Terminology - Glossary D

DEUTERONOMY – The history of religion in the time of the Prophet Moses, and the Law given through him from God. Book of the Old Testament, one of the five books written by Moses. The basic theme of Deuteronomy which means Second Law, is the renewal of the Covenant. At the end of the book… Read More

DEVIL – It means slanderer or deceiver. Satan, the leader of the fallen angels. Called by Jesus the father of lies (John 8:44), Satan tempts the faithful to join his rebellion against God. The Greek word for devil means “separator”; he seeks to pull people away from God. Although not evil by nature, the devil… Read More

DIASPORA – (Gr. exile) Faithful dispersed throughout the world.

DIKIRI – (DIKIRIA, Gr. Dikerion) A double candle holder used by a bishop in blessing worshipers at a Divine Service. It represents the two natures of Christ.

DIKIROTRIKERA – (Gr. “set of two and three candles”). A set of two candleholders, one double-branched candlestick and another triple-branched, both used by the bishop in blessing at the liturgy. The Dikeron (double candleholder) signifies the two natures of Christ, while the Trikeron (triple candleholder) signifies the Holy Trinity.

DIOCESE – The territory under the jurisdiction of a bishop.

DIPTYCHS – (Gr. “folding boards”). 1) Lists of names for living and dead, written on cardboard for their commemoration in the liturgy. 2) An official roster of the names of the heads (primates) of Orthodox jurisdictions read during the liturgy by concelebrating bishops, or the head of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction. 3) A type of icon… Read More

DISCIPLE – One of the Seventy followers (Luke 10:1) of our Lord, who were chosen in addition to the Twelve Apostles.

DISCIPLESHIP – The life of learning, growing, self-sacrifice, and commitment required of every Christian. A Christian not only believes in Christ but leaves everything to follow Him. ( Matt. 4:18-22; 7:21-23; Luke 9:23; Gal. 5:24.)

DISCIPLINE – Discipline may become necessary to maintain purity and holiness in the Church and to encourage repentance in those who have not responded to the admonition of brothers and sisters in Christ, and of the Church, to forsake their sins. Church discipline often centers around exclusion from receiving communion (excommunication). The New Testament records… Read More

DISKARION (DISKOS & PATEN) – The small stand on which is prepared the Lamb of God and other particles during the Prothesis.

DISMISSAL – (Sl. Otpust) Prayers and benediction concluding a Divine Service. The dismissal is the concluding portion of the divine services in which the presiding priest or bishop prounounces a final, formal blessing on the faithful. The dismissal is omitted in Reader’s services. The dismissal takes two forms. The Divine Liturgy, Great Vespers, and Matins… Read More

DISPENSATION – The relaxing of a law in special circumstances. It can be granted by one in authority, a bishop or metropolitan for the redemption of individual believers. (see ECONOMY)

Divine Liturgy – The central divine service of the Orthodox Catholic Church, the first portion of which centers on the reading of Scripture and common prayers, and the second portion, on the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. There are three main variants of the Divine Liturgy: the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great,… Read More

DIVINE PROVIDENCE –  the constant energy of the almighty power, wisdom, and goodness of God, by which he preserves the being and faculties of his creatures, directs them to good ends, and assists all that is good; but the evil that springs by departure from good He either cuts off, or corrects it, and turns… Read More

DIVINE REVELATION  – That which God himself has revealed to men, in order that they might rightly and savingly believe in him, and worthily honor him.  He has given it for all, as being necessary for all alike, and capable of bringing salvation to all; but, since not all men are capable of receiving a… Read More

DIVORCE – While extending love and mercy to divorcees, the Orthodox Church is grieved by the trag­edy and the pain divorce causes. Though marriage is understood as a sacrament, and thus accomplished by the grace of God and is permanent, the Church does not deal with divorce legalistically, but with compassion. After appropriate pastoral counsel,… Read More

DOCETISM – The name of a heresy saying that Jesus was God, but only “appeared” to be human.

DOCTRINAL BOOKS (of the Old Testament)  – The book of Job, the Psalms, and the books of Solomon. DOCTRINAL BOOKS (of the New Testament)  -The seven general Epistles: namely, one of the Apostle James, two of   Peter, three of John, and one of Jude; and fourteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul: namely, one to… Read More

DOCTRINE – The teaching of the Church, called variously the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9), the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42), or sound doctrine (Titus 1:9; see 2 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 16:17).

DOGMA – Truth contained in the Scripture or Holy Tradition formulated by Ecumenical Councils and Fathers of the Church as an article of faith.

DOGMATIKON – those Theotokia that conclude the stikhera on “Lord, I call” at Great Vespers on the eves of the Lord’s Day. Their title comes from the fact that they are usually succinct presentations of the dogma of the Incarnation, with particular stress on the ever-virginity, motherhood of Mary, and the two natures of Christ.

DOMINION – A category of angelic beings.  The dominions are so named because, being themselves free, they dominate over the rest of the angels that follow behind them. Having abandoned servile fear, as St. Dionysius the Areopagite says, they voluntarily and with joy serve God unceasingly. Also they send down power for prudent governing and… Read More

DONATISM – The name of a heresy saying that the personal moral unworthiness invalidates the sacraments of clergy (even if repentant).