Terminology -

ASSEMBLY OF THE FAITHFUL – It is the very meaning of the word  “Church,”  those on earth and those in heaven, with the angels before the throne  of God.  The liturgy begins with the gathering of the faithful with their shepherd in one place at the same time. The assembly of the faithful in one… Read More

JOY – Long term satisfaction, something positive to be anticipated in the future.

PERICOPE –  a portion of text selected to be read aloud, such as the Epistle and Gospel readings. Lectionaries of Scripture, such as the Apostolos, are composed of pericopes which are to be read for the liturgical services of each day.

LECTIONARY –  a book containing Scripture readings (pericopes) that are appointed to be read in Church services according to the cycles of the liturgical year. The lectionary goes back at least to the fourth century, and some of the oldest Greek manuscripts of the New Testament that have survived are Byzantine lectionaries.

LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT – The Ladder of Divine Ascent is an ascetical treatise on avoiding vice and practicing virtue so that at the end, salvation can be obtained. Written by Saint John Climacus initially for monastics, it has become one of the most highly influential and important works used by the Church as far… Read More

ZAPIVKA –  the liturgical practice in the orthodox church whereby the faithful will partake of antidoron and a small amount of warm wine after receiving holy communion.

MIDNIGHT OFFICE –  (Greek, Mesonyktikon; Slavonic, Polúnoschnitsa) is part of the Daily Cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. The office originated as a purely monastic devotion inspired by Psalm 118:62 (119:62 KJV), “At midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness,” and also by the Gospel parable of… Read More

LAY – The words lay, laity, layman come from the Greek word laos which means people. “Laikos,” layman, is the one who belongs to the people, who is a member of an organic and organized community. It is, in other words, not a negative, but a highly positive term. It implies the ideas of full,… Read More

LAYMAN – The one  who shares in Divine election and receives from God a special gift and privilege of membership. It is a highly positive vocation, radically different from the one we find defined in Webster. We can say that in our Orthodox teaching each Christian, be he a Bishop, Priest, Deacon or just member… Read More

HOLY TRINITY – It was revealed  that GOD is one, yet He is three in PERSONS: God the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit, — a TRINITY Consubstantial and Undivided. GOD THE FATHER is neither begotten, nor proceeds from another Person, He is the eternal Source of the Godhead.; THE SON OF… Read More

INVISIBLE – the word “invisible” in the Creed is meant the unseen, or Spiritual World, to which the Angels belong.

JESUS – The name “JESUS” means Savior. (See: JESUS CHRIST)

LIGHT OF LIGHT –  In the creed, the words: “Light of Light” signify that when the sun rises, light appears simultaneously, together with it: so God the Father and God the Son are of ONE indivisible Divine substance.

VERY GOD OF VERY GOD – In the creed The words: “Very God of Very God” mean that just as the Father is true God, so is the Son also true God.

BEGOTTEN NOT MADE – In the creed, the phrase,  “Begotten not made” is said to contradict the false doctrine of Arius who impiously taught that the Son of God was made.

DEATH – The death which came from the sin, of Adam is twofold: bodily, when the body loses the soul which quickened it, and spiritual, when the soul loses the grace of God, which quickened it with the higher and spiritual life. The soul can die also, but not so as the body. The body,… Read More

GIVER OF LIFE – In the creed, the Holy Spirit is called “The Giver of Life” because He, together with God the Father and the Son, gives life to all creatures, especially spiritual life to men.

MOURN – Sorrow and contrition of heart, with unfeigned tears, for that we so imperfectly and unworthily serve the Lord, or even rather deserve His anger by our sins. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of this world worketh death. (2 Cor. VII:10.)

MEEK – Meekness is quiet disposition of spirit, joined with care neither to offend any man, nor be offended at anything one’s self. To never murmur against God, nor even against men, when anything falls out against our wishes, nor give way to anger, nor set ourselves up.

PURE IN HART – Purity of heart is attained by constant and strict watchfulness over oneself, driving away from the heart every unlawful wish and thought, and every affection for earthly things, and ever keeping in heart the remembrance of God and our Lord Jesus Christ with faith and charity.

PEACEMAKER – In the beatitudes, “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they will be called the sons of God”, means that we must not only keep peace but as well to make peace.

ROYAL PRIESTHOOD – (The Laity) All true believers in the Church. It is the responsibility of all believers for the preservation and propagation of the Gospel and the Church, and to give thanks to God. All were created to bless and praise God, to worship Him. This is the primary human vocation because this is… Read More

JULIAN CALENDAR – The Julian Calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and took force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). It was developed in consultation with the Alexandrian astronomer Sosigenes and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year. It has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months,… Read More

GREGORIAN CALENDAR – (New Calendar) The Gregorian calendar is the calendar in contemporary use in most countries.  During the Middle Ages, some problems were discovered with the use of the Julian Calendar: every century had three to four days too many. In the sixteenth century the mistake grew to 10 days. Therefore, in 1582, it… Read More