Acoemetae
(Gk., akoimētai, ‘sleepless ones’).Orthodox ascetics in general, and in particular monks following the rule of Basil. The term may be applied more generally to Eastern Christian ascetics.
Adamantius
The name of the orthodox protagonist in the 4th-cent. dialogue De recta in Deum fidei, and commonly supposed to be its author. It is a disputation first with two disciples of Marcion and then with ...
Apodeipnon
(ἀπόδειπνον, lit. “after supper”), compline, the liturgical hour that completes the monastic day with prayer for a tranquil night free from sin and evil dreams. First seen in the Longer ...
Apollinarius
The heresy which denied the completeness of Christ's humanity. Apollinarius (or Apollinaris) (c.310–c.390), who was an upholder of orthodoxy against the Arians, became Bp. of Laodicea c.360. His ...
Arianism
In Christian theology, the main heresy denying the divinity of Christ, originating with the Alexandrian priest Arius (c. 250–c. 336). Arianism maintained that the son of God was created by the Father ...
Armenian literature
Armenian literature begins with the invention of an individual script by Mesrop Mas̆tocʼ (c.360–439). Although familiar with Greek and Syriac, Armenian church leaders needed a written form of ...
Basil Elachistos
(“the least”), archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (mid-10th C.); according to R. Cantarella (BZ 25 [1925] 293), he was born in Seleukeia.Basil wrote a commentary on the speeches of ...
Basil, Liturgy of St
This liturgy exists in two forms, of which the earlier and shorter is the ordinary liturgy of the Coptic Church. This form has served as a model for modern Eucharistic Prayers, notably the Third ...
Basil of Ancyra
(4th cent.), Arian bishop. Elected to succeed Marcellus in the see of Ancyra in 336, he was deposed at the Council of Sardica in 343, but reinstated by Constantius c.348. He took part in various ...
Basil, Rule of St
The monastic Rule put forward by St Basil the Great, which is the basis of the usual Rule followed by religious in the E. Church. The most widespread form of the Rule consists of various Basilian ...
Caesarea
(Καισάρεια, mod. Kayseri), metropolis of Cappadocia. When its enthusiastic Christians destroyed pagan temples, Emp. Julian deprived Caesarea of municipal status, but it soon recovered to flourish ...
communion
The partaking of the consecrated elements at the Christian eucharist. Along with Lord's Supper it is also (as in the Book of Common Prayer) another name for the whole service of the eucharist.[...]
Compline
The seventh and last of the daytime canonical hours of prayer; the office, originally directed to be said immediately before retiring for the night, appointed for this hour.
Didymus the Blind
(c.313–98), Alexandrian theologian. He was a staunch Nicene in trinitarian theology, but he was condemned as an Origenist at the Council of Constantinople in 553, and much of his vast literary output ...
Diodoros
(Διόδωρος), bishop of Tarsos (from 378) and theologian; born Antioch, died before 394.Educated at Athens, Diodoros became a monk and then hegoumenos of a monastery outside of Antioch. He ...
dispensation
A licence granted by ecclesiastical authority to do some act otherwise canonically illegal or to remit the penalty for breaking such a rule.
Divine Office
The Canonical Hours of the RC Church (Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline: these are daily said by all the clergy and in cath. and monastic churches are daily said or ...
dove
The dove is used as a Christian symbol for peace and reconciliation, for the Holy Spirit, for the Church, and for the individual soul regenerated by Baptism. The ‘Eucharistic Dove’ is a hollow ...
Eunomius
(d. 394), Arian Bp. of Cyzicus. A pupil of Aetius, he became Bp. of Cyzicus, probably in 360, but he resigned a few months later. He died in exile at Dakora.His main work, an Ἀπολογητικóς (known as ...
