Terminology -

EUCHOLOGION – (Book of Needs, Sl. Sluzhebnik) A book containing the texts of the Liturgies and prayers required for the administration of Sacraments and other offices. The Book of Needs includes the order of service for the various Sacraments. Other services found in the Book of Needs are the Burial Service, the Blessing of Water,… Read More

BOOK OF NEEDS – (Euchologion, Sl. Sluzhebnik) A book containing the texts of the Liturgies and prayers required for the administration of Sacraments and other offices. The Book of Needs includes the order of service for the various Sacraments. Other services found in the Book of Needs are the Burial Service, the Blessing of Water,… Read More

EVANGELIYE (Sl.) – (Gr. Good News) The book containing the four Gospels from which the appointed lessons are read at Divine services.

SATURDAY – Even during the non-lenten season, is the Church’s day for remembering the dead. This is so because Saturday, the Sabbath Day, stands as the day which God blessed for life in this world. Because of sin, however, this day now symbolizes all of earthly life as naturally fulfilled in death. Even Christ the… Read More

MEMORIAL SATURDAYS – The second, third, and fourth Saturdays are called Memorial Saturdays since they are dedicated to the remembrance of the dead. On Memorial Saturdays the liturgical hymns pray universally for all of the departed, and the Matins for the dead, popularly called the parastasis or panikhida, is served with specific mention of the… Read More

MINOR ORDERS – Minor Orders in the Orthodox Church refers to those set aside for service other than the major orders. These commonly include subdeacons and readers, and in some traditions, cantors. The minor orders are conferred through the form of ordination known as cheirothesia. In the Eastern church, there were other orders which have… Read More

MAJOR ORDERS – Major Orders in the Orthodox Church refers to the three degrees of ordained clergy: bishop, presbyter, and deacon. Persons who hold these offices are charged with the celebration of the divine services and the administration of Church life. They have received the grace of the Holy Spirit to perform these jobs through… Read More

DALMATIC – (Sl. Stichar) A vestment open on the sides, with wide open sleeves and an opening for the head, worn by the deacon in solemn, or worn by the bishop underneath the chasuble during the celebration of Divine Liturgy.

DEAN – 1) A senior priest at a cathedral; 2) an elected or appointed supervisor of a Deanery; 3) the faculty head of a theological seminary.

DEANERY – A territory consisting of several parishes, under the spiritual rule of a Dean.

DIASPORA – (Gr. exile) Faithful dispersed throughout the world.

DIKIRI – (DIKIRIA, Gr. Dikerion) A double candle holder used by a bishop in blessing worshipers at a Divine Service. It represents the two natures of Christ.

DIOCESE – The territory under the jurisdiction of a bishop.

DISCIPLE – One of the Seventy followers (Luke 10:1) of our Lord, who were chosen in addition to the Twelve Apostles.

DISMISSAL – (Sl. Otpust) Prayers and benediction concluding a Divine Service. The dismissal is the concluding portion of the divine services in which the presiding priest or bishop prounounces a final, formal blessing on the faithful. The dismissal is omitted in Reader’s services. The dismissal takes two forms. The Divine Liturgy, Great Vespers, and Matins… Read More

DISPENSATION – The relaxing of a law in special circumstances. It can be granted by one in authority, a bishop or metropolitan for the redemption of individual believers. (see ECONOMY)

DOGMA – Truth contained in the Scripture or Holy Tradition formulated by Ecumenical Councils and Fathers of the Church as an article of faith.

DOORS – Most common association with the three doors of the Iconostas. The north door leads to the Table of Oblation, the south door to the Sacristy (these are called Deacons’ Doors), and the Royal Doors in the center with a curtain or drape behind them. The Royal Doors have the icons of the four… Read More

DORMITION – Name given to the Assumption of the Mother of God, derived from the Latin word dormire, to sleep. Literally it is “sleeping,” in Slavonic “Ouspeniye.” The feast of the Dormition or Falling-asleep of the Theotokos is celebrated on the fifteenth of August, preceded by a two-week fast. This feast, which is also sometimes… Read More

DOVE – A common Christian symbol of the Holy Ghost, Who appeared in the form of a dove at the baptism of our Lord (MARK 1:10).

DOXOLOGY – A prayer of glory. The Great Doxology: Glory to God in the highest…” is sung at Matins; the Lessor Doxology: Glory to the Father . . .” is frequently used in our prayers.

BOWING – Besides kneeling and standing, bowing by a simple inclination of the head is a manner of expressing reverence and respect in the church. Bowing is appropriate after making the sign of the cross, when receiving blessing from the priest, on entering and leaving the church and when passing in front of the altar.

BURIAL, CHRISTIAN – (Sl. Pogrebeniye) The act of interment of a corpse (the dead body) of an Orthodox faithful according to the religious service of the Church. On the day of burial, or before, the body is brought to the church where the Office of the Burial of the Dead (Otpevaniye) is read. Those denied… Read More

BYZANTINE RITE – The Uniats are called the Roman Catholics of the Byzantine Rite because while accepting the Roman Catholic dogmas and recognizing the supremacy of the Pope, they hold to the services and the customs of the Greek Orthodox Church. They celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Slavonic, or other native language.