liturgiaa

Liturgia, commonly translated as liturgy in English, refers to the public, communal worship practices of a religious tradition, including the organization of prayers, sacraments, readings, music, and ceremonies. The word derives from Latin liturgia or Greek leitourgia, meaning “the work of the people.”

Typically, liturgical practice is structured by a calendar and a set sequence of rites, with texts and actions prescribed by authority or tradition. Common components include a lectionary (readings from sacred scripture), prayers and creeds, sacraments or rites (such as baptism and the Eucharist in Christian contexts), liturgical songs, and clergy vestments and objects. Worship is often conducted in a designated space, with arrangements for time, posture, and participation.

Different religious communities develop distinct liturgies. In Christianity, major forms include the Catholic Mass, the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, the Anglican Eucharist, and Lutheran and other Protestant services. Non-Christian traditions also use liturgical formats for ceremonies, temple services, and rituals, though terminology and structure vary.

Scholarly study of liturgy is called liturgiology or liturgics. It examines historical development, textual sources (missals, breviaries, lectionaries), the role of language, music, and architecture, and how liturgical practices respond to reform, cultural change, and ecumenical dialogue. In modern practice, many communities balance tradition with vernacular language and contemporary expressions of worship.

In Finnish usage, liturgiaa is the accusative form of liturgia; the base noun is liturgia.