Terminology - Glossary R

RIGHT-BELIEVING – One of the various customary saint titles used in commemoration at divine services when remembering saints on the Church Calendar. An epithet used for sainted secular rulers.

RIGHTEOUS – One of the various customary saint titles used in commemoration at divine services when remembering saints on the Church Calendar. A holy person under the Old Covenant (Old Testament Israel) but also sometimes used for married saints of the New Covenant (the Church); righteous may also used as a translation for the Greek… Read More

RIGHTEOUSNESS – 1) Being good, just, and blameless. All are called to a life of humble obedience to God. However, acts of righteousness cannot earn salvation. Rather, righteousness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the way in which Christians respond with living faith to God’s gift of salvation. (Matt. 5:6, 20; Rom. 4:3;… Read More

RIPIDION – (Gr. fan) A flat metal disk representing a cherub’s head surrounded by six wings mounted upright on a shaft. There are two of them in back of the altar and they are carried at processions.

RITES – (Sl. chin) (1) Forms of worship, music, vestments, and architecture. Most Orthodox Christians follow the liturgical practice of the ancient Churches in the east (Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria), the rite commonly known as the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. However, some Orthodox follow a Western Rite, forms that developed in the west before… Read More

RITUAL – Ceremonies and texts used in the worship of the Church. Having her roots in the temple and synagogue, the Church has employed ritual in her worship from the very beginning. See also LITURGY and WORSHIP.

ROCK – (an appellation or Title of Jesus)  “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock thatfollowed them: and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor 10:4 “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they… Read More

ROMANS – (Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans) – The Epistles of St. Paul are arranged in the New Testament according to length, and this Epistle (or Letter) to the Romans is the longest and most weighty, theologically, thus giving it first place in the canonical order. This letter is probably the last written… Read More

ROOT OF DAVID – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Rev 5:5 ” Jesus have sent mine angel to testify… Read More

ROOT OF JESSE – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” Isa 11:10

ROSE OF SHARON – (an appellation or Title of Jesus) “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” Song 2:1

ROYAL DOORS – The Royal Doors  are the central doors of the iconostasis, directly in front of the altar in an Orthodox church. On the Doors there is usually a diptych of the Annunciation. Sometimes they may also have the icons of the four evangelists.  The Doors are opened at different points during the Divine… Read More

ROYAL PRIESTHOOD – (The Laity) All true believers in the Church. It is the responsibility of all believers for the preservation and propagation of the Gospel and the Church, and to give thanks to God. All were created to bless and praise God, to worship Him. This is the primary human vocation because this is… Read More

RUBRICS – (Sl. Typikon) Rules for the conduct of the services of the Church. Canon law requires strict observance of the rubrics in the liturgical books for the celebration of Divine Liturgy and the administration of the Sacraments.

RUDDER – (Gr. Pedalion). The book containing the rules and regulations prescribed by the Ecumenical Synods and the Fathers. It is the Constitution of the Orthodox Church.

RULE – (Sl. Pravilo] The order and regulation of life followed by the monks and nuns.

RULE OF PRAYER Rule of Prayer – Many rules of prayer have developed in the history of the Church. At no place or time has there been a uniform rule. In 19th Century Russia, for example, the rule varied considerably from one monastery to another, though certain basic elements were found in all of them…. Read More

RULER IN ISRAEL – (an appellation or Title of Jesus)  “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

RUTH – One of the books known as the historical books of the Old Testament. The book of Ruth speaks of the marriage of Ruth (a Moabitess a foreigner) to a Hebrew man and how, on his death, she chose to return to Judah with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to share the fortunes of her husband’s… Read More

RYASA – The black cassock worn by the priest or bishop. Usually, it is black, but it may be any other shade or color. It has wide sleeves. Another cassock, with narrow sleeves (podryasnik) is often worn under the ryasa.