Some of the terms we
Episcopal people often use, and figure everybody knows.
(Please see the disclaimer, below.) Used
by Permission of The Reverend Dr. John B. Burrell, Rector at The
Church of the Holy Cross at Sullivan Island (SC)
Letter to go directly to that section of the Dictionary.
From a Greek word meaning, "to
follow." Acolytes are lay volunteers who follow the Cross in the
recession and assist the priest in worship. An acolyte
lights and sometimes carries candles, and helps in the
preparation of communion.
From the Latin: Adventus:
"Coming." Advent is the first season of
the Church year. Advent begins four
Sundays before Christmas and ends on
Christmas day. The color of Advent is traditionally purple,
marking the preparational aspects of the season. In Advent we
prepare for our Lord's coming in three ways: at Christmas; for
his coming into our hearts; and for his coming again at the end
A wreath with four or five
candles, used in most Episcopal churches and in some homes
during the season of Advent. Four candles
are placed in a circle, and a fifth may be placed in the center.
One candle is lit on the first Sunday in Advent, two on the
second Sunday, three on the third and four on the fourth Sunday
in Advent. On Christmas day, the fifth
candle is lighted.
From two Latin words: angus,
meaning "lamb" and dei, meaning "of God." The term refers
to a three-part litany frequently said or sung after the
fraction in the Holy Communion part of
A white robe worn by many
priests when celebrating
communion, generally worn over daily
clothes but under other vestments. A polyester variation of the
alb called the cassock-alb has become the de facto standard
Eucharistic garment for many, if not most Episcopal, Lutheran
and Roman Catholic clergy.
All Saints' Day
November 1st - a day we
commemorate all the saints of the Church
and those we know who've joined the saints in worship at the
heavenly banquet table. Originally known as "All Hallows Day,"
and followed "all hallows eve" (Halloween).
From the Greek word eleos,
meaning "pity." Money given by the Church
to the poor. According to the canons, the
loose offering (cash and undesignated checks) on the first
Sunday of every month is supposed to go into an Alms account.
A special lay
service group in a church who prepare the altar
and maintain the furnishings in a church building. The altar
guild usually supervises all seasonal
church decorations and is usually responsible for all flower
A term which simply means
"English." The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide
Anglican Communion -- a collection of Churches around the world
that has their origins in the Church of England.
Primarily a style of worship which
is noted for its beauty, majesty and formality, but also a
fundamental understanding of the nature of the
Church and the sacramental way that the church relates to
See High Church.
From the Greek words anti,
meaning "against," and phone, meaning "sound." An
antiphon is literally a song sung back and forth by two choirs,
or by one choir divided into two sections. In the Episcopal
Church, the Kyrie and the
Sursum Corda are two examples of
antiphons. The familiar exchange "The Lord be with you" - "And
also with you" (Rite I: "And with thy
spirit") is also an antiphon.
The doctrine that holds that
bishops are the direct successors of the
original eleven apostles (excluding Judas) and are thus
inheritors in an unbroken line to the ministry to which Jesus
Himself ordained the Apostles. In the Episcopal Church, we
believe that our bishops had hands laid upon them by bishops who
had hands laid upon them by bishops who had hands laid upon
them� all the way back to the original apostles.
The term used by most of the
Anglican Communion (America being the
largest exception) to define a bishop in
charge of a group of dioceses in a
geographical area, or a national church. His superiority over
other bishops is only a matter of organizational rank. As the
saying goes, "He (or conceivably she) is first among equals." In
writing or speaking to an archbishop, the form of address is
"The Most Reverend." The Archbishop
of Canterbury has an additional title: The Most Reverend and
Right Honorable Dr. George L. Carey. In speaking to him
directly, you call an archbishop "Your Grace."
The equivalent of a
Presiding Bishop for the Church of England.
Most Episcopalians (in an honorary sense) acknowledge the
Archbishop of Canterbury to be the spiritual head of the
worldwide Anglican Communion.
Increasingly, the letters "ABC" are being used as a shorthand
code for the title.
A priest (or increasingly, a
deacon) who is part of a bishop's staff
and who usually has some administrative supervision over
missions for the bishop. Archdeacons are
referred to as "The Venerable" [The Ven.]: The Venerable John Q.
Beckwith. (The title "Reverend" is not used if Venerable is
used.) Archdeacons sometimes wear purple
cassocks instead of black ones, or black cassocks with
The Wednesday marking the
beginning of the season of Lent, usually
observed with a period of fasting and spiritual preparation. In
the Ash Wednesday liturgy, the celebrant
usually smears ashes on a person's forehead as a mark of their
mortality ("Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall
return.") The ashes are often burned palms saved from the
previous year's Palm Sunday celebration.
The sacrament that celebrates a
person's joining of the Church. At our
baptisms we are cleansed from sin, and adopted by God into His
family, and made heirs of His eternal Kingdom. Since we can only
be adopted once, baptism is a final, non-repeatable act. The
Episcopal Church recognizes both adult and infant baptism and
offers both. Also, in the Episcopal Church, one can be baptized
by being immersed, by being sprinkled, or by having water poured
on them. Baptism and Holy Communion are
the two great sacraments of the
The primary source of inspiration
and the single most important book for Episcopalians. Three or
more Bible readings are included in a typical worship service.
Over 80% of the prayer book comes directly
from the Bible.
From the Greek word episcopas,
meaning overseer. A Bishop is a member of the highest of the
orders of ministry in the Church. In the
Episcopal Church, there are five kinds of Bishops -
Coadjutor, and Suffragan. No bishop
is "higher" in rank than another. The five kinds merely define
their function. Bishops are the only order allowed to wear
purple shirts, and their crosses are usually gold, while
priests� crosses are usually silver.
A bishop who assists the diocesan
bishop in overseeing a diocese. An
assistant bishop is chosen by the diocesan bishop (not elected
by the people of the diocese), and was already consecrated as a
bishop by another diocese prior to serving as an assistant.
A priest who is elected by a
particular diocese and
consecrated to become the next
bishop of that diocese when the diocesan
bishop retires. The co-adjutor serves as an assistant bishop
until the retirement of the diocesan,
and takes over the diocesan responsibilities at that point. In
South Carolina, Fitszimons Allison was elected in 1978 to serve
as Bishop Co-adjutor until Grey Temple retired as Diocesan
Bishop (in 1980).
bishop of a diocese, elected by the people of the
diocese he or she serves. Sometimes
referred to as "the diocesan." The diocesan of South Carolina is
The Right Reverend Edward L. Salmon, Jr., XIII Bishop of South
A bishop elected by the people in
a diocese to serve as the diocesan
assistant. The Suffragan does not have the right to succeed as
the diocesan, but may be elected as the diocesan bishop in a new
election. The Suffragan bishop in South Carolina is The Right
Reverend William J. Skilton.
The worship book of the
Anglican Church since its inception in
1549. Commonly called the "prayer book," commonly abbreviated as
the BCP, the Book of Common Prayer is a collection of classic
and contemporary prayers, devotions, services and psalms
designed to allow the entire Church to
worship in common union. The current prayer book was last
revised in the 1970's.
1928 Prayer Book - A
version of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, in use from 1928
to 1976. Some services from this prayer book were modified and
inserted in the current prayer book (1979) as "Rite
I" services. The 1928 Book of common Prayer was the last of
the American prayer books to offer nationwide unified common
Sunday worship (only one form available for
Eucharist and one form for Morning Prayer).
1979 Prayer Book - The single
largest update of a prayer book in Episcopal Church history.
Begun in the late 1960's with numerous and often controversial
trial liturgies, compiled in 1976 as the Proposed Book of Common
Prayer, and ratified by the 1979 General
Convention. The book attempted to retain traditional
Episcopal liturgies while incorporating
many innovative forms of worship. The Convention mandated its
exclusive usage, thus alienating many traditional parishioners
who, in the 2000's, still refer to the book as the "new" prayer
book. The book has the distinction of being copyright free, so
that its pages may be used by anyone at any time.
One of the two
elements of communion, signifying
to us the Body of Christ. As Scripture reminds us, "And as they
were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and
gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body."
One of three popular designations
to define the style of worship in a particular Episcopal church.
"Broad church" worship is vaguely midway between
low and high,
and may or may not include elaborate liturgy, incense, and/or
sanctus bells. A generation ago, an irreverent saying defined
the three styles of Episcopal worship
as follows: "High and crazy; broad and hazy; low and lazy."
From the Greek byrsa,
meaning, "a bag." A burse is one of the furnishings of the
altar for communion,
and is a pocket case made from two squares of some rigid
material covered in cloth. The burse sits on top of the
chalice, paten and
veil, and serves to hold a
corporal. Often, the burse also serves
to hide an extra purificator.
The term comes from the Greek word
kannon, that means "measuring rod or ruler." In the
Church we speak of canon law, the canon
of Scripture, and people called canons. The canon of Scripture
refers to the books of the Bible that are
accepted as genuine and inspired by God. When used in reference
to people, a canon is the title of a priest who either serves on
the staff of a cathedral, or who has
exhibited exemplary service to a diocese.
The collection of laws that serve
as the rules of our Episcopal Church. The canons may be (and
always are) modified by each General
Convention. Each diocese also has
canon law, but a diocese may not pass a canon that conflicts
with national canons.
The top diocese in the Church of
England, and by tradition, the entire
Anglican Church. Although all the branches of the Anglican
Church are autonomous, each maintains a traditional connection
with England, and therefore looks to the Archbishop of
Canterbury as the spiritual leader of the Church. It was at
Canterbury cathedral (officially
titled, the Cathedral Church of Christ) that St. Thomas Becket
was assassinated by King Henry's friends in 1170. Soon after
Thomas' death, pilgrimages to his Canterbury shrine began. (The
shrine was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1538) It was one of these
pilgrimages that served as the setting for Chaucer's
A festival hymn, simple in tune,
sung during the ChristmasSeason. Traditional Episcopalians do not sing carols before sundown on December 24th,
and will sing carols right up until Epiphany,
at least two weeks after the rest of America has abandoned them.
A black robe worn by
priests or deacons, and are usually worn
with a white over-garment called a surplice.
A Canon may wear a black cassock with red
piping, or (with permission) may wear a purple cassock.
Deans and archdeacons
may wear black cassocks with red or purple piping.
Lay readers, choir
members and acolytes can also (and often
do) wear cassocks.
An elementary instruction in the
principles of Christianity, in the form of questions and
answers. (See pages 845-862, BCP) In past
generations, one had to memorize the entire catechism before he
or she could be confirmed.
The Greek word meaning "seat." A
cathedra is special sanctuary chair
only used by a bishop. The chair remains
empty except during bishop's visitations and serves as a visible
reminder that the parish priest represents the bishop, and that
the bishop is the spiritual head of the diocese.
The church in which the
diocesan bishop's throne or
cathedra is kept, and often the
gathering place for many of the diocese's official functions and
major worship celebrations. If the cathedral is a
parish church (i.e. has a congregation of
worshipers) their rector is given the title of
Dean of the Cathedral.
A word usually thought of as a
reference to the Roman Catholic Church, however "catholic"
literally means "universal" or "found everywhere." (from the
Greek word katholikos, meaning "general" or "universal")
In the Nicene Creed, we say we believe in the holy catholic
The person who leads the worship
service. In a Eucharist, the celebrant
is the bishop, or someone who the bishop
appoints to lead the service for him or her. In a service of
Morning Prayer, the celebrant may be either
lay or clergy.
From the Latin cancelli,
meaning "a grating" or "lattice." Chancel is the name for the
section of a church building between the nave
and the sanctuary; usually the place
the choir sits; sometimes also called the "choir".
It is also usually a few steps higher than the nave.
Not exactly singing, nor reading,
chanting is a recitation midway between singing and reading.
Chanting originated in the monastic orders in the early
centuries of the Church.
From Latin, cappella,
meaning "a cape." When the kings of France went on military
campaigns, they would carry the cape of St. Martin with them.
The tent or other temporary structure that housed the
cappella was called a chapel. A chapel now refers to a small
building or room set apart for worship and meditation.
The clergy person in charge of a
chapel or one who ministers to a small group of people.
From Latin, casula,
meaning "little house". A chasuble is a type of
vestment worn by the
Communion. It is usually oval in shape, with a hole for the
head to pass through. The chasuble may have been derived from an
ancient Roman cloak only worn outdoors and shaped like a tent
(hence the name, "little house"). Many
will tell you the that chasuble's liturgical
origins were from an identically shaped garment that Hebrew
priests would wear to keep blood off them as they were
From Latin, chorus, meaning
a group of singers. A choir is group of lay people (voluntary or
paid) that help lead the singing during a worship service and
sometimes offer special anthems to enhance
worship. The word "choir" can also used to define the
chancel, the part of the church building
where the choir sits.
A mixture of olive oil and balsam,
and sometimes used at baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and
some blessings of altars and other church
fixtures. Chrism is not the same as other holy oils such as
those used for the unction of the sick.
No balsam is added to oil used for unction.
Besides being December 25th
and the day Christians mark as the celebration of the birth of
Jesus (Christ's Mass), Christmas is also a Church
season, running from December 25th
to Epiphany (January 6th). It
is this twelve-day period that is sometimes referred to as the
Twelve Days of Christmas.
The English word comes from the
Greek word kurios, meaning, "master" or "lord." A form of
this word, kuriakon, had the meaning of "�pertaining to,
or belonging to the lord."Originally, the word referred
to the building used by the Lord's people. However, the French
and other Romance languages get their word for church from the
another Greek word - ekklesia (lit. "called out") - in
French, eglise, which means an assembly of people. We use
both terms when speaking of the church; we speak of the building
and of the people inside the building. It is interesting to note
that when the Bible speaks of the church, the word used is
ekklesia. The Bible's authors never thought of the church as
a building. When the word is capitalized, it usually refers to
the universal, or catholic church.
The official name of the original
Church in England, the Anglican Church. During the reign of King
Henry VIII, the Church, in England, broke formal
ties with Rome and became the Church OF England.
Sometimes referred to as the "C of E."
A cup that resembles a
chalice, except that it has a removable
lid. A ciborium is used to hold communion
wafers during the Eucharist
From the Latin word collecta,
meaning "assembly." The word is normally used to refer to the
prayer near the beginning of the Eucharist that precedes the
lessons. The collect was supposedly
designed to "collect" the thoughts of the lessons and bind the
thoughts together, back in the days when only one lesson and a
Gospel were read. A collect is actually
any short prayer that contains an invocation, a petition, and a
pleading in Christ's Name (in that order).
Color plays an import part in the
designation of seasons and feasts in the
Episcopal Church. Each church season
has a color associated with it. Advent is
purple (the color of preparation and penitence) or Marian Blue
(in honor of Mary), Christmas is white
(the color celebration), Epiphany is
green (the color of growth; growth of the gospel message from
Jew to Gentile - re: the three Wise Men), Lent
is purple, Easter is white, and the season
after Pentecost is green (for the
growth of the church). Weddings and funerals are usually
occasions for white (the color of celebration) while Pentecost
Sunday and ordinations are red, to signify the presence of the
Holy Spirit. Black is occasionally used one day a year --
From the Latin word communicare,
meaning "to share, or partake." Communicants are the members of
a local church who do or who are eligible
to receive communion.
1. The Christian sacramental meal,
the Lord's Supper, commanded by our Lord ("Do this in
remembrance of me."). For centuries the service used to
celebrate the meal was called Holy Communion, but is now more
commonly called the "Eucharist" in
Episcopal churches. Also known as Mass in
Roman Catholic churches.
2. The term describing a group of autonomous churches who
recognize common ties and share a common faith, for example, the
worldwide Anglican Communion.
A monastic evening service used to
end the day, and included for the first time in the
1979 prayer book. It is pronounced "comp-lyn,"
From two Latin words - firmare,
which means "to strengthen," and com, which adds force to
the word. Literally to confirm is to "strengthen greatly." At
Confirmation a person makes a mature, public confession that he
or she accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and
Savior, thus owning up to the vows his or her godparents made
for him or her at his or her baptism. The bishop then lays his
or her hands on the confirmand, and prays for the Holy Spirit to
"strengthen greatly" the person in the rest of his or her life.
Confirmation is considered to be one of the five sacramental
acts, or minor sacraments of the
A meeting usually held annually,
and usually held to elect new vestry
members and delegates to the diocesan
convention. Unlike some other denominations, the
Episcopal Church follows a
representative form of government, instead of a pure democracy.
The work of the church is voted upon by the vestry, and
not by the congregation. The congregation votes to select
vestry members to represent them, as the vestry does their work.
The word literally means, "to set
aside." At the Eucharist, the
elements are consecrated before we
partake in communion. Consecration
services include dedications and
ordinations. In 1835, the Chapel of the Cross was
consecrated for God's service on Sullivan's Island. In 1990,
Bishop Edward Salmon was consecrated as the 13th
Bishop of South Carolina.
meeting (usually held annually) to elect officials, propose
resolutions, and to pass laws to govern the diocesan body.
of dignity which may be worn by any order of the clergy, but is
usually thought of as being worn by a bishop,
along with his miter. The cope is
a long and heavy semicircular cloak of rich material, generally
matching other vestments in the color of
In church architecture, the
crossing is the main intersection of aisles at the front of the
church building. If viewed from above, these aisles form a large
cross. In a service, "crossing" refers to a hand gesture of
making a cross pattern on one's body; also a gesture made by a
priest or bishop
over a congregation or upon a person
at death or baptism.
From old French, crue,
meaning "a vial or a glass." A cruet is the vessel (glass or
metal) used to hold the water and wine for the
From Latino curatus,
meaning "the person in charge." The term should mean the "head
priest" if literally interpreted, but instead has come to refer
to a transitional deacon or an assistant
to the rector. Usually a curate is one who
recently graduated from seminary, and is in the process of
"learning the ropes," or "curing."
A Spanish word meaning "short
course." Cursillo is contemporary, popular movement of Christian
renewal in the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Cursillo experience begins with an intense, profound, and
often life-changing weekend retreat, and continues with periodic
small group gatherings and special devotions. The word is
Doctor of Ministry; a special
graduate program for clergy offered by many seminaries.
Common abbreviation of the
honorary degree Doctor of Divinity; an honorary degree reserved
exclusively for ordained persons, especially bishops. The
abbreviation is used after the bishop's full name: The Rt. Rev.
Duncan M. Gray, Jr., D.D.
The subservient rank in the three
orders of the Church's ministry (Bishop,
Priest, Deacon). There are two types of
deacons - transitional deacons, who will soon be
ordained to the priesthood, and
permanent deacons, who chose the order as a permanent servant
ministry. Priests are first ordained to the
diaconate to remind them and the Church
that they are, and that they always will be servants (see
From Latin, decanus,
meaning "ten." Originally the title was given to a minor
official who served in some supervisory position over ten
people. The title is now used to refer to the resident clergyman
of a cathedral, the chief academic
officer of a college or seminary, or the head of a
diocesan deanery. If the dean is
ordained, the title "The Very Reverend" is appropriate; if the
dean is a lay person, this title is not
used. The dean of the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul is the
Very Rev. William Mc Kechee. The dean of Trinity Episcopal
School For Ministry is the Very Rev. Peter C. Moore. The dean of
Charleston Deanery is the Very Rev. John B. Burwell.
A geographical division of a
diocese, roughly equivalent to counties
in a state, also sometimes known as a convocation or an
archdeanery. In the Diocese of South Carolina there are six
deaneries. Beginning at the lower part of the diocese, they are
the Beaufort deanery, the Charleston deanery, the West
Charleston deanery, the Orangeburg deanery, the Georgetown
deanery, and the Florence deanery. (All of these names are also
counties in South Carolina.)
A unit of church organization; the
spiritual domain under a bishop. A
diocese may contain many parishes and
missions. When used as an adjective, the
term is diocesan. The diocese is most often thought of as the
primary and basic unit of the Church.
There are 74 parishes and missions in the Diocese of South
Carolina. The state of South Carolina has two dioceses - the
Diocese of Upper South Carolina and the Diocese of South
A group that advises the
bishop on diocesan
affairs. The Diocesan Council's duties are similar to the duties
that the vestry carries out at the
The festival that commemorates the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the third day after he
was crucified. It is called Easter Day in our prayer book, but has come to be called (redundantly) Easter
Sunday by the media, most laity, and some clergy, all of whom
ought to know better. Easter is a movable feast, which means it does not always fall on the same day
each year. Easter is always the first Sunday after the full moon
following the vernal equinox (first day of Spring). By this
calculation, Easter could occur anytime from March 22, to April
25. The length of Epiphany and the
Season after Pentecost, as well as the dates of
Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Ascension Day,
Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday are all determined by the date of
Easter. Easter is also a Church season,
spanning the 50 days (six Sundays) after Easter, to Ascension
The official name for the American
branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you!
1. A member of the Episcopal
Church. 2.The noun form of the word. Proper grammarians would
point out that "episcopal" is an adjective and "episcopalian" is
a noun. The title to this online dictionary is grammatically
incorrect, and intended to be so.
Usually (but not always) included
in a Sunday service, the epistle is a reading from one of the
New Testament books other than the Gospels. The epistle and the
Old Testament lessons are typically read by a
The side of the building from
which the Epistle lesson is read. The side depends on whether
the altar is located against a wall or free standing, meaning
the priest celebrates the Eucharist from behind it. If the altar
is against the wall, the Epistle side is the left side of the
church building when one is facing the altar.
Literally means a "good gift" or
"thanksgiving." The current usage in the Episcopal Church to
refers to the entire Communion service. According to the
current prayer book, the Eucharist is
intended to be the principal service on a Sunday.
A speech or homily in praise of a deceased person; brief remarks about
the deceased at a funeral. Traditionally, a eulogy was simply
not done in the Episcopal Church. In recent times the
practice has gained favor in some circles.
Special days set aside for
abstinence. On these days, one typically eats less, or eats
nothing at all. While any day may be observed as a fast day,
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are officially designated as fast days.
Days of celebration, as opposed to
fast days. The primary feast day is Easter. All Sundays are
miniature celebrations of Easter, and thus all Sundays are feast
days. Other feast days include saint's days and all special days
like Ascension, Epiphany, Holy Cross Day, etc.
The part of the
where the Communion bread is broken by the
celebrant. According to the
prayer book, a period of silence is to
follow, and then can be said or sung, "Christ our Passover is
sacrificed for us." (prayer book pages 337 and 364)
The national triennial meeting of
the Episcopal Church. General Convention is dividend into two
governmental bodies: the House of
Bishops and the House of
Deputies. Each diocese sends deputies
to General Convention to enact laws to govern the Episcopal
Church, and to pass resolutions stating the "mind of the church"
on topical issues.
From the Latin words genu,
meaning "knee," and flectere, meaning "to bend." A
genuflection is a sort of deep curtsey where the right knee
touches the ground. The appropriate times for genuflection (if
you do it at all) are when passing before the Reserved Sacrament, when entering or leaving your pew when
the consecrated bread and wine are on
the altar, and in the Nicene Creed at the words, "who for us and
Godfathers and godmothers, persons
who sponsor an infant or young child at his or her
baptism. Godparents make vows that they
will, by their example, help the child know what it means to be
a Christian, so that later in his or her life the child can
confirm that fact for himself or herself at Confirmation.
General Ordination Examination; a
set of uniform tests required of most Episcopal
seminarians before their graduation
The day in Holy Week in which we remember Christ's arrest, crucifixion,
and death. It is unclear where the name "Good Friday"
originated. Some have said it is a corruption of "God's Friday,"
in the same manner that "Commandment Thursday" became "Maundy
Thursday." Others insist it is called "Good" because of the
great benefits given to humanity by Christ's death and
An older usage for designating the
interior of a church. The gospel side is on the right-hand side
of the priest, as determined by where he/she is facing when
celebrating the Holy Communion. The
Gospel side is thus dependant on whether the altar is located against the wall or free-standing.
Originally, the priest celebrated communion facing the people
and thus the Gospel Side was the north side of the Church
building [the left side, when facing the altar]. In medieval
times the altar was pushed against the west wall, and the Gospel
side then became the right side, when facing the altar.
One of three popular designation
for styles of worship in an Episcopal Church. "High Church"
worship emphasizes theological or liturgical formality. Parts or
all of a "high" service are often sung or
chanted rather than reading or speaking them. Services often
include several vested assistants, incense
and sanctus bells. See
Low Church, Broad
A way of referring to
ordination among Roman Catholics,
Episcopalians and a few others: an ordained person is spoken of as "being in holy
orders"--meaning that the person has made priestly vows and has
been admitted by a bishop into one of the several levels of
The week preceding Easter -- the
last week in Lent. Holy Week is the most important period of the
church year, observed with many special services, beginning with
Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday.
Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday and
The consecrated "bread"
part of the Holy Communion. In most
Episcopal churches a wafer is used as the
host, but an increasing number of churches are using actual
baked bread. The wafer the priest breaks at the
fraction is called a "priest's host."
From the Greek word, hymnos,
meaning "song of praise." A hymn is a poem or other metrical
composition adapted for singing in a church service. Hymns have
only been allowed in the Anglican Church
From the Latin word, incendere,
meaning "to burn," incense is the "smell" element in "smells
& bells"; a fragrant powder burned in a small dish or pot;
used during the service or in the processions. Some say incense
is used to recall of one of the three gifts of the Wise Men to
the Christ Child. Scripture commends its usage, particularly in
Psalm 141, where prayers are asked to be like incense.
The attempt to find forms of
religious expression which are not seen as biased in favor of
either sex. Some churches favor an inclusive lectionary which
avoid male or female pronouns such as "him" or "her." Some have
altered prayers and hymns so that male images and pronouns are
removed: "Our God who art in heaven..." The Episcopal church's
current hymnal (1982) altered most of the classic hymns in an
effort to make them more "inclusive."
A service in which a person is
"installed" into his or her office. In the Episcopal Church,
installation services are offered for new ministries ranging
from rectors and bishops
to Sunday School teachers and vestry.
From the Greek for the actual
name, Kyrie Eleison, which means, "Lord have mercy." The
Kyrie comes after the Ten Commandments or the summary of the law
in the Rite I Eucharist, to serve as a
reminder to us that we cannot, by our own effort, keep the
commandments. It is a plea for grace by fallen sinners. In
Rite II, where there is no recitation of
the Ten Commandments or a summary of the law, the Kyrie seems
out of place, and is, for that reason, often omitted.
From the Greek word, laos, meaning "people,"the laity are the non-ordained members
of a church, as distinguished from "the clergy". An single
member of the laity would be referred to as a "lay
From Latin, meaning, "I will
wash." The name originally referred to the ceremonial washing of
the priests hands before he or she celebrated
Communion, while saying the words, "I
will wash my hands in innocence." (Psalm 26:6). The name lavabo
also refers to the small towel used to dry the hands and the
bowl into which water is poured during the washing. Thus, to
call the towel a lavabo towel, or to call the bowl a lavabo bowl
would be technically redundant.
A person who is not ordained, but
who works closely with a church or religious program. Some lay
ministers are un-paid volunteers; some are paid staff members of
From an Anglo-Saxon word, lencten, meaning, "spring," the time of the lengthening
of the days. Lent is one of the six seasons
of the church year and is the forty-day period beginning on
Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday
(the day before Easter). The period is actually 46 days, but
since Sundays are feast days, they are
never included in the count. Lent is intended to be a period of
preparation and penitence marked by fasting, meditation and
sobriety. Lent is widely associated with denial -- "giving
something up for Lent."
A reading from the
Bible during a worship service. Lessons are
usually read by a lay person and are
not taken from the Gospel or the Psalms. Lessons are usually
read from the epistle side of the
church building and conclude with the reader saying, "The word
of the Lord" or "Here ends the reading."
Lesson and Carols
Popular name of the Festival of
Lessons and Carols held during late Advent
or early Christmas at
Anglican Churches throughout the world.
An abbreviation for "Lay
Eucharistic Minister" A LEM is an individual who has undergone
special training and is authorized by the priest to take pre-consecratedCommunion to a sick or shut-in member
of the parish or mission.
A solemn form of supplication for
God's mercy, composed of short responsive prayers. The
traditional Anglican Litany (page 54 in
the 1928 BCP) is almost
recognizable in the words of The Great Litany (BCP
page 148) in the 1979 Prayer Book.
used to describe a particular style of worship that requires
active participation (standing, sitting, knelling, recitation,
common prayer, etc.) from both the clergy and laity. Episcopal,
Lutheran, Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches are generally
considered to be liturgical churches, while most
Protestant denominations are not.
Master of Divinity; the basic
American theological degree; in earlier
years, the first theological degree was the B.D. [Bachelor of
Divinity], but in the late 1960's many American divinity schools
began to allow their earlier graduates to exchange their B.D.
degrees for the newer M.Div. degree.
A liturgical napkin. The maniple
is worn draped over the celebrant's
From the Latin word, missa,
meaning "sent," or "dismissed." Mass is the Roman Catholic name
for the Christian sacramental meal but sometimes used by
Episcopalians to refer to communion or
Eucharist. The word probably originated
from the ending of the old Roman Catholic liturgy, where the
celebrant proclaimed, "Ite missa est."
Thursday in Holy Week; the name is from a corruption of the Old English
word for "commandment" in Christ's commandment given in John
13:34: "A new commandment I give you, that you love one
another." The word "command" was originally spelled "commaundment"
and was shortened to "Maundy" through careless enunciation. The
command is closely tied to another "commaund" given by Jesus at
the same time:"Do this in remembrance of me." Holy Thursday
(Maundy Thursday) was the day on which the first
Lord's Supper, the Last Supper, was
celebrated with the 12 Disciples. Maundy Thursday services often
include "stripping the altar" (removing all items including
hangings) and in some parishes, foot
washing (see John 13:5).
In olden days, the word was
synonymous with the clergy. While the ordained do indeed have special ministries to perform, we
Episcopalians recognize that every baptized Christian has
ministry to do for God�s greater glory. We therefore believe
that all Christians are ministers. In our Catechism we state, "The ministers of the Church are lay
persons, bishops, priests and deacons." (page 855,
Ministry Of All The Baptized
Ecclesiastical, professional and
vocational ministries derived from our Baptismal Covenant. See
Page 304-305 and 855-856 of our prayer book for a description of
A local Episcopal congregation
that is not able to be financially self-supporting. The
congregation's rector is the diocesan bishop,
and the bishop appoints a priest-in-charge as his/her
representative. The priest-in-charge of a mission is commonly
referred to as a vicar. When a mission is
able to be self-supporting, it may apply for parish status and be admitted to the diocese as a parish.
The tall, pointed liturgical hat
worn by a bishop during formal worship.
Its shape is said to be symbolic of the tongues of fire which
rested on the original bishops at the first Pentecost.
a special container in the shape
of a cross with a circular, clear glass (or crystal) receptacle
in its center. A monstrance is designed to hold a consecrated
Host that is exposed for adoration. The
monstrance is designed to "de-monstrate" the
real presence of Christ.
A daily morning worship service
without communion; Also known as the
Daily Office and found on pages 37 (Rite I)
and 75 (Rite II) in the prayer book. In some churches, Morning Prayer is alternated
with Eucharist as the principal Sunday
service. Since Morning Prayer does not require the presence of
ordained clergy, the service is
sometimes used in the absence of the rector
Any Churchfestival that does not fall on a fixed
calendar day, but varies from year to year. Easter is the most important movable feast since many other
movable feasts are determined by when Easter occurs.
In Greek, the word literally means
"a large fennel" (a tall herb). In church architecture, the
narthex is an enclosed space at the entry end of the
nave of a building; the area in the church
building inside the doors and in front of the nave. The narthex
is usually enclosed (primarily to provide a buffer between the
outside weather and the heating/cooling inside), and is the area
where the procession gathers prior to
The main part of a church
building; the place where the congregation sits. Probably
derived from the Latin word navis, meaning "ship."
(As in Noah's ark) In medieval England the derogatory term
"knave" (commoner) developed from nave, because the nave is the
area of the building where the "common" people sit.
From the French, Noel,
"Christmas". An old English name for
Christmas, traditionally shouted or sung in joy, now chiefly
used in The First Nowell Christmas carol.
Most think of the offertory as the
time in the worship service where the offering is taken up. The
offering of money is part of the offertory, but the offertory
also includes the offering of bread and wine that is to be
consecrated during the
communion, and the offering of
"�ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and
living sacrifice." (BCP Page 336.) Or, as
Rite II says, "Sanctify us also." (BCP page
A special container designed to
hold holy oil used in unction and at
baptisms. Oil stocks are usually about as
wide as a quarter, and about an inch in length. A cotton ball
inside the oil stock holds the holy oil.
From Latin, ordo, meaning
"order." Ordination is one of the five
sacramental acts (or minor sacraments) of the Episcopal
Church. At an ordination, an individual is commissioned and
empowered for the work of ministry. Ordination is the ritual
used to make someone a priest or
deacon, by the laying on of hands by a
bishop. Bishops, in turn, are not
ordained; they are consecrated. See
The Sunday before Easter, where
Jesus' final and triumphal entry into Jerusalem is observed. In
many Episcopal congregations the passion
narrative read is also read. Real palm branches or crosses
made from palms (or both) are usually distributed to the
congregation. In some churches, Palm Sunday palms are saved and
later burned to make the ashes for the next year's
Ash Wednesday service.
A gathering place for a local
congregation separate from the church
building. The term "parish hall" also is used to refer to a
large room inside the Parish Hall/House.
The group of people of a certain
area who are organized into a local, self-supporting church.
Sometimes the word is used to refer to the geographic region
around a church. In the South, many of the present-day counties
were once organized as parishes [as is still the case in
Louisiana] See Mission.
From the Latin word persona,
meaning "person." From the eleventh century English, where there
term was a legal one, applying to the parish
priest, because in all matters he was the designated "person" to
deal with. Today, the term is not used as often as it was, and
often evokes rural connotations.
From the Hebrew word Pesach,
meaning Passover. A very large candle in a very tall holder and
placed in a prominent display in the epistle side of the
candle is lighted throughout the Easter season,
and during baptisms, weddings, and
The name given to the
gospel reading on the Sunday of the
Passion - Palm Sunday. The reading
chronicles the final hours of Jesus' earthly ministry. The
reading traditionally begins with Jesus in the Garden of
Gethsemane, and continues through his arrest, trial,
crucifixion, and death. It is the longest lesson read in the
Church year (see: seasons), and
the only gospel reading with an option allowing the congregation
to sit during the first part of the reading. In many parishes
the narrative becomes a passion play. Specific roles (Pilate,
Peter, etc.) are assigned to different persons, and the
congregation plays the part of the crowd assenting to the
Another name for a
clergy person. In both Latin and English
the word simply means "shepherd." All Lutheran clergy are called
pastors, and many Episcopal and Roman Catholic clergy are
comfortable enough with the term to use it to describe them.
Also known as "passing the peace."
A part of the ritual in the Episcopal Church in which members of
the congregation, including the clergy, greet one another. The
priest says, "The Peace of the Lord be always with you." The
congregation responds, "And also with you." (When using
Rite I, the response is "And with thy
Spirit.") Immediately after these words people shake hands or
speak or sometimes embrace in the church. Introduced as part of
the 1979 prayer book reform and still
unpopular in a few congregations among older members.
The Festival Sunday that comes
fifty days after Easter in which we
commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the twelve
Disciples after Christ's Resurrection (Acts 2). Pentecost is
traditionally seen as the birthday of the church, and is also
the beginning of the longest season in the church - the season
after Pentecost. The season after Pentecost runs from the day of
Pentecost to the first Sunday in Advent.
Long, single, and usually
permanent seats in the nave of a church
building. In the earliest times there were no chairs except for
the clergy, and the congregation
"congregated" in the nave. Later individual seating was added
particularly for older members. Pews came into existence as a
way for local churches to support themselves financially, by
renting or selling pews to families. After the American
Revolution and the disestablishment of the state-owned
Anglican church, pew rental was the sole
means of income for many colonial churches. In some parishes
today, the family pew still exists. Today, however, the family
does not actually own the pew. They only think that they do.
From Latin, meaning "fish pond."
The piscina is the stone or porcelain basin (traditionally set
in the south wall of the Sanctuary)
from which a drain pipe carries to the ground the water used in
the ablutions. It is also the most
convenient way for many Altar Guilds
to dispose of the remaining consecrated
wine after a service. The piscina is never, ever to be hooked up
to the building's plumbing.
The actual, official name for an
Episcopal priest. The word is a Celtic
contradiction of the Greek word presbyteros, meaning
"elder." The presbyter represents the bishop in a parish or
mission, as he or she has since the earliest of Church times,
when older members of a congregation were chosen to represent
The elected episcopal head of the
Episcopal Church in America [PECUSA]; the
chief administrator and spiritual head of the Episcopal Church.
Until the 1920's, the Presiding Bishop was simply a diocesan
bishop elected to preside over General Convention. In more
recent history the Presiding Bishop has become the American
equivalent of an Archbishop and the head of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. Title: The Most
Reverend. The current Presiding Bishop is the Most Rev. Frank
Tracy Griswold III, the 25th Presiding Bishop of the
A special term for an
ordained minister of a Roman Catholic
or Episcopal or Orthodox church; In Roman circles, the term
refers to those who recite the Mass, but the
Episcopal Church traces the word's origin to a Celtic corruption
of the official term for Clergy - Presbyters. The duty of a priest, according to the
prayer book, is to baptize,
preach the Word of God, and to celebrate the
Eucharist, and to pronounce
Absolution and Blessing in God's Name.
An addition to the words of the
Communion part of the
Eucharist which follows the
Sursam Corda. There are Proper
Prefaces provided for all the the Church's seasons, as well as for major
of the Church. The Prefaces are found beginning on pages 345
and 378 in the BCP.
The large cross carried by the
crucifer during the procession.
From the Latin pro, meaning
"for," and testare, meaning "witness." Thus literally, if
one was to be a protestant it would mean he or she would be a
witness for something. The word was first used in 1529 as part
of Martin Luther's reform movement. The Episcopal Church does
not officially consider itself to be a Protestant church, but is
considered to be Protestant by Roman Catholics, as well as by
many lay members of the Episcopal Church.
One of the major organizational
divisions of the Episcopal Church; a group of dioceses in a particular region of the United States,
usually under the direction of a diocesan
bishop who serves as president of the province. South Carolina
is in Province IV of the Episcopal Church.
From the Latin, pulpitum,
meaning "a platform." A raised platform or podium used for the
sermon or homily;
generally located in the front of the gospel side of the
nave. In some
Colonial church buildings and in many non-Episcopal churches,
the pulpit is in the center, to signify the importance of the
From Latin purus (pure) and
facare (to make). A purificator is a small piece of white
linen used at Communion to cleanse the
chalice, by wiping the rim of the chalice
with the purificator.
The primary color used in the
season of Lent, and the most popular color
used in Advent. Purple signifies penitence
and preparation. Purple was originally a sign of royalty, as
purple dye was rare. Thus, a purple clergy shirt (or some shade
of violet) usually indicates that the wearer is a
a distinctively Anglican
doctrine that emphasizes the actual presence of the Body and
Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. This is in contrast to
theologies that hold that the Body and Blood are present only
figuratively or symbolically. The Anglican doctrine of Real
Presence stops short of Transubstantiation in defining how the
presence happens. (Transubstantiation says that at a specified
point in the liturgy the wine and bread become actual flesh and
that are read during a worship service.
The head priest of a
parish; the word, in Latin means "ruler."
If a parish has more than one clergy, the others are called
Assistant Rectors or Associate Rectors. A mission cannot have a rector. A mission has a
priest-in-charge, who is often called a vicar.
The residence of a
rector; the place where an Episcopal (or
Roman Catholic) clergy lives. Called a
parsonage or manse in most other Christian denominations.
A funeral service or memorial
service. Sometimes the word is preceded by the word 'solemn': (Solemn
Requiem.) Sometimes the word is preceded by 'high': High Requiem--which only indicates that portions of the
service will be sung or chanted. A High
Requiem Mass is a funeral service with communion and singing of parts of the service.
Also called a gradine, the retable is a narrow shelf located behind an
altar that is placed against the wall. Candles and flowers
are sometimes placed on the retable. The retable is also
sometimes used to house a tabernacle.
An honorific title given to
in most Christian churches. The correct form of address is "The Reverend
John Doe," and never "Reverend John Doe."
person [hence Reverend] who also holds some degree at the
doctorate level [hence Doctor]--a way of referring to a
clergy person who was also a professor, or
to a memver of the clergy who holds an honorary or earned
doctorate. A bishop who held a doctorate
would be referred to as the Right Reverend Doctor.
An affectionate, devotional or
pietistic way of referring to a priest who
has accepted the term Father.
Right Reverend, The
A form of address for a bishop in
the Episcopal Church, as in "The Right Reverend Edward L.
There is no Rite III service in
the prayer book, but the alternative forms 1
and 2 (pages 402 -405) have been euphemistically called Rite III
since the introduction of the 1979 prayer
book. These forms for Eucharist are
intended for informal use, and never intended for a regular,
weekly worship service.
Days that were (and still are) set
apart for special prayers for God's blessing on crops, flocks,
herds and other agricultural means of livelihood. From the Latin
word rogare, meaning "to beseech." Rogation Days were
observed (and still could be observed) on the Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday before Ascension Day.
From the Latin word sacrare,
meaning to "consecrate." According to the prayer book,
sacraments are "outward and visible signs of inward and
spiritual grace." Sacraments are physical actions that point us
to deeper realities than we are able to experience with our five
senses. The Episcopal Church recognizes two major, or "gospel"
sacraments, and five minor sacraments, or sacramental acts. The
two major sacraments, Baptism and
Communion, and called gospel sacraments
because Jesus told us (in the gospels) to do them until he comes
again. The five sacramental acts (or minor sacraments) are not
all necessarily required of all Christians. They are
Ordination, Reconciliation, and
In earlier times the sacristan was
the man in charge of the sacristy. Some
cathedrals will still designate a priest
as a Canon Sacristan, but now the usage of
the word has largely become interchangeable with the word "sexton."
From the Latin word sanctus,
meaning "holy." The sanctuary is the part of the church building
where the altar or holy table is -- the
area behind the altar rail. Many Protestant denominations use the word to refer to the whole
inside of the church building, but this is not the usual
A lamp hanging somewhere in the
sanctuary. Sometimes there are three
lamps, sometimes seven, but usually only one. A single,
continuously burning sanctuary lamp indicates the presence of
the Reserved Sacrament.
The actual name for the bell is a
"sacring bell," but most refer it as a "sanctus bell" because it
is rung at the time of the sanctus. In
medieval times, when the service was said in Latin and the
masses spoke English, the bell was rung at the Sanctus as a
signal that it was time to pay attention.
A way of marking time in the
Church. There are six seasons: Advent,
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and the season after
Pentecost. The church new year begins with the season of
Advent, which marks the Advent (Latin: adventus) or coming of our Lord. Advent begins four Sundays
before Christmas day. Christmas is a
twelve-day season that begins Christmas day and continues to
January 6th. Epiphany is both
a day (Jan.6) and a season, and represents the manifestation
(epiphany) of the gospel into the world. Lent
begins 46 days before Easter with Ash Wednesday, and is a time
of preparation for Holy Week and
Easter. Easter is a six week (50 day)
season which ends on Pentecost Sunday.
The season after Pentecost runs from Pentecost to Advent. See also:
From the Latin word sedes, meaning "seats." Originally used to refer to the bishop's seat,
the earliest of all symbols of authority. The seat was kept in
the cathedral, and the bishop's see was
the town where the cathedral was located. Now the word is used
(primarily by Roman Catholics) to refer to a whole
A general term for a residential
academic program for the study of theology. Priests in the Episcopal Church are usually (but not always)
required to be seminary graduates. The academic program is
generally three years, and culminates with the conferring of a
masters degree called a Masters of Divinity, or M.Div.
A verbal address given after the
readings, and hopefully given to further explain the readings
and to put them in a modern context. In the Anglican Church the sermon is seen as a bridge between the
Biblical world and the modern world.
An older English title for the
person in charge of the church building [or a special portion of
it] and grounds; in America the Sexton is also commonly head of
maintenance and custodial services and may perform additional
duties such as ringing the church bell.
The final day before the season of
Lent begins, usually marked by pancake
suppers in parish halls throughout the Episcopal church. Shrove
Tuesday is also the final day of Mardi Gras, and various
Carnivals throughout the world.
A long strip of cloth (often silk)
worn around the neck of the priest and
allowed to hang down the front of the clerical
vestments. Only bishops,
priests and deacons are allowed to wear stoles. The stole is usually
worn at all eucharistic services,
weddings and funerals, but never worn at Morning
Prayer services. The stole is said to represent the yoke of
obedience to Christ.
A small cabinet (sometimes a
vessel) designed to contain the Reserved
Sacrament. The tabernacle may be found built into the altar,
sitting on the altar, on the
retable, or it may be built into another
part of the sanctuary. In very
Low Churches the tabernacle will not
be found anywhere.
A fundamental symbol of the
Christian faith and a critically important, basic, core doctrine
in Christianity. The Trinity refers to the oneness and essential
unity of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The section of a cross-shaped
(cruciform) church at right angles to the nave.
It is also the name for the aisle in front
of the first pew, that separates the
nave from the chancel.
The time from December 25th to
January 6th, that is from Christmas day
to Epiphany. The time from the first
Sunday in Advent until Christmas Eve is,
properly, Advent; the time from December 25th to January 6th is
the Christmas season or the "Twelve Days of Christmas."
From Latin, unguere, meaning "to
anoint." Unction is the process of anointing someone with
consecrated oil for religious
purposes. Episcopalians use the word to refer to anointing the
sick for the purpose of making them well (see James 5:14).
From Latin vela: a sail or
curtain. In the Church, the veil refers to
the solid cloth that covers the chalice
and paten at the Eucharist, or the
loose-woven netting that is draped over crosses (and sometimes
pictures) during Lent and
From the Latin word vestis,
meaning "garment." Vestments are clothing worn by
clergy or people leading a worship
service. A monk or nun's clothing is usually named a "habit,"
and the clothing worn by choir members is usually called a
"robe." The clothing worn by some pastors of
Protestant denominations and by
college professors is usually called a "gown."
Vestments started out as everyday
clothing. In the Roman times, the clergyman wore normal street
clothes -- a tunic, and perhaps a toga over it. Between the
sixth and ninth century, secular fashion began to reflect the
occupation of a person. It was possible to tell what one did by
what he or she wore. The Church reflected
this change by not changing the style of their garments.
Vestments, then, came to us as a result of the clergy being "out
of style" when it came to fashion.
From the Latin word vestire,
meaning to clothe, or to put on. Originally the word referred to
the room where the priest would vest. In
the early days the local lay leaders would
gather with the priest as he vested to discuss the affairs of
the parish. Later, the word came to refer to the leaders,
instead of the room.
The vestry is the governing board
of a local Episcopal parish consisting of
the rector, the wardens, and
lay members. In many
parishes, the rectors, wardens and the treasurer form an
executive committee, and will often meet separately from the
whole vestry between vestry meetings.
Unlike some denominations, the
Episcopal Church uses a representative form of government,
instead of a pure democracy. The vestry is the group elected by
the individual members to make the basic decisions about the
church budget, and manage the temporal affairs of the parish.
From the Latin word vicarius,
meaning "a substitute." An English term referring to a
priest in charge of a mission. Technically, the
bishop is the rector of all diocesan
missions, and vicars are appointed to their mission by the local
diocesan bishop to represent him or her. The term "Vicar" is
still the terminology used today to describe an English priest
in who is charge of a congregation.
part of the Lord's Supper signifying to
us the Body of Christ, and is often an unleavened, and very thin
cracker-like substance. After the wafer is consecrated, it is usually called the
Sometimes the wafer is imprinted with a cross, sometimes it is
smooth. Wafers that will serve as priest's hosts are larger than
the people's hosts, and can range from one inch to several
inches in diameter. The people's host is usually about a half
inch in size.
One of two vestry members chosen to serve his or her
parish in a special capacity. Wardens (both junior and
senior) can either be elected or appointed, depending on local
parish or diocesan canons. Junior wardens
are often elected by the parish at the annual congregational
meeting, and are thus referred to as "the people's warden." The
tasks for a junior warden vary from parish to parish, but the
majority of Junior Wardens find themselves placed in charge of
the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
The other of two vestry members chosen to serve his or her
parish in a special capacity. Although the duties vary
widely due to local canons, in most cases
the Senior Warden is viewed as the "top"
person in a parish. In many parishes the Senior Warden is chosen
by the rector, and serves as a liaison
between the rector and the parish. Because of this function, the
Senior Warden is sometimes referred to as "the rector's warden."
The beverage portion of the
Lord's Supper. As Scripture reminds us,
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and he gave it to them,
saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new
testament which is shed for many, for the remission of sins."
(Matthew 26:27-28) In the Episcopal Church, wine is used at
communion (instead of grape juice) and
is often a port wine.
The old name for
Pentecost Sunday, the day described in
Acts 2. As of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer,
the day became known as Pentecost. The term "Whitsun" is a
corruption of the German "Pfingsten," which means "pentecost" or
"fiftieth," which is how many days Pentecost occurs after
Easter. (source: The Prayer Book Reason
Why - Nelson Boss, Morehouse-Gorham, 1942)
This collection is by no means
intended to be exhaustive, and is a work in progress. The
majority of the inspiration for this work (especially the
etymology) came from an out-of-print book by Howard Harper,
entitled the Episcopalian�s Dictionary (Seabury Press,
you have a word you�d like added to this list, or if you�d like
to take issue with any of my definitions, please communicate