A prescribed form of public religious worship, including specific prayers, readings, and rituals. The formal ceremonial structure of religious services.
From Greek 'leitourgia' meaning 'public work' or 'service to the people', combining 'leitos' (public) and 'ergon' (work). Originally referred to civic duties in ancient Athens before becoming religious.
Originally, liturgy was about wealthy citizens funding public works like theaters and warships - a civic duty that evolved into spiritual service. This transformation from civic to sacred reflects humanity's shift from serving the polis to serving the divine.
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