Glossary
Church words and terms.
- Akathist
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A hymn of praise of 13 kontakia and 12 oikoi, read standing (Greek “not sitting”).
- Antimension
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A cloth consecrated by a bishop containing a relic, on which the Liturgy is celebrated.
- Canon
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A liturgical poem of nine (usually eight) odes based on the biblical canticles; read at Matins and in home prayer.
- Eucharist
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The sacrament in which bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ (Greek “thanksgiving”).
- Fast-free week
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A week in which the Wednesday and Friday fast is suspended: Christmastide, the Publican and Pharisee, Cheesefare (no meat), Bright Week, Trinity Week.
- Iconostasis
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The screen of icons between the sanctuary and the nave.
- Kontakion
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A hymn complementing the troparion; in antiquity a multi-stanza poem (St Romanos the Melodist).
- Liturgy
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The principal service at which the sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated.
- Matins
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The morning service with the Six Psalms, the canon and the Great Doxology; in Russia usually joined with Vespers in the All-night Vigil.
- Memorial (Parents') Saturday
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A day of special commemoration of the departed: Meatfare, the 2nd–4th Saturdays of Lent, Trinity, St Demetrius; Radonitsa falls on a Tuesday.
Universal Memorial Saturday (Meatfare Saturday)
- Menologion (Calendar of Saints)
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The list of saints and feasts by day of the year.
- Moleben
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A short service of intercession for the living: of thanksgiving, for the sick, for travellers, before beginning a task.
- Old Style and New Style
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“Old Style” is the Julian calendar; “New Style” the Gregorian (civil) or Revised Julian (church) calendar. The difference is now 13 days, from 2100 — 14.
- Panikhida
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A memorial service; served on memorial Saturdays, on anniversaries of the departed and at the request of the faithful.
Radonitsa. Paschal commemoration of the departed
- Paschalion
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The rules for computing the date of Pascha. The Orthodox Churches use the Alexandrian paschalion on the Julian calendar.
- Royal Doors
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The central doors of the iconostasis through which the Holy Gifts are carried.
- The Twelve Great Feasts
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The twelve great feasts of the church year honouring events in the lives of Christ and the Theotokos; Pascha stands above them.
- Theotokos
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The title of the Virgin Mary affirmed by the Third Ecumenical Council (431): “she who gave birth to God”.
- Triodion
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The service book of the movable cycle: the Lenten Triodion (from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee to Great Saturday) and the Pentecostarion (from Pascha to All Saints).
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. The Lenten Triodion begins
- Troparion
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A short hymn expressing the meaning of a feast or the feat of a saint; sung at Vespers, Matins and the Liturgy.
- Vespers
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The service that begins the church day in the evening; includes Psalm 103, “O Gladsome Light” and “Lord, now lettest Thou”.
- Xerophagy
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The strictest degree of fasting: uncooked food without oil (bread, vegetables, fruit, nuts, honey).