CAN THE CHURCH TRULY ASSEMBLE FOR LITURGY IN VIRTUAL SPACE? AN APPRAISAL IN THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

The Covid-19 brought a phenomenon that has always been in the schemes of the Church—at least since the 80s—to the fore. This is the possibility of participation in liturgical ceremonies in virtual space. Apart from the technical complications that may arise from such arrangements there is the more important liturgical and mystagogical implications. This paper seeks to explore these implications. In order to do this, the historical, theological and liturgical-exegetical methods are employed to get to the root of what the Church as a liturgical assembly is and entails in relation to the virtual space as is defined in modern terms. Then using library research and some other relevant tools, the paper interprets the possibility of virtual liturgical worship on the backdrop of the Nigerian worldview and worship patterns. It concludes that worship in virtual space is not only against liturgical principles but is even less appealing to Nigerians because of the affinity to experiential worship.