Appendix:Glossary of Christianity

This is a glossary of Christianity.

A

 * abbot : The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.


 * absolution : (Roman Catholic Church) The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.


 * Advent : The period leading up to Christmas.


 * afterlife : Life after death.


 * Amish : A strict Anabaptist sect living mainly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.


 * Anabaptist : A member of a radical wing of Christians during the Protestant Reformation.


 * angel : A divine and supernatural messenger from a deity, or other divine entity.


 * Anglicanism : The faiths, practices and doctrines of the Anglican Church, known variously as the Church of England or Episcopal Church.


 * archbishop : In the Roman Catholic Church and other churches, a senior bishop who is in charge of an archdiocese, and presides over a group of dioceses called a province.


 * archdiocese : In Christian religions, a region administered by an archbishop.


 * archiepiscopal : Of or relating to the affairs of an archbishop in various Christian churches.


 * Ascension : The commemoration of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.


 * Ash Wednesday : In the Western Churches, the first day of Lent.


 * Augustinian : A follower of St Augustine, of his doctrines.

B

 * baptize : To sprinkle or pour water over, or to immerse in water, as a spiritual cleansing process in the rite of Christian baptism.


 * baptism : The Christian sacrament in which one is anointed with or submerged in water and sometimes given a name.


 * Bible : The holy book of Christianity.


 * bishop : A high ranking official in the Catholic church who governs a diocese, or a similar official in other denominations and religions.

C

 * Calvinism : The Christian doctrines taught primarily by John Calvin. Emphasis is placed on the sovereignty of God, and one distinctive of the system is its doctrine of predestination, which teaches that only a special few are predetermined for salvation by God.


 * cathedral : In the Roman Catholic Church and other churches, a building which is the principal church of a diocese.


 * Catholicism : The faiths, practices and doctrines of a Catholic Church, but especially of the Roman Catholic Church.


 * ceremony : A ritual with religious significance.


 * chalice : In the Roman Catholic Church and other churches, a cup used to hold the wine at the Eucharist.


 * chapel : A small church, or a smaller place of worship within a larger church.


 * chaplain : A person who is trained to perform religious ceremonies at a chapel.


 * christen : To baptize.


 * Christendom : The Christian world.


 * Christmas : The Christian holiday which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.


 * Christian : A believer in Christianity. One following the teachings of Jesus Christ.


 * Christianity : A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.


 * church : A Christian house of worship; a building where religious services take place.


 * church : A Christian religious organization, local or general.


 * church service : A formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing Sabbatarianism.


 * churchwarden : In the Anglican community, one of usually two elected officials responsible for the upkeep of a church.


 * clergy : A body of ordained religious leaders; see 'clergyman' below.


 * clergyman : An ordained religious leader who is trained to officiate at religious ceremonies and services, as well as teaching doctrine and practices.


 * confession : (Roman Catholicism) The disclosure of one's sins to a priest for absolution. Now termed the sacrament of reconciliation.


 * confessor : One who confesses to having done something wrong.


 * Crusade : Referring to one or more of a series of religious campaigns by Christian forces from the 11th to the 13th century, mostly in attempt to capture the Holy Land from the Muslims who occupied it.


 * crusader : Person engaged in a crusade.

D

 * denomination : A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a sect; as, a denomination of Christians.


 * devil: A creature of hell.


 * devil: The chief devil; Satan.


 * diocese : In Christian religions, a region administered by a bishop.


 * Divine Liturgy : The Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic eucharistic service.


 * Dominican : A member of the religious order founded by St. Dominic.

E

 * Easter : The Christian holiday which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


 * ecclesiastical : Of or pertaining to the church; as, ecclesiastical architecture.


 * ecumenical : Pertaining to the Christian Church in a worldwide sense or of the desire to unite the denominations of the Christian Church.


 * Epiphany : The Christian commemoration of the arrival of the Magi to the infant Jesus Christ, twelve days after Christmas.


 * episcopal : Of or relating to the affairs of a bishop in various Christian churches.


 * Eucharist : The ceremony of Holy Communion. This meaning is synonymous with service of the Mass or Eastern Divine Liturgy.

F

 * font : A large receptacle in a church used for baptisms.


 * Franciscan : A monk or nun belonging to the religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi.


 * friar : A member of certain Christian orders such as the Augustinians, Carmelites (white friars), Franciscans (grey friars) or the Dominicans (black friars).

G

 * godchild : A child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent.


 * godparent : The person who stood for a child during a naming ceremony or baptism.


 * Good Friday : The Christian commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus, two days before Easter.


 * gospel : The first section of the Christian New Testament scripture, comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, concerned with the life, death, and teachings of Jesus.

H

 * heaven : The paradise of the afterlife in certain religions, considered to be the home of the god or gods of those religions.


 * hell : The place where devils live and where sinners are punished after death.


 * Holy Communion : A Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper of Christ.


 * Hutterite : A member of a communal branch of Anabaptists who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century.

J

 * Jesus Christ : A name for Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish man whom Christians believe to be the Messiah, or Christ.

L

 * lectern : A stand in a church building, on which a Bible is placed and read from.


 * Lent : The period leading up to Easter; considered a time of penitence.


 * Lord's Supper : In Christianity, the Eucharist.


 * Lutheranism : The system of beliefs and doctrines first developed by Martin Luther and his immediate followers.

M

 * Mass : The principal liturgical service of the Church, including a scripture service and a eucharistic service, which includes the consecration and oblation (offering) of the host and wine. One of the seven sacraments.


 * Maundy Thursday : The Christian commemoration of the Last Supper, three days before Easter.


 * Methodism : The Methodist Christian movement founded by John Wesley in 18th-century England.


 * Mennonite : A group of denominations in the anabaptist movement in the Christian church.


 * minister : A person who is trained to perform religious ceremonies at a Protestant church.


 * monastery : Place of residence for members of a religious community (especially monks).


 * monk : A male member of a monastic order who has devoted his life for religious service.


 * monotheism : The belief in a single god, deity, spirit, etc.; especially within an organized religion, faith, or creed.


 * Mormonism : Religious, ideological, and cultural aspects of the various denominations of the "Latter Day Saint" movement.

N

 * nun : A member of a Christian religious community of women who live by certain vows and usually wear a habit.

O

 * Orthodoxy : The beliefs and practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Serbian Orthodox Church, or of Orthodox Judaism.

P

 * paradise : A very pleasant place. The place where sanctified souls are believed to live after death, i.e. Heaven.


 * paten : In the Roman Catholic Church and other churches, a dish used to hold the bread (host) at the Eucharist.


 * penitent : One undergoing penance after confessing one's sins; one under the direction of a confessor, i.e. a priest. Showing or expressing regret for one's sin.


 * Pentecost : The Christian holiday which marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.


 * pew : A long bench used in a church to seat the congregation. Most of the time, multiple pews are used and lined up in rows.


 * pietism : A movement in the Lutheran church in the 17th and 18th centuries.


 * pope : The title of the bishop of Rome; the head of the Roman Catholic church. Also the title of the bishop of Alexandria, the head of the Coptic church.


 * pray : To petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being.


 * prayer : The specific words or methods used for praying.


 * preach : To give a sermon.


 * preacher : Someone who preaches the gospel; a clergyman.


 * priest : A clergyman who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.


 * Presbyterian : Relating to the Presbyterian Church.


 * Protestantism : The Protestant branch of the Christian religion.


 * Puritan : A member of a particular Protestant religious sect.


 * Puritanism : The beliefs and practices of the Puritans.

Q

 * Quakerism : An alternate name for the belief system of the members of the Religious Society of Friends, an ostensibly Christian religious denomination that began in England in the 17th century.

R

 * rector : A person who is trained to perform religious ceremonies at an Anglican parish church.


 * rite : A religious custom.


 * ritual : A rite; a repeated set of actions.

S

 * sacrament : A sacred act or ceremony in Christianity. In Roman Catholic theology, a sacrament is defined as "an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace."


 * Satan : The Devil.


 * see : In Christian religions, the seat or office of a bishop. Also a synonym for diocese.


 * sermon : A religious discourse; a written or spoken address on a religious or moral matter.