| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| VOTIVE LIGHTS | VOTIVE LIGHTS – (lampada) Lights burning in a glass holder hanging before icons in memory of someone. |
| VIRTUES | VIRTUES – Christian virtues, which literally means those powers and possessions of the mind and the heart which all men should have if they are truly human, fulfilling themselves as created in the image and likeness of God. The three virtues : Faith, Hope, and Charity, set forth by St. Paul in I Cor., chapter… Read More |
| VESSELS | VESSELS, SACRED – The chalice, paten, spoon and spear (these are also called the Eucharistic vessels). These are not handled by laymen. |
| VENERATION | VENERATION – The respect and honor given to the saints. The veneration which is given to the Most-Holy Virgin and the saints is different from the worship given to God alone. |
| VEIL | VEIL – (Sl. Vozduh) Covering for the chalice and paten used at the service of Divine Liturgy. |
| TROPARION | TROPARION (pl., TROPARIA) – A short hymn sung after the small entrance at Divine Liturgy. For Sundays the subject is the Holy Resurrection; a different Troparion for each of the Eight Tones. Every feast has its particular Troparion describing the event or the virtues of the saint. It is one of the oldest titles used… Read More |
| TRIKERION | TRIKERION – (Gr. three-candlesticks) A candlestick holding three candles coming to a point at the top. It is held in the right hand and represents the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. It is used in Divine Services by a bishop. |
| TRANSLATION | TRANSLATION – The removal of a Saint’s relics from one place to another; on the anniversary of such transference the saint’s feast is observed; e.g., Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas on May 9. |
| TONE | TONE – The standard melody for versicles, tro-parions and prokimenons is arranged into Eight Tones, which are sung in a continuous cycle throughout the year. |
| TITHES | TITHES – (Sl. Desyatina) The tenth part, held from the earliest times to be due to God. (GEN. 14:20; LEV. 27:30; HEB. 7:5). Payment is the recognized fulfillment of the natural obligation of the faithful to contribute to the support of the clergy and the Church. |
| THURIBLE | THURIBLE – (Sl. Kadilo) A vessel in which incense is burned for liturgical incensations (a censer). |
| TETRAPOD | TETRAPOD – (Gr. artophorion) A square table placed in the center of the church with an icon of the Feast Day or the Patron Saint for veneration. |
| SYNOD | SYNOD – (Gr. a meeting) An ecclesiastical council for consulting, advising and deciding upon church matters. HOLY SYNOD -The governing council of each autocephalous Orthodox Church, its members usually selected from among the bishops in turn, or consisting of all of them under the presidency of the Patriarch. They are charged with the conservation of… Read More |
| SUNDAY | SUNDAY – (In Russian it is called the Resurrection Day). First day of the week consecrated in a special way to Christian worship. It is observed from Apostolic times. Sunday, the Lord’s Day, is a special day consecrated to the service and worship of God. It is “the day the Lord has made” (Ps. 117… Read More |
| SOLEA | SOLEA – The raised floor in front of the Iconostas. The center part, directly in front of the Royal Doors is called the Amvon, or Ambo. |
| SLUZHEBNIK | SLUZHEBNIK – (Sl.) A liturgical book which contains the prayers, the order and ceremonies of the divine services of Vespers, Matins and Liturgy for the guidance of priests and deacons. |
| SIGN OF THE CROSS | SIGN OF THE CROSS – An expression of faith in Christ and an invocation of His blessing made by a cruciform gesture with the hand on one’s body. It is made by touching the forehead, breast, right and left shoulders with the tips of the two fingers and the thumb of the right hand held… Read More |
| SEXTON | SEXTON – A layman whose duty is to keep the church building clean, ring the bells and other duties under the direction of the rector. |
| SERMON | SERMON – A discourse usually based upon a text from the Bible and delivered from the Ambo to give religious instruction, to preach the Word of God, to proclaim the Gospel. |
| SEMINARY | SEMINARY – A school of higher learning exclusively devoted to the training of candidates for the priesthood. |
| SUBDEACON | SUBDEACON – (Sl. Ipodiakon) An assistant or a server at the services of a bishop; vesting the bishop and handing him the dikerion and trikerion. |
| STOLE | STOLE – (1) A long, narrow (4 in. wide and 6 ft. long) vestment worn over the left shoulder by a deacon (Orarion). (2) A priest’s Stole (Epitrakhil) is worn round the neck and joined in front for its entire length, and falls low upon his cassock. Without the Stole neither the Priest nor the… Read More |
| STICHARION | STICHARION – (dalmatic) A vestment of the deacon and subdeacon, made of brocade material. |
| STAUROPIGION | STAUROPIGION – A monastery directly subject to a Patriarch. |