TEMPLE

TEMPLE –  1)Following the terminology of Orthodox service books and rubrics books, “church” refers to the community of the faithful, which is also called the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the New Israel, the People of God, and other titles; while “temple” — as in the Jewish faith from which our worship developed — refers to the building in which the Church worships. In Christ’s own risen Body the two concepts are joined, since his resurrected body is called a “temple“ ^{(John 2:21)} and it also constitutes the Church which is the Body of Christ.   2) (an appellation of the Theotokos)  The Prophet Ezekiel speaks of the Temple whose East gate remains sealed, through which only the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered. This clearly prophesies the Virgin Birth of the Theotokos ^{(Ez. 44:1-2)}.