Terminology -

EPHESUS – (Council of Ephesus) Name of the Third Ecumenical Council. It was held at Ephesus in the year 431.  Among its activities, it defined Christ as the Incarnate Word of God and Mary as Theotokos.

CHALCEDON – (Council of Chalcedon) Name of the Fourth Ecumenical Council. It was held at Chalcedon in the year 451.  Among its activities, it defined Christ as Perfect God and Perfect Man in One Person.

CONSTANTINOPLE II – (Secound Council of Constantinople) Name of the Fifth Ecumenical Council. It was held at Constantinople in the year 553.  Among its activities, it reconfirmed the doctrines of the Holy Trinity and of Christ.

CONSTANTINOPLE III – (Third Council of Constantinople) Name of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. It was held at Constantinople in the year 580.  Among its activities, it affirmed the true humanity of Jesus by insisting upon the reality of His human will and action.

NICEA II – (Second Council of Nicea) Name of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. It was held at Nicea in the year 787.  Among its activities, it affirmed the propriety of icons as genuine expressions of the Christian Faith.

NAMES OF JESUS – (Appellations or title of Jesus)  Advocate, Almighty, Alpha And Omega, Amen, Anointed, Arm Of The Lord, Author And Finisher Of Our Faith, Beginning And End, Beloved, Blessed And Potentete, Branch, Bread Of Life, Bridegroom, Bright And Morning Star, Brightness Of The Father’s Glory, Captain Of Salvation, Captain Of The Lord’s Host,… Read More

ZACCHAIOUS SUNDAY – Fifth Sunday before lent. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about Zacchaeus the tax-collector. It tells how Christ brought salvation to the sinful man, and how his life was changed simply because he “sought to see who Jesus was” (Luke 19:3). The desire and effort to see Jesus begins the entire… Read More

SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE – The Sunday after the Sunday of Zacchaeus is devoted to the Publican and the Pharisee. This is the forth Sunday befor Lent. At Vespers the night before, the TRIODION (the liturgical book used in the services of Great Lent) begins. Two men went to the Temple to… Read More

SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON – The Sunday after the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the third Sunday befor Lent. This parable of God’s forgiveness calls us to come to ourselves as did the prodigal son, to see ourselves as being “in a far country” far… Read More

MEATFARE SUNDAY – The Sunday of Meatfare is also called the Sunday of Last Judgment. It is the second Sunday befor Lent.  The Gospel reading is Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the Last Judgment. It reminds us that while trusting in Christ’s love and mercy, we must not forget His righteous judgment when He comes… Read More

CHEESEFARE SUNDAY – The Sunday of Cheesefare  is also called the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise and Forgiveness Sunday. It is the day before the start of Lent, the last day to eat dairy products until Pascha. At the start of the Great Fast, the Church reminds us of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise. God commanded… Read More

HOLY FATHERS – There are in the Church a number of saints who were theologians and spiritual teachers who defended and explained the doctrines of the Christian Faith. These saints are called the holy fathers of the Church and their teachings are called the patristic teachings (patristic is from the Greek word for father). The… Read More

VAINGLORY – Elation or pride over one’s own achievements, abilities, etc.; boastful vanity.

SAINT ANDREW THE FIRST CALLED –  St. Andrew was a Galilean fisherman of Bethsaida and was the first called of the Apostles of Christ (John 1:37-40), to whom he brought his brother Simon, called Peter. According to Church tradition, he suffered martyrdom at Patras in Achaia on an X-shaped Cross (St. Andrew’s Cross). Another tradition… Read More

SAINT BARTHOLEMEW – In Holy Scripture, St. Bartholemew is to be identified with the Nathanael of John 1:45-51, of whom the Lord Himself witnessed, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile (John 1:47). According to Church tradition, he preached the Gospel in Lycaonia, India and Armenia, where he was martyred by being flayed alive…. Read More

SAINT JAMES THE ELDER – St. James the Elder (so-called to distinguish him from the other Apostle, St. James the Younger) and his brother, John (the Evangelist), were fishermen the sons of Zebedee. This James, along with his brother and St. Peter, were especially beloved of the Lord. According to the Acts, he was beheaded… Read More

SAINT JAMES THE YOUNGER – St. James the Younger (so-called to distinguish him from the other Apostle of the same name; sometimes called the Son of Alphaeus), was the brother of St. Matthew. In St. Mark’s Gospel he is said to be the son of Mary, one of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women (Mark 16:1). According… Read More

SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST – St. John the Evangelist (also the Theologian or the Divine), was a son of Zebedee and brother of St. James the Elder. In Holy Scripture he is referred to as the disciple, whom Jesus loved (John 13:23), and who leaned on his Master’s breast at the Last Supper. To him… Read More

SAINT JUDE – This Apostle, the brother of James the Just (both being half-brothers or perhaps, cousins, of the Lord), is also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus (John 14:22; Matt. 10:3). To him is attributed the Epistle of St. Jude. According to Church tradition, he preached in Syria and Edessa, eventually being martyred in Persia with… Read More

SAINT MATHEW – St. Matthew (also called Levi the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14)) was a brother of St. James the Younger and was a tax collector. The First Gospel is attributed to him, and, according to many scholars, was first written for the Hebrews. According to Church tradition, St. Matthew preached to the Jews… Read More

SAINT MATTHIAS – According to the Acts, St. Matthias was chosen by lot to fill the place among the Twelve Apostles left vacant by the Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26). According to Church Tradition he is said to have preached in Ethiopia and Armenia, eventually suffering death by crucifixion. His Feast Day is August 9.

SAINT PEATER – St. Peter was a brother of St. Andrew, and, together with him, was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. Called by the Lord to become a fisher of men (Matt. 4:19), he was originally named Simon, but later his name was changed to Peter (in Aramaic Cephas, meaning rock) by the… Read More

SAINT PHILIP – St. Philip, like Peter and Andrew, came from Bethsaida in Galilee (Matt. 10:3) and was called early in the Lord’s earthly ministry, bringing Nathanael with him (John 1:43ff.). According to Church tradition, he was a missionary in Phrygia and died there (by martyrdom, according to some) at Hierapolis. His Feast Day is… Read More

SAINT SIMEON THE ZEALOTES – St. Simeon Zealotes (or the Zealot; sometimes the Canaanite), according to Church tradition, traveled through Egypt and Africa, then through Mauretania and Libya, preaching the Gospel of Christ. Later he is said to have traveled to Britain, where he was martyred by the Romans on a Cross. Another tradition says… Read More