Origins and Early Vision

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The Society of Oriental Liturgy (SOL) was born out of the vision of Prof. Robert F. Taft, S.J. (1932–2018), one of the foremost scholars of Eastern Christian liturgy. In 1993, Taft first attempted to establish a “Society for the Study of Eastern Christian Liturgy” through an announcement in Orientale, the bulletin of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. His motivation stemmed from the conviction that existing liturgical societies—such as Societas Liturgica and the North American Academy of Liturgy—did not sufficiently address the specific needs of Oriental liturgists and scholars.

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That first initiative received little response and was set aside, as was a later attempt by one of his doctoral students. Yet the idea did not disappear. Interest in comparative liturgiology grew, especially after the 1998 International Congress Comparative Liturgy Fifty Years After Anton Baumstark, co-organized in Rome by Taft and Prof. Gabriele Winkler. The congress and its published proceedings demonstrated the scholarly appetite for a dedicated forum on Oriental liturgical studies.

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Further momentum came from smaller, focused conferences such as the 2002 symposium at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary (Liturgy in Context: Worship Traditions of Armenia and the Neighboring Christian East) and the 2005 Yale Institute of Sacred Music conference (The Place of Christ in Liturgical Prayer). These gatherings proved the value of intimate, expert-driven dialogue.

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Founding of the Society

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Encouraged by these developments, Taft consulted colleagues and former doctoral students. Among them, Dr. Mark Morozowich (later dean at the Catholic University of America) offered enthusiastic support, while Dr. Abraham-Andreas Thiermeyer, then rector of the Collegium Orientale at Eichstätt, agreed to host the inaugural meeting. With his staff assisting in organizational tasks, the Society of Oriental Liturgy became a reality in 2006.

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The first Executive Board included Mark Morozowich as President, Elena Velkovska as Vice-President, and Robert Taft as Past-President, alongside other founding members. This leadership marked the beginning of SOL as an international scholarly community.

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Leadership and Growth

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Since its founding, SOL has been guided by a series of Executive Boards representing diverse institutions and traditions. Presidents have included figures such as Elena Velkovska (University of Siena), Peter Galadza (Saint Paul University, Ottawa), Bert Groen (University of Graz), Bryan Spinks (Yale University), Daniel Findikyan (The Zohrab Information Center, New York), Gerard Rouwhorst (Tilburg University), and Thomas Pott (Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo, Rome).

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The society’s officers and treasurers, from universities and seminaries across Europe and North America, reflect the breadth of its membership and the collaborative spirit of its mission. From 2006 to 2024, this leadership ensured continuity while expanding opportunities for scholarly exchange.

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Continuing Mission

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Today, the Society of Oriental Liturgy remains dedicated to advancing the scholarly study of Eastern Christian liturgical traditions. What began as Robert Taft’s vision has become an international forum that brings together scholars from across the globe. Through its leadership, conferences, and publications, SOL continues to foster dialogue, research, and collaboration in the field of liturgiology.

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SOL Board

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The members of the Executive Board are elected for a two-year term by the SOL members at the SOL biannual International Congress. In order to be elected on the SOL Board one has to be an active member of SOL, present at the Congress, nominated by other SOL members, and accept the nomination. In order to ensure renewal, but also continuity, anyone elected for President first serves as Vice-President for two years, then as President for another two years, and finally as Past-President for another two years.

 

Current Members of the Executive Board (2024-2026) are:

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President: 

Stefanos Alexopoulos

(Catholic University of America) 

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Vice-President: 

Tinatin Chronz

(Universität Köln)

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Past-President: 

Thomas Pott

(Pontificio Ateneo Sant'Anselmo, Rome)

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Secretary: 

Šimon Marinčák

(University of Trnava)

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Treasurer: 

Martin Lüstraten

(Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz)