Religious glossary

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

Also called: All Souls’ Day

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

Feasts & fasts

Also called: side apses

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

Architecture & spaces

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: belfry

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

Architecture & spaces

Also called: hierarch

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

Clergy & community

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: 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: Mir (catolic), Confirmația

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

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: 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: church elder

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

Clergy & community

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: mural painting

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

Art & iconography

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: 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: 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: aisles

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

Architecture & spaces

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: parish priest, parishioner

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

Clergy & community

Also called: minister

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

Clergy & community

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: 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: 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: Law 489/2006

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

Other

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: vestry

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

Architecture & spaces

Also called: homily

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

Services & rites

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

Art & iconography

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

Architecture & spaces