ANGELS: Pure spirits created by God, to serve and praise Him. ALTAR: A term used to designate the Sanctuary, the area behind the Icon screen. ALTAR TABLE: The table on which the Holy Liturgy is celebrated. On it are found the Gospel Book, Cross, Antimens (Antimension), and the Artoforion. The Altar Table contains relics of the Saints which are placed within it at the time of the Church’s Consecration.
ALTAR CLOTH: A bright and usually elaborate cloth placed over the Altar Table. It is symbolic of the Glory of God since the Altar represents the Throne of God.
ANOINTING: The act of tracing a mark in the form of cross, with Holy Oil on a person or a thing in a Church ceremony.
ANTIMENSION: The word means “in place of a table”. The Antimension is a piece of cloth on which Christ’s Burial is depicted. The Divine Liturgy is always celebrated on the Antimension. It is signed by the ruling Metropolitan and represents an extension of His Altar table. The is the sign of the authority given to the priest, from his hierarch, to serve the Divine Liturgy in the parish.
ARTOFORION: A receptacle on the Altar Table, in which the Holy Sacraments are placed before conveyance to the sick.
BENEDICTION: The blessing offered by the Bishop or Priest at certain times in the services of the Church.
CELEBRANT: Person who celebrates the Holy Services (bishop or priest).
CENSER: The vessel in which incense is burned.
HOLY CHRISM: Holy Oil which contains many fragrant ingredients. It is mixed and blessed by our Patriarch, together with a group of bishops, on Holy Thursday and distributed to all churches in his care.
ILITION: A cloth similar to the Antimension, but without icons, inside of which the Aantimesion is folded.
EPISTLE: A book containing the Pastoral Epistles of Holy Apostle Paul and the other Universal Letters from the New Testament. Apropriated passages from it are usually read before the Gospel reading.
DEPOSITION: The Act of placing the Holy Relics into the Holy Altar Table during the Consecration of the Church.
EVANGELISTS: “The bringers of good tidings”. The four writers of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
EUCHARIST: Another name for the Divine Liturgy or for the Holy Communion itself. The Sacrament at which bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The word Eucharist means “thanksgiving”.
GOSPEL: The “Good News”, a record of the life and teachings of Jesus. The Book of the Gospels is placed on the Holy Altar Table and is usually ornate, with a gold or silver cover.
ICONS: Holy images representing Christ, the Theotokos, the Saints or events from the life of Christ. Icons are found not only in the Church, but believers place them in their homes. An Orthodox has an attitude of reverence and respect for all icons.
ICONSTASION: Icon screen, the wall which separates the Sanctuary from the Nave of the Church building. On it are found the Icons of the Saviour, the Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, and the Patron Saint of the Church.
KATASARKION: A white linen cloth which covers the Altar Table. It is symbolic of the shroud in which our Lord’s body was wrapped for burial.
MARTYR: A person who suffered and died for the Christian faith.
MASTIC: A yellowish resin used in making incense. The mastic is mixed with wax, myrrh, aloe, incense and labdanum. This mixture is used to seal the Holy Relics in the Altar Table.
MATINS: The morning service which is held prior to the Divine Liturgy. It begins with the reading of the Six Psalms and ends with the Great Doxology.
MYRRH: Is another name for the Holy Chrism.
ORTHROS: The morning service, same as Matins.
PATEN: A round, flat plate of gold or silver on which parts of the Prosforo (bread) which are to be consecrated are placed for the celebration of Liturgy.
PATRON SAINT: A Saint chosen by a Church, a nation, or any religious organization as a special guardian and protector.
PEOPLE: Laypersons who sing the responses at the Divine Liturgy and other services.
PHYLACTON: A blessed reminder from the Consecration Service for all faithful).
RELICS: The bodies of Saints, or particles of their bodies, which the Church venerates
SAVANON: A white linen garment worn by the celebrant Bishop at a Consecration. The Savanon is put on prior to the washing of the Altar Table. Following the Consecration, the Savanon is cut into small pieces and given to the people as a “Phylacton” (a blessed reminder from the Consecration Service for all faithful).
VENERATION: The honor and reverence that Orthodox pay to the Saints, the Virgin Mary and to icons.
VESPERS: The evening service begins with the reading of Psalm 103. On special feast days, a procession, Lity, is held during the Vespers Service.
VIGIL LIGHT: A light burning in a glass holder. Usually found before Icons or in front of the Artoforion.