| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CENSOR | CENSOR – A person appointed by the bishop to pass judgment regarding the correct teaching of faith or morals in a book or other writing prior to publication. |
| CENSURE | CENSURE – A spiritual and corrective penalty imposed by the Church on a church member for the correction of an offense. The censure deprives one of spiritual advantages or benefits connected with spiritual matters. Living in a married state without the blessing of the Church deprives one of Holy Communion (an example). Absolution from censures… Read More |
| CEREMONIAL | CEREMONIAL – The formalities, rules, customs, and usages of worship services or administration of Sacraments. |
| CHAIN-RINGING | CHAIN-RINGING – Chain-Ringing (Perezvon). – This is a successive ringing of all the bells from the largest (lowest pitch) to the smallest (highest pitch), with the striking of each bell a number of times before the next bell is struck, and repeating this method several times. It is used before the Blessing of Waters, before… Read More |
| CHALCEDON | 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. |
| CHALICE | CHALICE – The cup-shaped sacred vessel used in the Divine Liturgy in which the wine is consecrated. It should be of gold or silver, or the cup should be of silver and gold lined. A chalice may be handled only by the clergy. |
| CHALICE VEIL | CHALICE VEIL – (Sl. Vozduh-Aer) A square piece of material, same color as the vestments, used to cover the chalice and paten on the Table of Oblation and after the transfer to the altar the chalice and paten are covered to the time of singing of The Creed. |
| CHANCEL | CHANCEL – The area around the altar, also called the Sanctuary, separated from the body of the church by the Iconostas. |
| CHANCELLOR | CHANCELLOR – (Gr. Protosyngelos). The chief administrator and church notary in a diocese or archdiocese. He is the immediate administrative assistant to the bishop, and handles all records, certificates, and ecclesiastical documents of his jurisdiction. |
| CHANT | CHANT – (Sl. Glas, Gr. echos) There are eight chants for the singing of Troparions, the versicles at Vesper service and the Canon of the Matins. The chants change every week and follow in progressive order and keep the cycles throughout the year.? There are eight tones or modes in the Orthodox Byzantine chant, chanted… Read More |
| CHANTER | CHANTER – (Gr. Psaltis). A lay person who assists the priest by chanting the responses and hymns in the services or sacraments of the church. Today chanters have been replaced to some extent by choirs. |
| CHAPEL | CHAPEL– (Sl. Chasovnya) A term used to indicate (1) a small church building; (2) a side altar under the same roof as a large church, like in a cathedral: (3) a room set aside for worship in a hospital or other institution. |
| CHAPLAIN | CHAPLAIN – A priest who performs non-parochial duties like in military service ministering to the spiritual needs of the military personnel, or various other institutions, such as schools, hospitals and prisons. |
| CHAPTER | CHAPTER – (Sl. Glava) A main division of one of the books of the Bible. |
| CHARISMATA | CHARISMATA – (Gr. divine gifts) A term used by St. Paul (ROMANS 12:6, I COR. 12:4) to describe gifts, graces granted by God primarily for the good of others rather than for the good of the person who receives the gift. |
| CHARITY | CHARITY – In Christian theology charity, or love (agape), means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others. We find the elements of the doctrine of charity in the Ten Commandments of the Law of God. (The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.) |
| CHASUBLE | CHASUBLE – (SlI. Phelon) The external vestment without sleeves, short in the front with an opening for the head, worn by priests in the celebration of Divine Liturgy. |
| CHEESEFARE SUNDAY | 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 |
| CHERUBIM | CHERUBIM – An order of angels near to the throne of God. St. Gregory the Great says the word means “‘fulness of knowledge,’ and they are so called because they are filled with a knowledge which is more perfect since they are allowed to behold the glory of God more closely.” They kept the gates… Read More |
| CHERUBIMIC HYMN | CHERUBIMIC HYMN (CHERUBIC HYMN) – The hymn sung at Divine Liturgy just before the Great Entrance, broken off during the Entrance and finished when the priest has placed the chalice and paten on the altar. The Cherubic Hymn is the primary cherubikon, or song of the angels, sung during every Divine Liturgy of the year… Read More |
| CHIEF CORNERSTONE | CHIEF CORNERSTONE – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” 1 Pet 2:6 |
| CHIEF SHEPHERD | CHIEF SHEPHERD – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Pet 5:4 |
| CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND | CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.” Song 5:10 |
| CHILD | CHILD – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa 9:6 “And he came by the Spirit… Read More |