Glossary
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Aer Large veil used to cover the diskarion and chalice.
Ambon Area of the solea immediately before the holy doors.
Antidoron The remainder of the prosphora,
distributed after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy to the faithful,
and in some churches (including ours) to non-Orthodox as well, as fellowship bread.
Antimins Cloth, usually imprinted with the entombment of Christ, issued by the bishop of the diocese and kept on the holy table.
Diskarion Footed plate for the eucharistic bread.
Divine Liturgy The eucharistic mystery (sacrament) served every Sunday and feast day,
at which the local community gathers to take part in the heavenly
worship of the Holy Trinity and to receive the "Body and Blood of our
Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ."
Dyanmis Greek word, meaning "with strength," used by the priest or deacon to
exhort the people before the fourth and final verse of the Trisagion
Hymn ("Holy God").
Ektenia Petitions or litanies used in Orthodox services, particularly in the
Liturgy. They refer to the world in general, peace, leadership and those
in need. The response to an ektenial petition is: "Lord have mercy."
Epistle Any of the New Testament writings, other than the Gospel, read at the
Divine Liturgy according to the Church's cycle of readings known as the
lectionary.
Gospel Literally, "the good news." The term comes from the ancient title
announcing the ascension of a new ruler to the throne. The Christian
gospel is summarized in the statement, "Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand!" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17).
Icon Christ is "the image of the the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). Because
Christ is God who became Man, He can Himself be pictured or imaged.
Thus, icons of Christ-- together with those of His saints - express the
reality of the Incarnation. Orthodox Christians honor or venerate icons,
but never worship them, for worship is due to God alone. The honor
given to icons passes on to the one represented on the icon, as a means
of thanksgiving for what God has done in that person's life.
Kontakion Second principal (short) hymn of the day.
Prokeimonon Short verse generally chanted as an introduction to a reading from Holy Scripture.
Prosphora The prayerfully made yeast bread from which a special portion (the
"Lamb") is taken to be consecrated in the Divine Liturgy to be the Body
of Christ. Other portions signify the Virgin Mary, certain orders of
saints and martyrs, and the living and the dead who are to be remembered
before God.
Sanctuary The Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place-- the place in the Old Testament
tabernacle or temple containing the ark of the covenant, the dwelling
place of God. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place and
only on the Day of Atonement. When the early Christians built churches,
they followed the general pattern of the temple, and the altar area is
often called the sanctuary.
Solea Elevated area at the eastern-most end of the nave running the length of the iconostasis.
Theotokos God-bearer, birth-giver, frequently translated "Mother of God." Because
Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, Mary is called the Mother of God
to profess our faith that in the Incarnation, God was in her womb.
Elizabeth called Mary "blessed" and "the mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:42,
43). At the Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431, the Church condemned
Nestorius and other heretics who refused to call the Virgin Mary the
Theotokos. For if it was not God in Mary's womb, there is no salvation
for humanity.
Trinity God the Father and His Son and His Holy Spirit: one in essence and
undivided. God revealed the mystery of the Trinity at Christ's baptism
(Matt. 3:13 17), but even before that event, numerous Old Testament
references pointed to the Trinity. For example, the frequent use of the
plural pronouns referring to the one God (Gen. 1:26); the three angels
who appeared to Abraham (Gen. 18:1-16); and the Triple Holy Hymn sung by
the angels in Isaiah's vision (Is. 6:14) all suggest one God in three
Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
Trisagion The "thrice-holy hymn", the hymn of the angels before the throne of God,
is sung solemnly during the Divine Liturgy and at other services: "Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."
Troparia Generic name for several types of hymns; most often the first principal hymn of the day, called the apolytikion.
Aer Large veil used to cover the diskarion and chalice.
Ambon Area of the solea immediately before the holy doors.
Antidoron The remainder of the prosphora,
distributed after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy to the faithful,
and in some churches (including ours) to non-Orthodox as well, as fellowship bread.
Antimins Cloth, usually imprinted with the entombment of Christ, issued by the bishop of the diocese and kept on the holy table.
Diskarion Footed plate for the eucharistic bread.
Divine Liturgy The eucharistic mystery (sacrament) served every Sunday and feast day,
at which the local community gathers to take part in the heavenly
worship of the Holy Trinity and to receive the "Body and Blood of our
Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ."
Dyanmis Greek word, meaning "with strength," used by the priest or deacon to
exhort the people before the fourth and final verse of the Trisagion
Hymn ("Holy God").
Ektenia Petitions or litanies used in Orthodox services, particularly in the
Liturgy. They refer to the world in general, peace, leadership and those
in need. The response to an ektenial petition is: "Lord have mercy."
Epistle Any of the New Testament writings, other than the Gospel, read at the
Divine Liturgy according to the Church's cycle of readings known as the
lectionary.
Gospel Literally, "the good news." The term comes from the ancient title
announcing the ascension of a new ruler to the throne. The Christian
gospel is summarized in the statement, "Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand!" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17).
Icon Christ is "the image of the the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). Because
Christ is God who became Man, He can Himself be pictured or imaged.
Thus, icons of Christ-- together with those of His saints - express the
reality of the Incarnation. Orthodox Christians honor or venerate icons,
but never worship them, for worship is due to God alone. The honor
given to icons passes on to the one represented on the icon, as a means
of thanksgiving for what God has done in that person's life.
Kontakion Second principal (short) hymn of the day.
Prokeimonon Short verse generally chanted as an introduction to a reading from Holy Scripture.
Prosphora The prayerfully made yeast bread from which a special portion (the
"Lamb") is taken to be consecrated in the Divine Liturgy to be the Body
of Christ. Other portions signify the Virgin Mary, certain orders of
saints and martyrs, and the living and the dead who are to be remembered
before God.
Sanctuary The Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place-- the place in the Old Testament
tabernacle or temple containing the ark of the covenant, the dwelling
place of God. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place and
only on the Day of Atonement. When the early Christians built churches,
they followed the general pattern of the temple, and the altar area is
often called the sanctuary.
Solea Elevated area at the eastern-most end of the nave running the length of the iconostasis.
Theotokos God-bearer, birth-giver, frequently translated "Mother of God." Because
Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, Mary is called the Mother of God
to profess our faith that in the Incarnation, God was in her womb.
Elizabeth called Mary "blessed" and "the mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:42,
43). At the Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431, the Church condemned
Nestorius and other heretics who refused to call the Virgin Mary the
Theotokos. For if it was not God in Mary's womb, there is no salvation
for humanity.
Trinity God the Father and His Son and His Holy Spirit: one in essence and
undivided. God revealed the mystery of the Trinity at Christ's baptism
(Matt. 3:13 17), but even before that event, numerous Old Testament
references pointed to the Trinity. For example, the frequent use of the
plural pronouns referring to the one God (Gen. 1:26); the three angels
who appeared to Abraham (Gen. 18:1-16); and the Triple Holy Hymn sung by
the angels in Isaiah's vision (Is. 6:14) all suggest one God in three
Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
Trisagion The "thrice-holy hymn", the hymn of the angels before the throne of God,
is sung solemnly during the Divine Liturgy and at other services: "Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."
Troparia Generic name for several types of hymns; most often the first principal hymn of the day, called the apolytikion.
