| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| MICAH | MICAH – One of the books known as the prophetical books of the Old Testament.The Prophet Micah preached in Judah at the same time as the Prophet Isaiah (742-687 B.C.). Like the Prophet Amos, he spoke out against the oppression of the poor by the rich as a crime crying out to Heaven for vengeance…. Read More |
| MIDNIGHT OFFICE | MIDNIGHT OFFICE – (Greek, Mesonyktikon; Slavonic, Polúnoschnitsa) is part of the Daily Cycle of services in the Orthodox Church. The office originated as a purely monastic devotion inspired by Psalm 118:62 (119:62 KJV), “At midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness,” and also by the Gospel parable of… Read More |
| MIGHTY GOD | MIGHTY GOD – (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 “Ye shall have a song,… Read More |
| MILITARY CHAPLAINS | MILITARY CHAPLAINS – Priests who have been temporarily relieved of parish duties to devote their entire time to serve the spiritual needs of military personnel. |
| MILLENNIUM | MILLENNIUM – A thousand years. The Orthodox Church has traditionally taught that the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth before the final defeat of Satan, as recorded in Rev. 20:1-3, is symbolic of the rule of Christ through the Church, which is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God (2 Pet. 3:8). |
| MIND | MIND – The intelligent faculty, the inner person; often used synonymously with “heart.”? There are two Greek words for mind: (1) nous, the mind which is separated from the sensible world and the passions (Rom. 8:7; 12:2); and (2) dianoia, the intellect (Matt. 22:37). |
| MINISTER OF THE SANCTUARY | MINISTER OF THE SANCTUARY – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb 8:2 |
| MINOR ORDERS | MINOR ORDERS – Minor Orders in the Orthodox Church refers to those set aside for service other than the major orders. These commonly include subdeacons and readers, and in some traditions, cantors. The minor orders are conferred through the form of ordination known as cheirothesia. In the Eastern church, there were other orders which have… Read More |
| MIRACLE | MIRACLE – An act or event which is above the natural order, done by special intervention of God for a religious end. Jesus Christ worked many miracles during His life on earth. A sign whereby God supersedes the normal laws of nature in a mysterious way in order to manifest His power as Master of… Read More |
| MISSION | MISSION – A task given by God to His people. Christ sent the Seventy on a mission (Luke 10:1-24). St. Paul went on three missionary journeys to preach the gospel (Acts 13:1?14:28; 15:36?18:22; 18:23 21:16). The mission of the Church today is to proclaim Christ to the world. |
| MISSIONARY | MISSIONARY – One who is sent, whether Bishop, Priest or Layman, to do the work of the Church where it has not been established. |
| MITRATE | MITRATE – A Protoiereos given the right and honor of wearing the mitre. This right is given by the Council of Bishops as a reward for special services to the Church. He assumes the title of “The Right Reverend.” |
| MITRE | MITRE – Official headdress of a bishop, archimandrite, and sometimes the privilege to wear a mitre is given to archpriests as an award for meritorious service to the Church. |
| MIXED MARRIAGE | MIXED MARRIAGE – A marriage between an Orthodox and a non-Orthodox. |
| MNOGAYA LYETA | MNOGAYA LYETA – A prayerful wish for many years of life, health and good fortune. |
| MOLEBEN | MOLEBEN – Molieben (from Church Slavonic Mol’ba – prayer, supplication) (L. Te Deum) A service of thanksgiving for favors received, or prayers of petition for protection from misfortune. It is a short liturgical service usually centered on a particular need or occasion: the new year, a journey, an illness, an act of thanksgiving, etc. It… Read More |
| MONASTERY | MONASTERY – The dwelling place of a community of monks or nuns (convent) where they practice the rules of prayer and vows. |
| MONK | MONK– (Gr. monachos, solitary) One who renounces the world to lead a religious life under the monastic vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. |
| MONOENERGISM | MONOENERGISM – The name of a heresy saying that Jesus had only one energy, the divine. |
| MONOPHYSITISM | MONOPHYSITISM – The name of a heresy which arose in the fifth century concerning the two Natures of Christ. The monophysites accepted only the Divine Nature of Christ, and were condemned as heretics by the Fourth Ecumenical Council, at Nicaea (451 A.D.) |
| MONOTHEISM | MONOTHEISM – the doctrine or belief that there is only one God. |
| MONOTHELITISM | MONOTHELITISM – The name of a heresy of the seventh century, which developed in an attempt to reconcile the monophysites with the Orthodox. The monothelites accept the two Natures of Christ, but deny His human will (Thelesis), accepting thereby only his Divine. |
| MONTANISM | MONTANISM – The name of a was a heretical movement that originated about 156 and was named after its founder Montanus. The beliefs of Montanism contrasted with Orthodox Christianity in the following ways: The belief that the prophecies of the Montanists superseded and fulfilled the doctrines proclaimed by the Apostles. The encouragement of ecstatic prophesying,… Read More |
| MOST HOLY | MOST HOLY – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) – “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to… Read More |