Liturgy is worship to God and at the same time the greatest means to reach personal sanctification, given that the Sacred leads to God.

It is of utmost importance to present sacraments in their whole to prove that they are sign of Christian life which nurture and strengthen it.

Unique in the Middle East, the USEK Institute of Liturgy seeks to promote liturgical sciences, responding therefore to the call of the Ecumenical Vatican Council II: “Promoting Liturgical Sciences” (SC n. 15).
The Institute was established in 1969 as part of the USEK Pontifical Faculty of Theology by Fr. Jean Tabet. Since then, he did not spare an effort to prove the necessity of the institute for it meets the needs of eastern churches. The Levantine territory is located at the crossroad of various liturgical influences. Liturgies adopted by these churches hold a central place in the curriculum. Christians, in general, are responsible for the Church and its mission in the current world. This awareness can be learned, taught and maintained through methodical research, reflections, publications, training liturgical leaders, as well as presentation of liturgical animators, secular and religious, for the parishes, religious communities, schools and universities.

Changes within Church and society are reflected in liturgy. Innovations can be seen in the Divine Office, with an accentuation on the responsibilities assumed by each church. Changes which were most noticeable in the Catholic Church, after the Vatican Council II, concern liturgy. Decisions of this latter advocate a major reform of liturgy, including the use of the local language. It is within these liturgies, within the Eucharist in particular, that the Church allows its members to express their faith in Jesus Christ; it is within these liturgies as well the same Church is built to become a sign for all men. It cannot only be an activity for one man, but for the whole community which celebrates the Lord, hoping to celebrate hid in the Kingdom wherein the Church represents its visible image and anticipation.

On the academic level, the Institute has set for itself a clear objective of transmitting, through well-elaborated courses, all what is related to the liturgical world, according to a curriculum dealing with the historical, biblical, theological, spiritual, social, anthropological, ecclesiological, musical, symbolical, artistic (Sacred Art), linguistic (ancient languages) and media (audiovisual and others) aspects.

Government of the Institute

• USEK President
• Director of the Institute
• Council of the Institute