“Gifts of the fruits of the earth and the Labour of humankind†: liturgy as means of action in response to the environmental crisis

The environmental destruction seen in the Anthropocene has sparked a multitude of actions from the churches, trying to mitigate the crisis. This thesis explores how liturgy too could be regarded as means of action in response to the environmental crisis. It also examines the question how an awareness of creation in liturgy could contribute to ecumenical dialogue. Building on a Trinitarian approach of relational ontology, the concept of deep incarnation is used as an analytical tool to investigate Eucharistic liturgies celebrated by churches belonging to the Porvoo communion. Insights from the liturgical theology of Louis-Marie Chauvet and performance theories are applied to explain the phenomenon of liturgy as a transformative or redressive action. The results point to at least seven distinct ways in which liturgy could be seen as an effective means of care for creation. The study concludes with an exploration of how ecology in liturgy could be an opportunity for ecclesial learning through fostering an eco-sensitive and ecumenical habitus. The study opens for further exploration of ecotheology in relation to liturgy, as well as ecumenism, also regarding the Porvoo communion, on which scholarly literature on its shared sacramental life and ecotheology is scarce.