Thekso (Thaksa) and Stand for Thekso

The Thekso (Thaksa) is the text of the liturgy for the Eucharist celebration or the Liturgy or liturgical book or the book of Eucharistic rite, used by celebrant in the Holy Qurbana. It originates from the Greek word ‘Taxsis’ meaning ‘rite’ or ‘text’. The most original, ancient, and venerable one is St. James. The Thaksa is usually placed on the Altar, on the right side of the Celebrant, on a special stand, commonly called Thaksa Stand. The Thaksa should not be leather bound as no animal matter is allowed on the Thronos.

Thaksa, We have 70 to 80 liturgical versions written by different Holy Fathers, out of which, only 13 are used by us and that too, very few are translated into Malayalam. The earliest liturgical version is the one codified by St. James himself, ‘the cousin brother of our Lord, and the first bishop of Jerusalem. St. James was the first to celebrant the Holy Eucharist, in the upper room; Sehion Malika. The oral form of St. James version was not elaborate. It took the written form only by 3rd century. During 4th century almost the present form was accepted. The original Thaksa of St. James, written in Greek, was translated into Syriac in the fifth century. This liturgy was revised in the 8th century by Jacob of Edessa and is the lengthiest of almost all available ones, even though the prayers in it were condensed by Bar Hebraeus, the famous Syriac Scholar and the Catholicos of the East in the 13^th century.

The Orthodox Liturgical family has two traditions namely the Antiochene and the Alexandrian. Antiochene Family – The Syrian Orthodox, the Armenian, and Byzantine Orthodox. Alexandrian family – The Coptic, Ethiopian liturgies and Eritrean. The Malankara Orthodox Church, now practice West Syrian Orthodox liturgical rites. The Antiochene and Alexandrian theological traditions are intertwined. The Syrian Church has more than Eighty Anaphoras or Eucharistic orders – Taksa or Takso – The Book of Eucharistic Rite or Liturgy. The most ancient, prime and the most important Anaphora is “The St. James Liturgy.”

The Malankara Orthodox Church initially used the Persian liturgy introduced by St. Thomas. But this was gradually replaced by the West Syrian liturgy, in the 17th century. All the Anaphoras follow the structure of Saint James liturgy, though the wording differs considerably. Only the Holy Church has the right to alter the liturgy. St. James’ Anaphora which was born in Jerusalem was accepted in Syria, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Greece, Egypt etc. In Byzantine Churches, especially in Greece and Constantinople, St. James was used for centuries. However, today their preference is for the Thaksa of St. John Chrysostom, and they rarely use the St. James text.

Other Taksa in West Syriac liturgical tradition are modelled on the Taksa of St. James. Our Fathers consider the Taksa of Mar Dionysius Bar Salibi as of next importance. All Thaksas do not vary in their general structure. From the service of Thuyobo to the Creed, common prayers are said. Then the priest ascends the Altar step (Darga) and starts the Liturgy of the Bread and wine, i.e. the Liturgy of the Faithful. Here any one of the Taksa is chosen for the day. The priest returns to St. James’ Taksa at the time of the hymn, “Anpudayone…” (Fraction). The final prayer of thanksgiving will be from the Taksa chosen for the day. Usually, the Taksa in our Church are those of Mar Dionysius Bar Salibi, St. John Chrysostom, St. John the Evangelist, Mar Mathai Royo and Mar Callistos (Xystus) of Rome (C.E. 251) and the Kanestha or the Common Taksa of the Fathers. Among these, the Thaksa of Xystus is the shortest. In Byzantine Orthodox Churches, especially in Greece and Constantinople, St. John Chrysostom, came to be used in these churches and rarely use the St. James. It must be said that the Taksa of St. John the Evangelist and Mar Mathai Royo contain some of the beautiful prayers in the Holy Liturgy.

Taksa of St. James
The oldest Qurbana Taksa is that of St. James, authored by St. James, ‘the brother of our Lord’, and the first bishop of Jerusalem. The original Taksa of St. James, written in Greek, was translated into Syriac in the fifth century. Many of the prayers in this are pretty lengthy. It was condensed by Gregorios Bar Hebraeus, the famous Syriac Scholar and the Catholicos of the East. Still the lengthiest of almost all available ones. This Taksa is used on occasions like the First Holy Qurbana celebrated by a priest, Consecration of Church, Ordination Service, and Maranaya Feasts. It is easy to recognize the Taksa of St. James. From its prayers and words. St. James’ text gives a pretty long description at the end of several prayers: “We offer glory and praise to You, Your Only Begotten Son, and Your Holy Spirit, holy above everything, righteous, adorable, life-giving and consubstantial with You, now and always for ever”. St. James’ Anaphora which was born in Jerusalem was accepted in Syria, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Greece, and Egypt. The Thaksa of St. James is used on occasions like the first Holy Qurbana celebrated by a priest, Consecration of a Church, Ordination service, and Maranaya festivals (festivals relating to our Lord).

There is a legend that states that on the day of Jesus’ death he vowed not to eat, until he saw Jesus and on the day of the resurrection Jesus appeared to him. (I Corinthians 15: 3-8) and asked the disciples to prepare food gave some to James saying, “Rise the Son of Man has risen“. We owe ‘The First Liturgy (Thaksa) of the Holy Qurbana our Church’. He was also the first to celebrate the Holy Qurbana at the Sehiyon Mansion after Christ. James, without doubt Bishop of Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; Gal 1:19; 2:19-12). He governed Jerusalem for thirty years, before his martyrdom. He is the author of the first of the General or Catholic (Universal) Epistle. It only says “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1: 1). He is the author of the book Protoevangelium of St James (Infancy Gospel of James). He is remembered in the 5^th ‘Thubden’ as ‘the venerable St. James’, ‘the first High Priest of Jerusalem, Saint, Apostle and Martyr’. He was a man of prayer. He was holy from his mother’s womb. He drank no wine, ate no meat, never shaved or bathed and knelt that often in prayer that his knees were calloused like the soles of his feet, like that of a camel“.

It must be said that the Thaksa of St. John the Evangelist and St. Mathai Royo, contain some of the beautiful prayers in the Holy Liturgy. Various Thaksas has been translated Syriac into Malayalam. The liturgy of the Holy Eu­charist has translations in English, Hindi, Tamil, Kanada, Konkani, German etc.  

Various Translations in India
Metropolitan Mathews Mar Athanasius (HH Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews I) translated St. James’ Thaksa into English language; HG Paulos Mar Gregorios translated the Thaksa of St. John Chrysostom into English; HG Zachariah Mar Dionysius translated into Tamil language with the help of a few Tamil scholars. Dr. N. J. Thomas Ramban (Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathnapuram), into Kannada and Konkani. Prof K. M. Kuriakose (former Principal of St. Mary’s College, Pazhanji), as directed by Metropolitan Stephanos Mar Theodosius, translated the Taksa into Hindi language. Fr. Dr. K. M. George (formerly Principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary) has celebrated Holy Qurbana in French; and Fr. Dr. Reji Mathew (former Principal, St. Thomas Orthodox Seminary, Nagpur) in German.

Other Liturgies – Eucharistic Order (Thaksakal)
1. The Liturgy of Mar Dionysius Bar Salibi (+ 1171): Three anaphoras – only one of them is used in India.
2. The Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom 
3. The Liturgy of St. John the Evangelist.
4. The Liturgy of Matthew the Shepherd (Royo)
5. The Liturgy of Mar Sixtus, Bishop of Rome.
6. The Liturgy of Mar Eusthathois, Patriarch of Antioch.
7. The Liturgy of Mar Julius. 
8. The Liturgy of St. Peter, the Apostle.
9. The Liturgy of the Twelve Apostles.
10. The Liturgy of Mar Isaac.
11. The Liturgy of Abraham the Hunter (Nahshirtono)
12. The Liturgy of the Holy Fathers (Compiled from various liturgies)