Glossary

Glossary of religious and church terminology -

Chancel: In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse.

Chapel: A Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. It can also mean smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar. These are often called chapels.

Childermas: December 28th is the day to recognize the slaughter of all the young male children of Bethlehem at Herod's command in an attempt to destroy Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18).

Epistle Side / Gospel Side: In the liturgical traditions of Western Christianity, the Epistle side is the term used to designate the side of a church on which the Epistle is read during a church service. It is the right-hand side of the chancel as viewed by the congregation from the nave. - The Gospel side is the other side of the chancel, where the Gospel is read. Facing the altar from the nave, it is the left-hand side. In some places the Gospel side will be cited as the Evangelist side.

Excommunication: This is an institutional act of religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it, in particular those of being in communion with other members of the congregation, and of receiving the sacraments.

Lauds: This is the Office of daybreak and hence its symbolism is of Christ's resurrection. According to Fernand Cabrol, "Lauds remains the true morning prayer, which hails in the rising sun, the image of Christ triumphant—consecrates to Him the opening day." The Office of Lauds reminds the Christian that the first act of the day should be praise, and that one's thoughts should be of God before facing the cares of the day.

Martinmas: This is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours and is celebrated in the liturgical year on 11 November. In the Middle Ages and early modern period, it was an important festival in many parts of Europe. In these regions, it marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter and the "winter reveling season". St. Martin's Day (wikipedia link)

Matins: The word matins is derived from the Latin adjective matutinus, meaning 'of or belonging to the morning'. It was at first applied to the psalms recited at dawn, but later became attached to the prayer originally offered, according to the sixth-century Rule of Saint Benedict, it could be calculated to be the eighth hour of the night (the hour that began at about 2 a.m.).

Michaelmas: This is a Christian festival observed in many Western liturgical calendars on 29 September and on 8 November in the Eastern Christian traditions to honor the Archangel Michael. The name Michaelmas comes from a shortening of "Michael's Mass", in the same style as Christmas (Christ's Mass) and Candlemas (Candle Mass, the Mass where traditionally the candles to be used throughout the year would be blessed).

Narthex: The narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or vestibule, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper.

Nave: The nave is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type building, the strict definition of the term "nave" is restricted to the central aisle.

Padishah: From the Persian 'Master King'; from Persian: pād [or Old Persian: *pati], 'master', and shāh, 'king')

Presence Lamp: Some Christian churches have at least one lamp continually burning before the tabernacle, not only as an ornament of the altar, but for the purpose of worship; to indicate and honor the presence of Jesus Christ.

Prie-dieu: A type of prayer desk intended for private devotional use, but which may also be found in churches, The design of this prayer stand varied in time, mostly seen as a small, ornamental wooden desk furnished with a thin, sloping shelf for books or hands, and a kneeler for resting in a kneeling position.

Sacristy: This is a room in Christian churches for the keeping of vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. This is also where the priest and attendants vest and prepare before the service. They will return there at the end of the service to remove their vestments and put away any of the vessels used during the service.

Sanctuary: The area around the altar is called the sanctuary; it is also considered holy because of the belief in the physical presence of God in the Eucharist, both during the Mass and in the church tabernacle at other times. It's original meaning is a sacred place and a haven, a place of safety.

Tabernacle: a fixed, locked box in which the Eucharist (consecrated communion hosts) is stored. A container for the same purpose, which is set directly into a wall, is called an aumbry.

Vespers: A liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic (both Latin and Eastern rites). The word for this fixed prayer time comes from the Latin vesper, meaning "evening".