Terminology -

PASCHA – Greek for “Passover.” Originally Pascha designated the Jewish Passover; now, it is the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. Christ is the Lamb of God whose sacrifice delivers the faithful from death, as the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb delivered the ancient Jews from slavery and death in Egypt (Ex. 12; 13; 1… Read More

PASSION – (1) A term used to describe the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. (2) Holy Week is often called Passion Week, describing Christ’s struggle and suffering in Jerusalem. (3) Passions are human appetites or urges – such as hunger, the desire for pleasure and sexual drives – which become a source of sin… Read More

PEACE – (Heb. shalom) Tranquillity, harmony with God, self, and other people made possible through Christ, who unites human beings to God and to each other. (Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:13-16; Phil. 4:6, 7.)

PENTECOST – (Gr. fiftieth day) Originally an OT harvest festival celebrated fifty days following the Passover. In time, Pentecost became the commemoration of the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Pentecost took on a new meaning with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost. Through the Sacrament of… Read More

PERSON – (Gr. prosopon; Lat. persona) Regarding the Holy Trinity, there are three Divine Persons: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Person of God the Son became Man, Jesus Christ, “for us and for our salvation” (Matt. 28:19). See also HYPOSTASIS.

PHARISEES – One of the parties of first-century Judaism. The Pharisees favored strict legalistic application of traditional interpretations of the Law stemming from oral Jewish traditions. Unlike the Sadducees, they believed in angels and in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees were generally hostile to the mission of Christ, who condemned their excessive legalism… Read More

PILGRIM – One who makes a journey to a religious shrine or a spiritual journey from sin and suffering in this life to eternal life with Christ in heaven. (Ps. 42:4; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11.)

POWER – (1) A divine attribute or energy (Matt. 6:13; Luke 1:35; Rom. 1:16). (2) The authority and ability to act (Matt. 9:6). (3) A category of angelic beings (Eph. 1:21).

PRAISE – (Doxology) To glorify and give thanks to God or to speak highly of someone or something (Judg. 5:3; Ps. 9:1-14; Rom. 15:11). The most perfect and selfless type of prayer. The more pure and blameless a person is, the more the perfection of God is reflected in him, and through this he involuntarily… Read More

PRAYER – Communion with God through words of praise, thanksgiving, repentance, supplication, and intercession. Prayer is “raising up the heart and mind to God” (St. John of Damascus). Usually prayer is verbal. However, prayer of the heart or in the Spirit, the highest form of prayer, is without words. (Matt. 6:5-13; 21:22; Rom. 8:26; Phil…. Read More

PRESBYTER – 1) Literally, “elder”; now generally called “priest.” Presbyter is one of the three orders of the ordained ministry of the Church: bishop, presbyter, and deacon (Acts 14:23; 15:4 23; 1 Tim. 5:17-19; Titus 1:5). See also BISHOP. 2) A priest, as distinguished from a bishop in the early Church. The Apostles used this… Read More

PROCEED – To come forth from or come to. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, the fountainhead of the Holy Trinity (John 15:26).

PROPHET – 1) One who proclaims the will of God and/or who foretells the future, especially the coming and mission of Christ, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (Deut. 18:18; Acts 28:25.)   2) (an appellation or Title of Jesus)  “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst… Read More

PROPITIATION – 1) An offering that results in atonement, redemption, and reconciliation. Christ offered Himself on the Cross as a propitiation for our sins, to liberate humanity from sin and death. (Rom. 3:21-26; Heb. 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.) 2) (an appellation or Title of Jesus) ” And he is the propitiation for our sins:… Read More

PROSELYTE – Literally, “one who comes toward.” A proselyte is a convert to the Faith, usually from another religion. In the New Testament, the word usually refers to a Gentile convert to Judaism (Acts 2:10; 13:43).

PROVIDENCE – God’s sovereign care in governing His creation, especially His care for the faithful (Rom. 8:28).

PURIFICATION – The Old Testament rite whereby one is cleansed of ritual impurity caused by such things as contact with leprosy or a dead body, or sexual functions. This cleansing consisted of making a sacrifice or being sprinkled with “water of purification” (Num. 19:9). Christ liberated the faithful from these rites. Christians are purified by… Read More

RAPTURE – The gathering of the Church on earth in the presence of Christ when He comes again to judge the living and the dead (1 Thess. 4:15-17). Orthodox theologians reject the recent minority view that the Church will be taken out of the world before the time of trouble preceding the Second Coming. Christ… Read More

RECONCILIATION – The removal of hostility and barriers between humans and God, and between individuals, accomplished by Christ (Rom. 5:11; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19).

REDEMPTION – 1) (Sl. Iskupleniye) The deliverance of humanity from sin and death by Christ, who assumed humanity by His Incarnation, conquered sin and death by His life-giving death and glorious Resurrection, releases those who are in captivity to the evil one, and unites humanity to God by His Ascension (Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:15). See… Read More

REMEMBRANCE – (Gr. anamnesis) Making present by means of recollection. The Eucharist is not merely a calling to mind but a remembrance of and mystical participation in the very sacrifice of Christ, His Resurrection, His Ascension, and His coming again (1 Cor. 11:23 26).

REMISSION – The forgiveness and putting aside of sins. As the faithful are released from their sins through the sacramental life of the Church, they in turn are called to remit the sins of any who have offended them (John 20:23; Acts 2:37, 38.).

REPENTANCE – Literally, “a change of mind” or attitude, and thus of behavior. God is the author of repentance, which is an integral part of baptism, confession, and ongoing spiritual life. Repentance is not simply sorrow for sins but a firm determination to turn away from sin to a new life of righteousness in Jesus… Read More

RESURRECTION – The reunion of the soul and body after death which will revitalize and transform the physical body into a spiritual body. Jesus Himself is the first fruits of perfect resurrection; He will never again be subject to death. Because He conquered death by His Resurrection, all will rise again: the righteous to life… Read More