Foundations of Worship Vocab

Absolution

A text declaring that those who have confessed their sin are forgiven.

Acclamation

A brief, joyful liturgical response, such as “Amen” or “Blessed be God!”

Advent

Four-week season before Christmas in the Western church.

Ambo

The podium to which one “walks” to read and proclaim the Word.

Anamnesis

A concept in which an event is recalled not only as a past occurrence but also, and more importantly, as a present and effective reality. It is a Greek word derived from the verb “to remember.” The term also refers to a specific element in the Eucharistic Prayer

Anaphora

A name for the eucharistic prayer, from the invitation that precedes it: “Lift up your hearts.”

Antiphon

A recurring verse or phrase from a psalm that is sung in alternation with the text of the psalm

Antiphonal

A way of praying the psalms in which two choirs (groups) alternately chant or recite the verses

Apse

The vaulted, semicircular or polygonal end of the church building where, in traditional Western church architecture, the altar is located

Baptistery

A separate section of the church building or even a separate building where the baptismal font is located and where Baptisms are performed

Berakah

A Hebrew prayer form that blesses God, usually beginning with “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe.”

Breviary

The name commonly given to the book containing the Liturgy of the Hours

Canticle

A hymn or other song text found in the Bible outside of the book of Psalms

Cantor

A liturgical minister who leads the singing of the assembly at a liturgy. May also sing alone, such as singing the verses of the responsorial psalm.

Catechumen

An unbaptized person who has declared their intention to prepare for the sacraments of initiation

Chrism

Consecrated oil that is used at the baptism of infants, at Confirmation, at the ordination of priests and bishops, and at the dedication of churches and altars.

Collect

An opening prayer used in the gathering, usually based on the scriptural themes of the day.

Compline

Prayer office at the end of the day (before bed) that “completes” the day, from the Latin Completorium.

Confirmation

The sacrament that continues the initiation process begun in Baptism and marks the sealing of the Holy Spirit.

Consecration

That portion of the Institution Narrative in the Eucharistic Prayer when the priest pronounces the words of Christ at the Last Supper and the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Cyril of Alexandria

Bishop and doctor of the Western Church. He was a theologian at the Council of Ephesus who opposed the Nestorians and defended the title of Mary as Theotokos, God-bearer, a title used in the Byzantine liturgy to this day. (d. 444)

Cyril of Jerusalem

Bishop and Doctor of the Western Church. Author of the Mystagogical Catecheses, a series of lectures to the newly baptized. This work offers a description of the various rites, particularly of the baptismal rites as celebrated in his day. (d.387)

Didache

An early Christian collection of catechetical and liturgical texts, parts of which seem to date to the mid-first century of the Christian era. The title is the Greek word for teaching.

Doxology

An expression of praise, usually of the Trinity, often at the end of canticles and hymns.

Easter

The commemoration of the Resurrection of the Lord, celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox

Egeria

A visitor to Jerusalem, possibly a Spanish nun, between the years 381 and 384, while Cyril of Jerusalem was bishop. She left a detailed account of the liturgy as celebrated in Jerusalem in that era, particularly the rites of Holy Week.

Epiclesis

A Greek word derived from the verb “to call upon” or “to invoke.” Commonly used to refer to the section of the Eucharistic Prayer that asks the Holy Spirit to come upon the bread and wine and on the community.

Epiphany

January 6. Celebrates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus or the baptism of Christ. Derived from the Greek word for “manifestation” or “appearing.”

Epistle

An older word for “letter,” derived from Greek and Latin. The word most commonly refers to the New Testament letters of Paul, John, and others.

Eucharist

Euchology

A collection of prayers of blessing.

Gloria Patri

“Glory (be) to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever

Gospel acclamations

“Glory to you, O Lord” at the announcement of the reading of the Gospel; “Praise to you, O Christ” at the conclusion of the reading.

Gradual

A name used at times to refer to the psalm sung or proclaimed after the first reading at Mass.

Graduale Romanum

The liturgical book that contains the chants of the Mass, along with their musical notation. Both the ordinary and the proper of the Mass are contained in this book.

Great Entrance

The solemn transfer of the prepared bread and wine from the side table to the altar during a Byzantine Rite Eucharistic liturgy.

Holy Week

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Day.

Hymn

A well-constructed poem that conveys developed statements of objective Christian belief, to or about God, expressed in metered stanzas, and written to be sung by the Christian community.

Icon

A sacred image, painted according to traditional norms, especially associated with Eastern Christianity. Considered to be windows into heaven, rather than mere reminders of the past.

Iconastasis

The icon screen or solid wall separating the sanctuary from the body of the church in a Byzantine Church (e.g., Russian or Greek). It usually has three doorways for the clergy to pass through in the course of the liturgy: the central Holy or Royal Doors and the two side (deacon’s) doors. The icon to the right of the central doorway must be that of Christ and the icon to the left of the central doors must be that of Mary.

Immersion

The method of administering Baptism in which the candidate is totally immersed three times in a font or pool.

Infusion

The method of administering Baptism by which the minister pours water over the head of the candidate

Institution Narrative

A recollection of Jesus' words at the table in the upper room (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

Intinction

Dipping the bread/wafer into the chalice of wine/juice.

Introit

From Latin roots meaning "entrance" or "to go in." A song sung by a soloist or group while processing forward to begin to worship (a sung processional)

John Chrysostom

Patriarch of Constantinople and, along with Basil, Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzen), and Athanasius, one of the four great Greek Doctors of the Church. Many of his sermons are preserved, some of which give us an insight into the liturgical theology of his day. (347–407)

Justin

Roman martyr, born in Syria, converted to Christianity around 130. His Dialogue with Trypho and his First Apology give us the earliest description of a Eucharistic celebration. (ca. 100–ca. 165)

Kyrie eleison

Greek term meaning "Lord, have mercy."

Lauds

The name often used for Morning Prayer, from the Latin for “praise.”

Lectionary

A system of biblical readings.

Lent

The forty-day penitential season between Ash Wednesday and Easter Day, not including Sundays.

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi

Frequently translated “the law of prayer is the law of belief.” The saying expresses the close interconnection between worship and faith; i.e., that which is expressed in prayer, especially in liturgy, is what the Church believes.

Litany

Prayers, readings, etc., in which the congregation uses a repeated sentence or phrase in alternation to the leader's text (for example, "Lord, hear our prayer")

Magnificat

Mary’s song of praise, found at Luke 1:46–55, by which she responds to the greeting of Elizabeth that she is blessed among women. It is also called the Canticle of Mary.

Mandatum

Latin for “commandment,” the first word of John 13:34 in Latin, “____ novum do vobis” (“I give you a new commandment”). It is often used to refer to the rite of Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday.

Matins

An early morning prayer office before lauds

Memorial Acclamation

The statement made by the assembly during the Eucharistic Prayer, after the Institution Narrative. (i.e., “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”)

Metrical psalms

Psalms that are paraphrased and written as poetic verse, usually employing a regularly recurring pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables (meter) and drawing on standard poetic devices such as rhyme.

Missal

Book that contains all the material needed for the celebration of the Mass, both the ordinary and the propers.

Mystagogical Catechesis

The postbaptismal instruction given to the newly baptized, or neophytes, especially during Easter Time. The name is first found in the writings of Cyril of Jerusalem.

Narthex

The space inside the entrance of a church where people may gather before or after liturgy. It can be a place of welcome, a transitional space from the outside world into the worship space of the church, and vice versa.

Nave

The main section of a church building where the assembly gathers for worship. It is the area in the church building for the faithful containing the pews, distinct from the sanctuary.

Neophyte

A newly baptized Christian

Nunc Dimittis

Simeon’s words upon seeing the child Jesus at his presentation in the Temple of Jerusalem, found at Luke 2:29–32. It is also called the Canticle of Simeon

Orans Position

A posture of prayer in which the arms are uplifted toward heaven, stretched out slightly forward, with palms upward. Many old icons depict the saints in prayer with arms in this position.

Ordinary

The portions of the Mass that do not change.

Ordinary Time

Season after Pentecost; the longest season of the Christian calendar.

Pascha

The Greek word which translates the Hebrew word for Passover. It is also used for Christ’s own passing over from death to life (John 13:1), that is, the Resurrection, or Easter.

Pentecost

From the Greek word for "fiftieth," The fiftieth and final day of Easter Time. Commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples as narrated in Acts 2:1–12.

Polyphony

Term that refers to two or more singers (or groups of singers) singing individual parts at the same time.

Propers

Texts that change in an order of service according to the day or season.

Rites

Refers to any specific liturgical ceremony or progression of worship elements; also refers to a "family" of ritual practices particular to a geographical territory or liturgical tradition

Rood Screen

A screen or wall that separated the choir section of a church from the nave in some medieval-style churches.

Rubric

A direction or explanatory instruction printed between prayers or other spoken texts of a liturgical rite. Word is derived from the Latin word for red because they are normally printed in red in the liturgical books.

Sacramentary

A book containing prayers used by a priest or bishop, typically for the celebration of the Mass. Some ancient ones date to the sixth and seventh centuries and contain prayers used at Mass and other rites.

Sanctoral cycle

The cycle commemorating the deaths of saints, heroes, and martyrs

Sanctus

Acclamation of praise within the Eucharistic prayer: "Holy, holy, holy!"

Sursum corda

Latin for "Lift up your hearts"

Temporal cycle

A term sometimes used to refer to the portion of the liturgical calendar related to the liturgical times (Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time).

Thurible

A vessel used for burning incense during worship.

Triduum

The three most holy days of the Christian year; extends from sunset on Maundy Thursday to sunset on Easter Day

Trisagion

An ancient hymn to God’s holiness, regularly sung in various forms in the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Churches. The word is Greek for “thrice holy,” reflecting the text: “Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.”

Vespers

The late afternoon prayer office. Usually prayed at sundown.