Editing Antiphon (section)

== Origins ==

The chant of early Christianity through to the end of the 5th century had its root in the [[Synagogue]], whence early Christians borrowed the traditions of the chanting of psalms, singing of [[hymn]]s and [[Hebrew cantillation|cantillation]]. There is some evidence from [[Acts of the Apostles]] that early Christians stayed close to contemporary Jewish traditions. For example, Acts 2:46–47 states that "with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people".<ref name=wellesz>{{cite book |last1=Wellesz |first1=Egon |title=New Oxford History of Music Vol II: Early Medieval Music up to 1300 |date=1954 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-316310-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RmIYxgEACAAJ |access-date=9 August 2019}}</ref> [[Socrates of Constantinople]] wrote that antiphony was introduced into [[Christianity|Christian]] worship by [[Ignatius of Antioch]] (died 107) after he saw a vision of two choirs of angels.<ref>A.C. Zenos, ed., 'The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus,' book VI, chapter VIII, vol 2, p 144. In ''A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church'', Second Series, P. Schaff and H. Wace, eds (Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957).</ref> Antiphonal singing was an element of [[Jewish liturgy]] believed to have entered the monasteries of Syria and Palestine in the 4th century from the Jewish communities such as the one in [[Antioch]].<ref name=wellesz />

Antiphons have remained an integral part of the worship in the [[Byzantine Rite|Byzantine]] and [[Armenian Rite]].<ref>{{Cite CE1913|wstitle=Antiphon (in Greek Liturgy)}}</ref> The practice did not become part of the [[Latin Church]] until more than two centuries later. [[Ambrose]] and [[Gregory the Great]], who are known for their contributions to the formulation of Gregorian chant, are credited with '[[antiphonary|antiphonaries]]', collections of works suitable for antiphon, which are still used in the [[Catholic Church]] today.<ref>[[Geoffrey Wainwright|G. Wainwright]], K. B. W. Tucker. ''[[The Oxford History of Christian Worship]]'' ([[Oxford University Press]], 2006), p. 244.</ref>