christianity

  • apostle: one of the twelve disciples chosen by christ to go out and teach the gospel to the world

  • ascension: holy day that marks the bodily passing of Christ from earth to heaven on the 40th day after easter.

  • baptism: sacrament or action that involves the sprinkling/full immersion of a person in water to signify washing away sin and entering church

  • christmas: festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus, marked by special church services, gifts, and greetings

  • confirmation: a sacrament or rite in churches that is a component of the initiation process into the christian faith.

  • filioque clause [filly O quay]. Latin word, meaning “and the son” inserted into the Nicene Creed by the Western, or Roman, Church.​

  • gospels. Story of Jesus Christ’s life and teachings told in the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament.​

  • Holy Communion /Eucharist [YUKE a rist]. Sacrament by which Christians commemorate the Last Supper.​

  • Holy Spirit. One of the three persons in God, believed, by Christians, to bestow spiritual gifts upon individuals.​

  • indulgences. Prayers or actions in the Roman Catholic Church that are believed to free the individual from spending a specified period of time in purgatory.

  • justification. Belief in some Churches that Christians are free from punishment for sin through their faith in Jesus Christ.​

  • Last Judgement. Day of God’s final judgement at the end of the world, when the faithful will go to heaven.​

  • Last Supper. Jesus’ last meal with his disciples before he was crucified; the origin of the sacrament of Holy Communion.​

  • Lent. Forty weekdays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday; a period of fasting and repentance for sin in many Christian Churches.​

  • liturgy of the word. Portion of the Christian worship service that emphasizes Bible readings and preaching to the church congregation.

  • martyr [MAR tur]. Someone who has suffered or died for Christ while under persecution​

  • Messiah [muh SIGH uh]. Saviour, prophesized by the Old Testament, who would lead his people to God; Christians believe this saviour to be Jesus.​

  • original sin. Belief of the human tendency to sin and evil, presented in scripture as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience of God in the garden of Eden​

  • papal infallibility. Roman Catholic belief that the pope cannot err when speaking on matters of faith and morals in his role as head of the Church.​

  • parable. Type of short story often used by Jesus to teach an important truth or lesson in morality.

  • Pentecost [PENTA cost]. Christian festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles to help them spread the Christian faith.​

  • Protestant Reformation. Religious movement in Europe during the sixteenth century that led to the establishment of the Protestant Churches.