Terminology -

JAMES – (Epistle of James) –This letter is purported to have been written by James, the brother of the Lord and head of the Church at Jerusalem, to Jewish Christians in the diaspora. He assumes knowledge of the Gospel on the part of his readers and is concerned to remind them how Christians ought to… Read More

I PETER (First Epistle of St. Peter) -The first letter of Peter was written to give encouragement and hope to Christians in the northern part of Asia Minor, who were undergoing persecution (ca. 64 A.D.). The congregations, mainly of Gentile converts (1:14; 2:10; 4:3), are urged not to be surprised at the fiery ordeal which… Read More

II PETER (Second Epistle of St. Peter) – This brief letter is a reminder (1:12; 3:1) of the truth of Christianity as opposed to the heresies of false teachers. The author recalls the apostolic witness as the basis of the Church’s proclamation (1:16), points to the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament which have been… Read More

I JOHN (First Epistle of St. John) – This letter, written toward the end of the 1st Century A.D., has traditionally been attributed by the Church to St. John the Evangelist. The letter has a two-fold purpose: 1) to deepen the spiritual life of its readers (1:3-4), and 2) to correct the heretical views of… Read More

II JOHN (Second Epistle of St. John) – This letter was written to one specific Church, the elect lady (vs. 1), probably one of the Churches of Asia Minor. Like the first letter of John, it too was written by St. John the Evangelist late in the 1st Century. Here he repeats in briefer form… Read More

III JOHN (Third Epistle of St. John) – This is a personal letter of John to Gaius, focusing on an ecclesiastical problem regarding traveling teachers. Gaius had extended to them hospitality, while Diotrephes, who liked to put himself first (vs. 9), had refused to receive them, challenging the spiritual authority of the Elder (John) (vs…. Read More

JUDE ( Epistle of St. Jude) -This letter, written about 80 A.D., by Jude, the brother of James and the Lord, was set forth to warn against false teachers (Gnostics) who had made their way into the Church, characterized here as being immoral (vs. 4, 7,16) and covetous (vs. 11,16), and rejecting authority (vs. 8,11)…. Read More

AUXILIARY BISHOP – (also called vicar bishop, suffragan bishop, or chorepiscopus) is a bishop with no territorial authority working under the authority of a diocesan bishop. The auxiliary typically is given episcopal functions to assist the work of the diocesan hierarch under whose authority he operates. He usually holds the title of a city within… Read More

AKEDIA – (in Latin, accidie) is literally fatigue or exhaustion, but in technical usage refers to the spiritual and physical lethargy which can plague those pursuing the eremetic life. The reference in Psalm 90 (91 MT) to the “demon of noonday” is traditionally identified as akedia. It can take the form of listlessness, dispersion of… Read More

BEMA –  the raised floor or platform in the eastern end of Orthodox churches upon which the altar, with the altar table, is located. The word bema comes from the Greek, meaning a platform, step, tribunal, or judgment seat. In general, the platform extends into the nave from the sanctuary and is separated by an… Read More

LATINIZATION – refers to the introduction of Roman Catholic elements of theology or praxis into non-Roman traditions. Examples of such traditions have included the Celtic, Mozarabic and Gallican Rites in the west, and the Byzantine, Maronite, and Coptic Churches in the east. In some cases, Latinization has completely supplanted the older traditions. In other cases,… Read More

PRINCIPALITY – A category of angelic beings. The principalities are named thus because they have command over the lower angels, directing them to the fulfilment of divine orders. The management of the universe and the keeping of all the kingdoms and princedoms, of lands and all peoples, races and nations, is also entrusted to them… Read More

DOMINION – A category of angelic beings.  The dominions are so named because, being themselves free, they dominate over the rest of the angels that follow behind them. Having abandoned servile fear, as St. Dionysius the Areopagite says, they voluntarily and with joy serve God unceasingly. Also they send down power for prudent governing and… Read More

THRONE – 1) A category of angelic beings.  Thereafter the seraphim and cherubim stand the God-bearing thrones (as St. Dionysius the Areopagite calls them) before Him Who sits on the high and exulted throne, being named “thrones” since on them, as on intellectual thrones (as writes St. Maximus the Confessor) God intellectually resides. They are… Read More

SERAPHIM – A category of angelic beings.  The six-winged Seraphim are the angels closest to God (Isaiah 6:2) who, due to their closeness to God, resemble fire (Hebrews 12:29; Daniel 7:9; Exodus 24:17; Psalms 103:4). Due to this closeness to God, and their appearance, they were given the name ‘seraphim‘, which in Hebrew means ‘flaming‘…. Read More

ANABATHMOI –’Hymns of Ascent’. These hymns are based on Ps. 120-134 and refer to the Church’s ascension to heaven. They are sung in Matins preceding the Prokeimenon and Gospel.

BIER -This is the structure that houses the Epitaphion following the procession of Holy Friday Vespers, and is used to carry it in the procession of Holy Saturday Matins that evening.

DISKARION (DISKOS & PATEN) – The small stand on which is prepared the Lamb of God and other particles during the Prothesis.

DOXASTIKON – A hymn (Stichera) that follows ‘Glory to the Father…’ It usually refers to the Glory of the Praises in Matins.

DYNAMIS – ‘Power’ This is said before the last ‘Holy God…’ is sung in the Trisagion Hymn.

EINOS (pl., EINOI) – The Praises sung during Matins. Also called Lauds.

EISODOS – The procession or entrance, referring to either the Little or Great Entrance.  Also called Introit.

EOTHINA – Means ‘pertaining to the dawn’. It refers to the eleven Resurrectional Gospels (Post-Resurrectional appearances of Christ) done at Matins.

EVLOGISON DESPOTA  – Greek for : Bless, Master!