Religious glossary

Also called: hegumen, archimandrite

The head of a monastery.

Clergy & community

Also called: call to prayer

The call to prayer recited by the muezzin five times a day.

Services & rites

Also called: Advent wreath

The four weeks of preparation for Christmas in the Western tradition, with a candle lit on the Advent wreath each Sunday.

Feasts & fasts

A hymn of praise and supplication to Christ, the Mother of God or a saint, said standing.

Services & rites

Also called: All Souls’ Day

On 1–2 November Catholics and Protestants light candles on the graves of loved ones.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: vigil

The long night service on the eve of great feasts and patronal days, combining Vespers and Matins.

Services & rites

Also called: side altar

The stone or wooden table on which the Eucharist is celebrated, visible to all; Catholic churches often have side altars too.

Sacred objects

Also called: vagaraguyr

In Armenian churches the raised sanctuary is closed not by an iconostasis but by a curtain drawn at certain moments.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: blessed bread

The pieces of blessed bread given to the faithful at the end of the Liturgy; it is not Communion.

Sacred objects

A cloth consecrated by the bishop, showing the burial of Christ; the Liturgy cannot be celebrated without it.

Sacred objects

Also called: side apses

The semicircular or polygonal end of the church, usually to the east, where the altar stands.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: deanery, protopresbyter

The priest who coordinates the parishes of an area (deanery) on behalf of the bishop.

Clergy & community

The first day of Lent for Catholics, when ashes are placed on the faithful as a sign of repentance.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: local church, brothers and sisters

The local community of Neo-Protestant believers, who call each other "brother" and "sister".

Clergy & community

Also called: Botezul

The rite of entry into the Church, by immersion in water or pouring, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Services & rites

Also called: font

The large vessel in which children are baptised; in Catholic and Protestant churches often a stone basin near the entrance.

Sacred objects

Also called: baptismal pool

The pool in which baptism by full immersion takes place, often behind the pulpit in Neo-Protestant churches.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: Bat Mitzvah

The coming of age at which a Jewish boy (13) or girl (12) becomes responsible for the commandments.

Services & rites

Also called: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha

The two great feasts of Islam: at the end of the fast and the Feast of Sacrifice.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: baptism by immersion

Baptism given to those who profess faith themselves, rather than infants, by full immersion.

Services & rites

Also called: belfry

The tower or structure in which the bells hang; it can be attached to the church or stand separately.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: tevah, almemar

The raised platform with a reading desk from which the Torah is read.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: hierarch

The spiritual leader of a diocese; ordains priests and consecrates churches.

Clergy & community

Also called: Brâncoveanu style

The late-17th-century architectural style of Wallachia, with columned porches and rich stone carving.

Art & iconography

Also called: psaltic music, eight tones

The traditional monophonic chant of the Orthodox Church, organised in eight modes ("tones").

Services & rites

Also called: lumânărar

The faithful light candles on entering the church: separately for the living and for the departed.

Sacred objects

Also called: chanter, psaltis

The person who sings the responses and hymns from the choir stall.

Clergy & community

Also called: College of Cardinals

A senior Catholic prelate appointed by the pope; cardinals under 80 elect the new pope in conclave.

Clergy & community

Also called: riassa

The long, usually black robe worn by Orthodox priests and monastics.

Vestments

Also called: reverendă

The long buttoned robe of Catholic clergy: black for priests, purple for bishops, red for cardinals, white for the pope.

Vestments

Also called: Catholicos of All Armenians

The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, residing at Etchmiadzin in Armenia.

Clergy & community

Also called: monastic cell

The room where a monk or nun lives; also a small hermitage.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: thurible

The metal vessel on chains in which incense burns; the priest censes the icons and the faithful.

Sacred objects

Also called: caliciu

The consecrated cup, usually of precious metal, holding the wine for the Eucharist.

Sacred objects

Also called: choir, sanctuary

The part of the church, usually raised and facing east, where the altar stands and the clergy officiate.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: ornat

The sleeveless outer vestment worn by the Catholic priest at Mass; its colour follows the liturgical season.

Vestments

The wooden stalls in the church; the cantors sing from the stalls in front of the iconostasis.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: holy chrism

The sacrament given right after Baptism, by anointing with holy chrism; it seals the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Services & rites

Also called: Nativity

The feast of the Nativity of Christ on 25 December (or 7 January for those who keep the Old Style).

Feasts & fasts

Also called: panelled ceiling

A wooden ceiling divided into painted panels with floral and folk motifs, typical of Reformed and Unitarian churches in Transylvania.

Art & iconography

Also called: diptych

The list of names of the living and the departed given to the priest to be remembered at the Liturgy.

Sacred objects

Also called: repentance, penance

The sacrament in which the believer confesses sins before a priest and receives forgiveness.

Services & rites

Also called: confession box

The wooden booth in which a Catholic priest hears confession through a grille.

Sacred objects

Also called: Mir (catolic), Confirmația

The rite in which young people personally affirm the faith into which they were baptised.

Services & rites

Also called: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

The Catholic feast of the Eucharist, with a street procession carrying the host in a monstrance.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: holy matrimony

The sacrament of marriage; crowns are placed on the couple, who walk three times around the table.

Services & rites

Also called: archdeacon, protodeacon

The first degree of ordained ministry; the deacon assists the priest, leads the petitions and reads the Gospel.

Clergy & community

Also called: side doors

The two side doors of the iconostasis, used by deacons and servers; archangels are usually painted on them.

Architecture & spaces

The inscription above the entrance stating who built the church, when, and under which ruler or bishop.

Art & iconography

Also called: paten

The consecrated plate on which the bread for the Eucharist is placed.

Sacred objects

Also called: Liturgy

The main service of the Church, in which the Eucharist is celebrated; held on Sundays and feast days, usually in the morning.

Services & rites

Also called: Resurrection

The feast of the Resurrection of Christ, the greatest of the Christian year; Orthodox and Catholic dates sometimes differ.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: interchurch dialogue

The effort towards rapprochement and dialogue among Christian Churches; the name "Ecumenica" comes from it.

Other

Also called: Russian cross

A cross with three horizontal bars: a short top one, a long one and a slanted lower one.

Art & iconography

Also called: church elder

An elected member of the leadership of a Protestant congregation, alongside the pastor.

Clergy & community

Also called: diocese

The territory led by a bishop, made up of deaneries and parishes; Catholics call it a diocese.

Clergy & community

Also called: Ajunul, Iordanul

In the days before Epiphany, the priest visits homes and blesses them with holy water.

Services & rites

Also called: shroud

The cloth depicting the burial of Christ, brought out on Good Friday and carried in procession.

Sacred objects

Also called: priestly stole

The long band worn by the priest around the neck and hanging down in front; the sign of priestly grace.

Vestments

Also called: Trebnik

The priest’s book with the services of the sacraments and blessings.

Books & texts

Also called: fish allowed

A fasting day on which fish (or wine and oil) is exceptionally allowed.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: peasant fortress

A church surrounded by defensive walls, towers and storerooms, built by Saxon and Székely communities to withstand sieges.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: foundation

The person who built or funded a church or monastery; the church is called their foundation.

Clergy & community

Also called: mural painting

Painting done on wet plaster; the colours bond with the wall and last for centuries.

Art & iconography

Also called: jumu’a

The congregational midday prayer on Friday at the mosque, with a sermon.

Services & rites

Also called: Reformed psalter

The Psalms set in verse and to melodies in 16th-century Geneva, sung by the congregation in Reformed churches.

Books & texts

Also called: sponsor

The person who holds the child at Baptism and promises to guide them in faith; also the main witness at a wedding.

Clergy & community

Also called: Lent

The period of fasting and prayer (seven weeks for the Orthodox) before Easter.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: Romanian Church United with Rome

A Byzantine-rite Church with Orthodox-like services that recognises the authority of the pope; in Transylvania since 1700.

Other

Also called: monastery guest house

The guest house of a monastery, where pilgrims and visitors are hosted.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: pilgrim (hajji)

The pilgrimage to Mecca every Muslim should make once in a lifetime if able.

Services & rites

Also called: Festival of Lights, hanukkiah

An eight-day winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple; one more candle is lit each night.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: cantor

The singer who leads prayers in the synagogue using traditional melodies.

Clergy & community

Also called: List of Historic Monuments

A building protected by law for its historic or artistic value; it has a code in the national List of Historic Monuments.

Other

Also called: Eucharist

Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine, after fasting and confession.

Services & rites

Also called: sacraments

The seven sacred acts through which the faithful receive God’s grace: Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Confession, Ordination, Marriage and Unction.

Services & rites

Also called: altar table

The table in the middle of the sanctuary on which the Eucharist is celebrated; the Gospel, cross, tabernacle and antimension rest on it.

Sacred objects

Also called: anointing of the sick

The sacrament of prayer for healing, ideally celebrated by seven priests, with anointing with blessed oil.

Services & rites

Also called: agheasmă

Water blessed by a priest; the Great Blessing is done at Epiphany, the Lesser at any time.

Sacred objects

Also called: holy water

The basin at the entrance of a Catholic church where the faithful dip their fingers and cross themselves.

Sacred objects

Also called: Book of Hours

The book containing the daily services and common prayers.

Books & texts

Also called: wafer

The thin, round unleavened bread used for the Eucharist in the Latin rite.

Sacred objects

Also called: lesser blessing of water

A short service blessing water, used to bless a home, a new building or a new beginning.

Services & rites

Also called: meeting house, church

The building where a Neo-Protestant congregation meets; simple inside, without icons, with a pulpit, choir and often a baptistery.

Architecture & spaces

A sacred image painted according to ancient rules on wood, glass or a wall; the faithful venerate it rather than worship it.

Art & iconography

Also called: templon

The wall of icons that separates the sanctuary from the nave; it has three doors and icons arranged in a fixed order.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: hodja

The person who leads communal prayer in the mosque and gives the sermon.

Clergy & community

Also called: frankincense

Aromatic resin burned in the censer; its smoke symbolises prayer rising to God.

Sacred objects

Also called: skufia

The black cylindrical hat of Orthodox clergy; monks wear it with a black veil.

Vestments

Also called: Armenian cross-stone

A carved stone slab bearing a cross surrounded by plant and geometric motifs, emblem of Armenian art.

Art & iconography

Also called: Friday sermon

The sermon given by the imam from the minbar at Friday prayer and on Bayram.

Services & rites

The meeting place of Jehovah’s Witnesses; plain, without religious symbols, with a platform and chairs.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: yarmulke

The small skullcap worn by Jewish men as a sign of respect for God.

Vestments

Also called: boiled wheat

Sweetened boiled wheat decorated with a cross, brought to church for memorials of the departed.

Sacred objects

Also called: kashrut

Food permitted under Jewish dietary law.

Other

A scene usually painted on the west wall showing the end of the world: Christ judges, the righteous go to Paradise and sinners to hell.

Art & iconography

Also called: Old Believer prayer rope

The leather, ladder-shaped prayer rope of the Old Believers.

Sacred objects

Also called: Holy Communion, breaking of bread, Memorial

Among Protestants, communion with bread and wine in memory of the Last Supper.

Services & rites

Also called: Communion table

The plain table before the pulpit in Protestant churches, where bread and wine are prepared for the Lord’s Supper.

Sacred objects

Also called: Holy Mass

The main service of the Roman Catholic Church, in which the Eucharist is celebrated; daily and, solemnly, on Sundays.

Services & rites

Also called: Orthros

The morning service, held in parishes before the Sunday Liturgy.

Services & rites

Also called: Jewish gravestone

A gravestone in a Jewish cemetery, inscribed in Hebrew with symbols such as blessing hands or a ewer.

Art & iconography

Also called: panikhida

The service of remembrance for the departed, with koliva, bread and wine.

Services & rites

Also called: seven-branched candelabrum

The seven-branched lampstand of the Temple in Jerusalem, one of the oldest Jewish symbols.

Sacred objects

Also called: metropolis, archbishop

The bishop who leads a metropolis — a group of dioceses in a region.

Clergy & community

The small case fixed to the doorpost of Jewish homes and synagogues, containing the "Shema" prayer.

Sacred objects

The niche in the wall of the mosque indicating the direction of Mecca (qibla).

Architecture & spaces

The tall slender tower of the mosque from which the muezzin calls to prayer five times a day.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: mimber

The pulpit of the mosque, a tall staircase with a small canopy, from which the Friday sermon is given.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: minyan

The quorum of ten adults required for public prayer in the synagogue.

Clergy & community

The headdress of a bishop (and, as an honour, of some priests), worn at solemn services.

Vestments

Also called: skete, metochion

A monastery is a community of monks or nuns; a skete is a small, often remote monastery; a metochion belongs to a larger monastery.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: monastic

A man or woman who has taken vows (obedience, poverty, chastity) and lives in a monastery.

Clergy & community

Also called: ostensorium

A gilded, sun-shaped vessel in which the consecrated host is displayed for adoration and carried in processions.

Sacred objects

Also called: cami, mescit

The Muslim place of prayer; in Dobruja it is also called a geamie.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: müezzin

The person who calls the faithful to prayer (adhan) from the minaret or the mosque.

Clergy & community

Also called: Muftiate

The religious leader of the Muslims of a country or region; the Romanian Muftiate is based in Constanța.

Clergy & community

Also called: vestibule

The room at the entrance of the church, before the nave, where candles are lit and catechumens once stood.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: aisles

The main body of the church where the congregation sits; large churches have a central nave and side aisles.

Architecture & spaces

The central part of the church where the faithful stand during services, between the narthex and the sanctuary.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: Neolog Judaism

A modernising current of 19th-century Hungarian and Transylvanian Judaism; Neolog synagogues are large, sometimes with an organ or choir.

Other

Also called: eternal light

The lamp that burns continuously before the Torah Ark.

Sacred objects

Also called: Julian calendar

The Old Style is the Julian calendar, 13 days behind the civil one; some communities keep feasts by it (Christmas on 7 January).

Feasts & fasts

Also called: pallium

The broad band with crosses worn by a bishop over the shoulders, symbol of his pastoral care.

Vestments

Also called: deacon's stole

The long band worn by the deacon over the left shoulder, raised to signal the petitions.

Vestments

Also called: organ loft

The pipe instrument used at services in Catholic and Protestant churches, often in a gallery above the entrance.

Sacred objects

Also called: Christ the Almighty

The image of Christ the Almighty painted in the main dome, blessing with the right hand and holding the Gospel in the left.

Art & iconography

A small church or chapel (in a monastery, hospital or residence); also a service of supplication to a saint.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: parish priest, parishioner

The community of believers in a village or neighbourhood, with its church and its priest.

Clergy & community

Also called: Paștele evreiesc, Pessach

The feast of the Exodus from Egypt; for eight days no leavened bread is eaten, only matzah.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: minister

The minister of a Protestant or Neo-Protestant community who preaches and leads worship; may marry.

Clergy & community

Also called: Patriarchate

The bishop who leads an autocephalous Orthodox Church; the Romanian Orthodox Church has been a Patriarchate since 1925.

Clergy & community

Also called: patron saint, dedication

The saint or feast to which a church is dedicated; on that day the community holds a great celebration.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: Whitsun, descent of the Holy Spirit

The feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, 50 days after Easter.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: chasuble

The wide, sleeveless outer vestment worn by the priest at the Liturgy.

Vestments

Also called: pilgrim

A journey of faith to a holy place: a monastery, the relics of a saint, Jerusalem, Mecca or the tomb of a tzaddik.

Services & rites

Also called: prostration mat

The small mat Old Believers place their hands on when making prostrations.

Sacred objects

Also called: Holy Father

The Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church; Greek Catholic Churches are in union with him.

Clergy & community

Also called: exonarthex

The covered space at the entrance of the church, open or closed, before the narthex — typical of Romanian architecture.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: seccade

The small rug on which a Muslim prays, so that the place of prayer is clean.

Sacred objects

Also called: Father

The cleric ordained by a bishop who celebrates the sacraments and shepherds a community; called "Father".

Clergy & community

Also called: prescură

The round leavened bread stamped with "IC XC NIKA", brought by the faithful for the Liturgy.

Sacred objects

Also called: prayer rope

A deep bow to the ground with the sign of the cross; also the knotted prayer rope used to count prayers.

Services & rites

Also called: Reformation

The 16th-century movement (Luther, Calvin) from which the Lutheran, Reformed and Unitarian Churches arose.

Other

Also called: Book of Psalms

The book of the 150 Psalms of the Old Testament, read and sung in every tradition.

Books & texts

Also called: ambo

The raised place from which the Gospel is read and the sermon preached; in Protestant churches it is the focal point.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: kıble

The direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, which Muslims face in prayer; from Romania it is to the south-east.

Other

Also called: Koran

The holy book of Islam, in Arabic, made up of 114 chapters (surahs).

Books & texts

Also called: rav, chief rabbi

The teacher and spiritual leader of a Jewish community.

Clergy & community

Also called: Ramazan

The Muslim month of fasting: no food or drink from dawn to sunset; in the evening families gather for iftar.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: Law 489/2006

A religious community officially recognised by the Romanian state; Romania has 18 under Law 489/2006.

Other

Also called: red-letter day

The sign marking great feasts in the Orthodox calendar.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: trapezărie

The dining hall of a monastery, where monks eat together in silence while listening to readings.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: holy relics

The bodies or parts of the bodies of saints, kept with honour in reliquaries.

Sacred objects

Reformed churches often have a metal rooster on top of the tower instead of a cross, recalling Peter’s denial and repentance.

Art & iconography

Also called: mătănii catolice, Sfântul Rozar

The string of beads with a cross used by Catholics to pray the Rosary.

Sacred objects

Also called: Jewish New Year

The Jewish New Year in autumn, with the sounding of the shofar and apples with honey.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: Holy Doors

The central doors of the iconostasis, through which the Gospel and the Holy Gifts are carried; the Annunciation is painted on them.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: seventh day

Seventh-day Adventists keep Saturday as a day of rest and worship, from Friday evening to Saturday evening.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: vestry

The room next to the altar where vestments and sacred vessels are kept and priests vest.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: ritual prayer

The ritual prayer Muslims perform five times a day, with fixed postures.

Services & rites

Also called: Holy Altar

The holiest part of the church, facing east behind the iconostasis, where the Liturgy is celebrated.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: wooden board

A long wooden board (or metal plate) struck rhythmically to call people to prayer, especially in monasteries.

Sacred objects

Also called: homily

The talk by the priest or pastor explaining the biblical readings; in Protestant churches it is the central part.

Services & rites

Also called: Sabbath

The Jewish day of rest, from Friday sunset to Saturday night.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: Krsna slava

The feast of the family patron saint, specific to Serbian Orthodox families; passed down from father to son.

Feasts & fasts

The raised step in front of the iconostasis, from which the priest addresses the faithful and gives Communion.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: memorial Saturdays

The Saturdays dedicated to remembering the departed, with memorial services and alms.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: glossolalia, baptism in the Spirit

For Pentecostals, prayer in unknown tongues is the sign of baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Services & rites

Also called: confessor

The priest to whom a believer regularly confesses and who guides their spiritual life.

Clergy & community

A window of coloured glass pieces held in lead, forming images; typical of Gothic and Neo-Gothic churches.

Art & iconography

Also called: Way of the Cross

A prayer in 14 stations following Jesus’ path to the crucifixion; Catholic churches have 14 images on their walls.

Services & rites

Also called: alb

The long, sleeved vestment worn by deacons and, underneath, by priests and bishops.

Vestments

The long band worn by a Catholic priest around the neck; it corresponds to the Orthodox epitrachelion.

Vestments

Also called: temple, beit knesset

The Jewish house of prayer and study; large Neolog synagogues are often called "temple".

Architecture & spaces

Also called: ablution fountain

The fountain in the mosque courtyard where the faithful perform ablutions before prayer.

Architecture & spaces

The locked, often gilded cabinet in which the consecrated hosts are kept; a red lamp always burns beside it.

Sacred objects

Also called: artophorion

A metal casket, often shaped like a church, on the Holy Table, in which Communion is kept for the sick.

Sacred objects

Also called: prothesis table

The small table on the left of the sanctuary where the priest prepares the bread and wine and commemorates names.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: prayer shawl

The white striped prayer shawl with fringes at the corners, worn by men at morning prayer.

Vestments

Also called: misbaha

The string of 33 or 99 beads used by Muslims to count invocations of God.

Sacred objects

Also called: phylacteries

Two small leather boxes containing Torah verses, bound on the arm and forehead at weekday morning prayer.

Sacred objects

Also called: Baptism of the Lord

The feast of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan on 6 January, when the Great Blessing of Waters takes place.

Feasts & fasts

Also called: Pentateuch, Sefer Torah

The first five books of the Bible, handwritten on a parchment scroll; the Torah reading is the heart of the Sabbath service.

Books & texts

Also called: Holy Ark

The ornate cabinet on the Jerusalem-facing wall of the synagogue in which the Torah scrolls are kept.

Sacred objects

The tower rising above the church, usually over the nave; inside, Christ Pantocrator is painted at its top.

Architecture & spaces

The transverse arm crossing the nave in front of the chancel, giving the church a cross shape.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: Old Believer sign of the cross

Old Believers cross themselves with two fingers, following the tradition before the 17th-century Russian reforms.

Services & rites

Also called: evening service

The evening service that begins the liturgical day.

Services & rites

Also called: oil lamp

A small vessel with oil and a wick that burns before icons in church and at home.

Sacred objects

The painting showing the founders offering a model of the church to Christ, the Mother of God or the patron saint.

Art & iconography

Also called: polyptych, triptych

An altar with painted or carved panels that open and close like the wings of a book.

Art & iconography

Also called: ezrat nashim

The separate area for women in traditional synagogues, usually a balcony.

Architecture & spaces

Also called: ablution

The ritual washing of hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head and feet before prayer.

Services & rites

Also called: Day of Atonement

The holiest day of the Jewish year: a 25-hour fast, prayer and repentance.

Feasts & fasts