20th century. The pope sometimes still practices it spontaneously. Mentioned occasionally in the Bible (a…

[German Version] (Aug 29, 1917, Lausanne – Dec 17, 1994, Neuchâtel). Following studies in Lausanne, Basel, and Neuchâtel, Allmen received his doctorate in theology in 1948. He served as a Reformed pastor, professor of practical theology at Neuchâtel, advisor to the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches, rector of the …

[German Version] I. Old Testament – II. New Testament – III. Church History – IV. Dogmatics – V. Liturgy – VI. Practical Theology – VII. Law and Legal History – VIII. Judaism I. Old Testament The search, mainly from a Protestant perspective, for antecedents of ordination in the Old Testament does not seem very promising, since no direct equivalent to Christian ordination as public commissioning of office-bearers by the community is to be found in the Hebrew Bible. Relevant research is mainly limited to the OT Jewish background of…

[German Version] I. Western Liturgies – II. Eastern Liturgies – III. Art History I. Western Liturgies Eating and drinking vessels ( vasa sacra) constitute important liturgical objects (Liturgical implements: I) in the light of the Christian meal community. They include the chalice ( calix) or cup and (of less importance) the bread plate or paten ( patena). From apostolic times onwards, Christian fellowship has been primarily a fellowship of the cup (see also Chalice, Witholding of the). The increase of vessels on the altar table (e.g. individual c…