1.
Islam
–
Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God. It is the worlds second-largest religion and the major religion in the world, with over 1.7 billion followers or 23% of the global population. Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique, and He has guided mankind through revealed scriptures, natural signs, and a line of prophets sealed by Muhammad. The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, viewed by Muslims as the word of God. Muslims believe that Islam is the original, complete and universal version of a faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses. As for the Quran, Muslims consider it to be the unaltered, certain religious rites and customs are observed by the Muslims in their family and social life, while social responsibilities to parents, relatives, and neighbors have also been defined. Besides, the Quran and the sunnah of Muhammad prescribe a comprehensive body of moral guidelines for Muslims to be followed in their personal, social, political, Islam began in the early 7th century. Originating in Mecca, it spread in the Arabian Peninsula. The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires, traders, most Muslims are of one of two denominations, Sunni or Shia. Islam is the dominant religion in the Middle East, North Africa, sizable Muslim communities are also found in Horn of Africa, Europe, China, Russia, Mainland Southeast Asia, Philippines, Northern Borneo, Caucasus and the Americas. Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world, Islam is a verbal noun originating from the triliteral root s-l-m which forms a large class of words mostly relating to concepts of wholeness, submission, safeness and peace. In a religious context it means voluntary submission to God, Islām is the verbal noun of Form IV of the root, and means submission or surrender. Muslim, the word for an adherent of Islam, is the active participle of the verb form. The word sometimes has connotations in its various occurrences in the Quran. In some verses, there is stress on the quality of Islam as a state, Whomsoever God desires to guide. Other verses connect Islām and dīn, Today, I have perfected your religion for you, I have completed My blessing upon you, still others describe Islam as an action of returning to God—more than just a verbal affirmation of faith. In the Hadith of Gabriel, islām is presented as one part of a triad that also includes imān, Islam was historically called Muhammadanism in Anglophone societies. This term has fallen out of use and is said to be offensive because it suggests that a human being rather than God is central to Muslims religion
Islam
–
The
Kaaba, in
Mecca,
Hejaz region, today's
Saudi Arabia, is the
center of Islam.
Muslims from all over the world gather there to
pray in unity.
Islam
–
The dome of the
Carol I Mosque in
Constanța,
Romania, topped by the
Islamic crescent
Islam
–
Medallion showing "
Allah " (
God) in
Hagia Sophia,
Istanbul,
Turkey.
Islam
–
An
angel presenting
Muhammad and his companions with a miniature city. In the
Topkapi Palace Library,
Istanbul.
2.
Islamic funeral
–
Funerals in Islam follow fairly specific rites, though they are subject to regional interpretation and variation in custom. In all cases, however, sharia calls for burial of the body, preceded by a ritual involving bathing and shrouding the body. Cremation of the body is forbidden, burial rituals should normally take place as soon as possible and include, Collective bathing of the dead body, except in extraordinary circumstances as in battle of Uhud. Enshrouding dead body in a cotton or linen cloth. Burial of the body in a grave. Positioning the deceased so that the head is faced towards Mecca, the corpse is washed, the purpose is to physically cleanse the corpse. An alternative and reasonable claim is that this is done to see if the deceased can be reanimated and it is said that therefore it is to be done in a rubbing manner with warm water and preferably within hours of death. The exact manner, the method, style and accessories used for bathing the corpse may vary by locale, except for one thing that it is to be done with heated water. Bathing the dead body is a ritual of the Sunnah of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This should occur as soon as possible after death, preferably within hours, orthodox practice is to wash the body an odd number of times with a cloth hiding its awrah. The washers are commonly members of the immediate family and of the same gender as the deceased. The corpse is wrapped in a simple plain cloth. This is done to respect the dignity and privacy of the deceased with the family sometimes present, the specifics of this ritual, including the material, style, and colour of the cloth, may vary across regions. However, the shroud should be simple and modest and it is for this reason that Muslims have generally preferred to use white cotton cloth to serve as the shroud. Men may use three pieces of cloth and women five pieces of cloth. The deceased may be kept in state for several hours, allowing well-wishers to pass on their respects. The Muslims of the community gather to offer their prayers for the forgiveness of the dead. This prayer has been termed as the Salat al-Janazah
Islamic funeral
–
A
lithographic painting depicting a Muslim funeral procession in South Asia, circa 1888
Islamic funeral
–
Muslim Cemetery in
Macau
Islamic funeral
–
Muslim Cemetery in
Taipei,
Taiwan
Islamic funeral
–
Grave of a Muslim
3.
Salat al-Janazah
–
Ṣalāt al-Janāzah is the Islamic funeral prayer, a part of the Islamic funeral ritual. The prayer is performed in congregation to seek pardon for the deceased, performing the funeral prayer when the body is not present is generally not permitted in the Hanafi and Maliki madhahib, is permitted in the Hanbali madhhab, and is recommended in the Shafii madhhab. It is preferable that those praying divide themselves into odd rows with one person as an Imam standing alone in front, the body is placed in front of the Imam. If there is more than one body, then these should be put one in front of the other. The spoken part of the prayer involves quietly reciting Al-Fatiha, then praying for Allah to bestow peace, mercy and blessings upon the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Muhammad and his companions explained how the salat should be done, as follows,1. Then you say Takbir and Durood-e-Ibrahimi, then you say a third Takbir and make dua for the deceased. It is narrated that Muhammad said, O God, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present among us, O God, whoever You keep alive, keep him alive in Islam, and whoever You cause to die, cause him to die with faith. O God, do not deprive us of the reward and do not cause us to go astray after this, O God, give him a home better than his home and a family better than his family. O God, admit him to Paradise and protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of Hell-fire, make his grave spacious and fill it with light. It is acceptable for other words to be used for dua, for example, one could say, O God, if he was a doer of good, then increase his good deeds, O God, forgive him and give him the steadiness to say the right thing. Then a fourth takbir is recited, followed by a pause, then a final taslim to the right. According to an authentic hadis, Muhammad did not say the prayers of a person who committed suicide. Samura reported, of a person who had killed himself with an arrow was brought before the Apostle of Allah. Another exception is for one who hasnt paid off debts until someone paid it on the persons behalf. E-Book, What to do when a Muslim dies
Salat al-Janazah
4.
Dutch School (painting)
–
The Dutch School were painters in the Netherlands from the early Renaissance to the Baroque. It includes Early Netherlandish and Dutch Renaissance artists active in the northern Low Countries and, later, many painters, sculptors and architects of the seventeenth century are called Dutch masters, while earlier artists are generally referred to as part of the Netherlandish tradition. Hieronymus Bosch and Geertgen tot Sint Jans are well-known examples of fifteenth-, rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer, Jacob van Ruisdael and Jan Steen exemplify art during the seventeenth century. An individual works being labelled or catalogued as Dutch School without further attribution indicates that an individual artist for the work cannot be ascertained, there was a healthy artistic climate in Dutch cities during the seventeenth century. For example, between 1605 and 1635 over 100,000 paintings were produced in Haarlem, at that time art ownership in the city was 25%, a record high
Dutch School (painting)
–
Dutch School, c.1600:
Last rites, oil on wood, 92 x 90 cm
5.
Catholicism
–
The use of terms catholicism and catholicity is closely related to the use of term Catholic Church. The earliest evidence of the use of term is the Letter to the Smyrnaeans that Ignatius of Antioch wrote in about 108 to Christians in Smyrna. In 380, Emperor Theodosius I limited use of the term Catholic Christian exclusively to those who followed the faith as Pope Damasus I of Rome. Numerous other early writers including Cyril of Jerusalem, Augustine of Hippo further developed the use of the term catholic in relation to Christianity. In Christian theology, and specially in ecclesiology, terms Catholicism, when used with small c, terms catholicism and catholicity generally designate theological doctrine of the catholicity of the Church without denominational connotations. A common belief in Catholicism is institutional continuity with the early Christian church founded by Jesus Christ, many churches or communions of churches identify singularly or collectively as the authentic church. The Bishop of Rome was also considered to have the right to convene ecumenical councils, when the Imperial capital moved to Constantinople, Romes influence was sometimes challenged. The first great rupture in the Church followed this Council and they are often called Ancient Oriental Churches. The next major break was after the Council of Chalcedon and this Council repudiated Eutychian Monophysitism which stated that the divine nature completely subsumed the human nature in Christ. This Council declared that Christ, though one person, exhibited two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation and thus is both fully God and fully human, the next great rift within Christianity was in the 11th century. This division between the Western Church and the Eastern Church is called the East–West Schism, several eastern churches reunited, constituting some of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Liturgical and canonical practices vary between all these particular Churches constituting the Roman and Eastern Catholic Churches, in all these cases the beliefs and practices of Catholicism would be identical with the beliefs and practices of the Church in question. However, in Roman Catholicism, the term catholic is understood as to cover those who recognize and are in standing with the Magisterium. The sense given to the word by those who use it to distinguish their position from a Calvinistic or Puritan form of Protestantism. It is then meaningful to attempt to draw up a list of common characteristic beliefs, the Roman Catholic Church includes the 23 rites who recognize the Magisterium. Belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the belief that Christ is made manifest in the elements of Holy Communion, possession of the threefold ordained ministry of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. Belief that the Church is the vessel and deposit of the fullness of the teachings of Jesus and this teaching is preserved in both written scripture and in unwritten tradition, neither being independent of the other. A belief in the necessity and efficacy of sacraments, liturgical and personal use of the Sign of the Cross The use of sacred images, candles, vestments and music, and often incense and water, in worship
Catholicism
–
Ruins of gothic Catholic church in
Liptovská Mara (
Slovakia).
Catholicism
–
Ancient statue of
Saint Peter in the Basilica dedicated to him in the
Vatican.
Catholicism
–
An
Italian priest during the sacrament of
Baptism
6.
Death row
–
Death row is a special section of a prison in the United States that houses inmates who are awaiting execution after being sentenced to death for the conviction of a capital crime. The US is the only Western country that applies the death penalty for capital crimes. Thirty-one of its 50 states and the federal government authorize this penalty, Death row is a term also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution, even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists. After a person is guilty of a capital offense, the judge will give the jury the option of imposing a death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. It is up to a jury to decide whether to give the death sentence, if sentenced to death, a convict will remain on death row during appeal and habeas corpus procedures, which can take years. Since 1973 and later, with an number of persons being freed since 1993, some 157 persons as of January 2017 have been exonerated on appeal. Alabama is the state in the United States that allows a judge to overrule even a unanimous jury decision. Judges are elected to office and some run on their record of imposing the death penalty, in 2016 Florida repealed its law to allow judicial intervention and the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that year that the practice was unconstitutional. If sentenced to death, a convict will remain on death row during appeal and habeas corpus procedures, in the United States,157 inmates have been exonerated and freed from death row from 1973 to January 2017. An increasing number of these exonerations have been won since 1993, Louisiana and several other states hold people on death row in solitary confinement and extreme isolation, in windowless cells 23 hours a day, with virtually no human contact except with guards. Such prisoners are not allowed to take part in any educational or work programs, opponents of capital punishment claim that a prisoners extreme social isolation on death row and uncertainty over his or her fate constitute a form of mental cruelty. Long-time death row inmates are liable to become ill, if they are not already. This is referred to as the death row phenomenon, in extreme cases some inmates may attempt to commit suicide. Each man had held in solitary more than 25 years. Angola has 71 prisoners on death row, but the state has executed a small proportion of such prisoners, so inmates sentenced to death may serve nearly life in solitary. In the United States, prisoners may wait many years as they appeal their convictions or sentences, the time between sentencing and execution has increased relatively steadily from 1977, when some states reinstated their death penalties through new legislation, to 2010. There was a 22% jump between 1989 and 1990, as DNA evidence began to be used regularly in trial. Finding evidence and testing of DNA took more time, although the use of lethal injections was declared constitutional, there has been increasing controversy associated with its use
Death row
–
United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute houses the male death row prisoners sentenced by the
U.S. federal government
Death row
–
San Quentin State Prison houses the male death row prisoners sentenced by the U.S. state of
California
Death row
–
Allan B. Polunsky Unit houses the male death row prisoners sentenced by the U.S. state of
Texas
Death row
–
Louisiana State Penitentiary, which houses the male death row prisoners sentenced by the State of
Louisiana
7.
Religion
–
Religions have sacred histories and narratives, which may be preserved in sacred scriptures, and symbols and holy places, that aim mostly to give a meaning to life. Religions may contain symbolic stories, which are said by followers to be true, that have the side purpose of explaining the origin of life. Traditionally, faith, in addition to reason, has considered a source of religious beliefs. There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide, about 84% of the worlds population is affiliated with one of the five largest religions, namely Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or forms of folk religion. With the onset of the modernisation of and the revolution in the western world. The religiously unaffiliated demographic include those who do not identify with any religion, atheists. While the religiously unaffiliated have grown globally, many of the religiously unaffiliated still have various religious beliefs, about 16% of the worlds population is religiously unaffiliated. The study of religion encompasses a variety of academic disciplines, including theology, comparative religion. Theories of religion offer various explanations for the origins and workings of religion, Religion is derived from the Latin religiō, the ultimate origins of which are obscure. One possible interpretation traced to Cicero, connects lego read, i. e. re with lego in the sense of choose, go over again or consider carefully. The medieval usage alternates with order in designating bonded communities like those of monastic orders, we hear of the religion of the Golden Fleece, of a knight of the religion of Avys. In the ancient and medieval world, the etymological Latin root religio was understood as a virtue of worship, never as doctrine, practice. In the Quran, the Arabic word din is often translated as religion in modern translations and it was in the 19th century that the terms Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and Confucianism first emerged. Max Müller characterized many other cultures around the world, including Egypt, Persia, what is called ancient religion today, they would have only called law. Some languages have words that can be translated as religion, but they may use them in a different way. For example, the Sanskrit word dharma, sometimes translated as religion, throughout classical South Asia, the study of law consisted of concepts such as penance through piety and ceremonial as well as practical traditions. Medieval Japan at first had a union between imperial law and universal or Buddha law, but these later became independent sources of power. There is no equivalent of religion in Hebrew, and Judaism does not distinguish clearly between religious, national, racial, or ethnic identities
Religion
–
Urarina shaman, Peru, 1988
Religion
Religion
–
The
Yazılıkaya sanctuary in
Turkey, with the twelve gods of the underworld
Religion
–
Confucianism,
Taoism, and
Buddhism are one, a painting in the litang style portraying three men laughing by a river stream, 12th century,
Song dynasty
8.
Viaticum
–
Viaticum is a term used especially in the Catholic Church for the Eucharist administered, with or without anointing of the sick, to a person who is dying, and is thus a part of the last rites. According to Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, The Catholic tradition of giving the Eucharist to the dying ensures that instead of dying alone they die with Christ who promises them eternal life. For Communion as Viaticum, the Eucharist is given in the form, with the added words May the Lord Jesus Christ protect you. The word viaticum is a Latin word meaning provision for a journey, from via, or way. The Eucharist is seen as the spiritual food to strengthen a dying person for the journey from this world to life after death. ”If the dying person cannot take solid food. The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is often administered immediately before giving Viaticum if a priest is available to do so, unlike the Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum may be administered by a priest, deacon or by an extraordinary minister, using the reserved Blessed Sacrament. Finally, viaticum can also refer to the enlistment bonus received by a Roman legionary, auxiliary soldier or seaman in the Roman Imperial Navy, rubin, Miri, Corpus Christi, The Eucharist in Late Medieval Culture, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1991. Medieval Piety from Relics to the Eucharist, A Process of Mutual Interaction, Leiden, Brill,1995
Viaticum
–
Administration of the Eucharist to a dying person (painting by 19th-century artist Alexey Venetsianov)
9.
Chaplain
–
The concepts of multifaith, secular, generic and/or humanist chaplaincy are also gaining increasing support, particularly within healthcare and educational settings. School chaplains are a fixture in religious and, more recently, in religious schools the role of the chaplain tends to be educational and liturgical. In secular schools the role of the chaplain tends to be that of a mentor, Chaplains provide care for students by supporting them during times of crisis or need. Many chaplains run programs to promote the welfare of students, staff and parents including programs to help deal with grief. Chaplains also build relationships with students by participating in extra activities such as breakfast programs, lunchtime groups. School chaplains can also liaise with external organisations providing support services for the school, with stagnant incomes and rising prices putting pressure on independent school budgets, cutting the post of school chaplain can seem an easy saving. In Australia chaplains in schools have, controversially, been funded by the federal government. Australian chaplains assist school communities to support the spiritual, social, Chaplaincy services are provided by non denominational companies. As of August 2013 there are 2339 chaplains working in Australian secular schools, similarly, in Scotland the focus of school chaplaincy is on welfare and building positive relationships joining students on excursions and sharing meals. Chaplains are also non-denominational and act as a link between the community and society. Like Australian chaplains it is expected that they will not proselytise, in Ireland chaplaincy takes a very different approach in which chaplains are expected to teach up to four hours of class instruction per week and are usually Catholic. Chaplaincy duties include visiting homes, religious services, retreats and celebrations, Chaplains often also oversee programs on campus that foster spiritual, ethical, religious, and political and cultural exchange, and the promotion of service. Each day communities respond to disasters or emergencies. Most often, these incidents are managed effectively at the local level, however, there are some incidents that may require a collaborative approach that includes personnel from,1. A combination of specialties or disciplines,3, Chaplain Fellowship Disaster Response certifies first responder chaplain for crisis and disaster response. At the scene of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, for example, New York City Fire Department Chaplain Fr. Judge was killed by flying debris from the South Tower when he re-entered the lobby of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, environmental chaplaincy is an emerging field within chaplaincy. Environmental chaplains provide spiritual care in a way that honors humanitys deep connection to the earth, environmental chaplains may also bear witness to the Earth itself and represent the merging of science and spirituality
Chaplain
–
The Reverend
Manasseh Cutler,
American Revolutionary War chaplain who served in George Washington's
Continental Army and was founder of
Ohio University
Chaplain
–
A Catholic chaplain ministers to American
Marines and
Sailors in
Tikrit,
Iraq
Chaplain
–
French soldiers of the
UNIFIL attending a Catholic Mass in
Lebanon
Chaplain
–
Jewish chaplain Rabbi
Arnold Resnicoff wears a
kippah /yarmulke made from a piece of a Catholic chaplain's
camouflage uniform after his own head covering had become bloodied when it was used to wipe the face of a wounded marine during the 1983
Beirut barracks bombing.
10.
USS Franklin (CV-13)
–
The USS Franklin, nicknamed Big Ben, was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in January 1944, she served in campaigns in the Pacific War. She was badly damaged by a Japanese air attack in March 1945, with the loss of over 800 of her crew, movie footage of the actual attack was included in the 1949 film Task Force starring Gary Cooper. After the attack, she returned to the U. S. mainland for repairs, missing the rest of the war, she was decommissioned in 1947. While in reserve, she was reclassified as a carrier, then an antisubmarine carrier, and finally an aircraft transport. Franklin and Bunker Hill were the only Essex-class carriers not to see service as aircraft carriers after World War II. The Franklin was sold for scrap in 1966, mcAfee, an American naval officer who was the Director of the WAVES. Franklin was commissioned on 31 January 1944, with Captain James M. Shoemaker in command, among the plankowners was a ships band made up of several enlisted men who were professional musicians at the time, including Saxie Dowell and Deane Kincaide, assigned to Franklin by a lottery. Franklin steamed south to Trinidad for a shakedown and soon thereafter, she departed in Task Group 27.7 for San Diego, in June, she steamed via Pearl Harbor for Eniwetok Island where she joined TG58.2. On the last day of June 1944, she sortied for strikes on the Bonin Islands in support of the subsequent Mariana Islands assault. Her planes destroyed aircraft on the ground and in the air, gun installations, airfield and enemy shipping. On 4 July, strikes were launched against Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, two days of replenishment at Saipan permitted her to steam in Task Force 58 for photographic reconnaissance and air strikes against the islands of the Palau Islands group. On 25 and 26 July, her planes struck enemy planes, ships, the Franklin departed on 28 July and headed for Saipan, and the following day she was shifted to TG58.1. Although high seas prevented taking on a load of bombs and rockets. On 4 August, her fighters attacked Chichi Jima and her dive bombers, targets included radio stations, a seaplane base, airstrips, and ships. A period of upkeep and recreation from 9–28 August ensued at Eniwetok before she departed with Enterprise, Belleau Wood and San Jacinto for neutralization and diversionary attacks against the Bonins. From 31 August to 2 September, strikes from Franklin inflicted ground damage, sank two cargo ships, destroyed enemy planes in flight, and undertook photographic surveys. On 4 September, Franklin took on supplies at Saipan, the Task Group took on supplies at Manus Island from 21 to 25 September
USS Franklin (CV-13)
–
USS Franklin underway near the
Marianas, 1 August 1944
USS Franklin (CV-13)
–
The newly commissioned Franklin departing Norfolk in February 1944
USS Franklin (CV-13)
–
Belleau Wood (left) and Franklin hit by
kamikazes, 30 October 1944
USS Franklin (CV-13)
–
The burning Franklin with
USS Santa Fe (CL-60) alongside.
11.
Sacrament
–
A sacrament is a Christian rite recognised as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites, many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the reality of God, as well as a means by which God enacts his grace. Sacraments signify Gods grace in a way that is observable to the participant. The Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, many Protestant denominations, such as those within the Reformed tradition, identify two sacraments instituted by Christ, the Eucharist and Baptism. The Lutheran sacraments include these two, often adding Confession as a third sacrament, the English word sacrament is derived indirectly from the Ecclesiastical Latin sacrāmentum, from Latin sacrō, from sacer. This in turn is derived from the Greek New Testament word mysterion and these seven sacraments were codified in the documents of the Council of Trent, which stated, CANON I. During the Middle Ages, sacraments were recorded in Latin, even after the Reformation, many ecclesiastical leaders continued using this practice into the 20th century. On occasion, Protestant ministers followed the same practice, since W was not part of the Latin alphabet, scribes only used it when dealing with names or places. In addition, names were modified to fit a Latin mold, for instance, the name Joseph would be rendered as Iosephus or Josephus. The Catholic Church indicates that the sacraments are necessary for salvation, the Church applies this teaching even to the sacrament of baptism, the gateway to the other sacraments. It states that Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed, catechumens and all those who, even without knowing Christ and the Church, still sincerely seek God and strive to do his will can also be saved without Baptism. The Church in her liturgy entrusts children who die without Baptism to the mercy of God, in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions, the Church teaches that the effect of the sacraments comes ex opere operato, by the very fact of being administered, regardless of the personal holiness of the minister administering it. The sacraments presuppose faith and through their words and ritual elements, nourish, strengthen, through each of them, Christ bestows that sacraments particular grace, such as incorporation into Christ and the Church, forgiveness of sins, or consecration for a particular service. The Eastern Orthodox tradition does not limit the number of sacraments to seven, however it recognizes these seven as the major sacraments, which are completed by many other blessings and special services. Some lists of the sacraments taken from the Church Fathers include the consecration of a church, monastic tonsure, more specifically, for the Eastern Orthodox the term sacrament is a term which seeks to classify something that may, according to Orthodox thought, be impossible to classify. According to Orthodox thinking God touches mankind through material means such as water, wine, bread, oil, incense, candles, altars, icons, how God does this is a mystery
Sacrament
–
The Seven Sacraments, an
altarpiece by
Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1448
Sacrament
–
The
Council of Trent reaffirmed the seven sacraments.
Sacrament
–
The seven sacraments of the Catholic church:
Baptism,
Confirmation,
Matrimony,
Eucharist,
Penance,
Holy Orders and the
Anointing of the Sick.
Sacrament
–
Baptism and
Chrismation, the sacraments of initiation, in an
Eastern Orthodox church.
12.
Anointing of the Sick
–
Anointing of the sick, known also by other names, is a form of religious anointing or unction for the benefit of a sick person. It is practiced by many Christian churches and denominations, Anointing of the sick was a customary practice in many civilizations, including among the ancient Greeks and early Jewish communities. The use of oil for healing purposes is referred to in the writings of Hippocrates and it does not, of course, forbid the use of other names, for example the more archaic term Unction of the Sick or the term Extreme Unction. Cardinal Walter Kasper used the term in his intervention at the 2005 Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. However, the Church declared that Extreme unction, may also and more fittingly be called anointing of the sick, and has itself adopted the latter term, while not outlawing the former. Extreme Unction was the name for the sacrament in the West from the late twelfth century until 1972. Peter Lombard is the first writer known to have used the term, which did not become the name in the West till towards the end of the twelfth century. The word extreme indicated either that it was the last of the sacramental unctions or because at that time it was administered only when a patient was in extremis. Other names used in the West include the unction or blessing of consecrated oil, the unction of God, and the office of the unction. Among some Protestant bodies, who do not consider it a sacrament, in the Greek Church the sacrament is called Euchelaion. Other names are used, such as ἅγιον ἔλαιον, ἡγιασμένον ἔλαιον. The Community of Christ uses the term administration to the sick, the normal order of administration is, first Penance, next, Anointing, finally, Viaticum. The chief Biblical text concerning the rite is James 5, 14-15, matthew 10,8, Luke 10, 8-9 and Mark 6,13 are also quoted in this regard. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Coptic and Old Catholic Churches consider this anointing to be a sacrament, other Christians too, in particular Anglicans, Lutherans and some Protestant and other Christian communities use a rite of anointing the sick, without necessarily classifying it as a sacrament. In the Churches mentioned here by name, the oil used is blessed specifically for this purpose, an extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on Anointing of the Sick is given in Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499–1532. Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church, only ordained priests can administer it, and any priest may carry the holy oil with him, so that in a case of necessity he can administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick. The Catholic Church sees the effects of the sacrament as follows, as the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. The duly blessed oil used in the sacrament is, as laid down in the Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum and it is blessed by the bishop of the diocese at the Chrism Mass he celebrates on Holy Thursday or on a day close to it
Anointing of the Sick
–
Detail of
The Seven Sacraments (1445) by
Rogier van der Weyden showing the sacrament of Extreme Unction or Anointing of the Sick.
13.
Penance
–
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants, the word penance derives from Old French and Latin paenitentia, both of which derive from the same root meaning repentance, the desire to be forgiven. Word derivations occur in many languages, rather, Gods kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. In his Of Justification By Faith, Calvin says, without forgiveness no man is pleasing to God, nonetheless, in traditions formed by a Calvinist or Zwinglian sensibility there has traditionally been a stress on reconciliation as a precondition to fellowship. The attitude of penance or repentance can be externalized in acts that a believer imposes on himself or herself, Penitential activity is particularly common during the season of Lent and Holy Week. In some cultural traditions, this week, which commemorates the Passion of Christ, Advent is another season during which, to a lesser extent, penances are performed. Acts of self-discipline are used as tokens of repentance, easier acts of self-discipline include devoting time to prayer or reading of the Bible or other spiritual books. Examples of harder acts of self-discipline are fasting, continence, abstaining from alcohol or tobacco, self-flagellation and the wearing of a cilice are more rarely used. Such acts are associated also with the sacrament, in early Christianity, public penance was imposed on penitents, the severity of which varied according to the seriousness of the offences forgiven. The act imposed is called a penance or epitemia. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, penance is usually called Sacred Mystery of Confession, in Orthodoxy, the intention of the sacramental mystery of Holy Confession is to provide reconciliation with God through means of healing. Similar to the Eastern Catholic Churches, in the Eastern Orthodox Church there are no confessionals, traditionally the penitent stands or kneels before either the Icon of Christ the Teacher or in front of an Icon of Christ, Not Made by Hands. This is because in Orthodox sacramental theology, confession is not made to the priest, but to Christ, on an analogion in front of the penitent has been placed a Gospel Book and a Crucifix. The penitent venerates the Gospel Book and the cross and kneels and this is to show humility before the whole church and before Christ. Once they are ready to start, the priest says, “Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, ” reads the Trisagion Prayers, the penitent then accuses himself of sins. The priest quietly and patiently listens, gently asking questions to encourage the penitent not to any sins out of fear or shame. After the confessant reveals all their sins, the priest offers advice, the priest may modify the prayer rule of the penitent, or even prescribe another rule, if needed to combat the sins the penitent struggles most with. Penances, known as epitemia, are given with a therapeutic intent, epitemia are neither a punishment nor merely a pious action, but are specifically aimed at healing the spiritual ailment that has been confessed
Penance
–
La Penitente by
Pietro Rotari.
Penance
–
The
Augsburg Confession divides repentance into two parts: "One is contrition, that is, terrors smiting the conscience through the
knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of
absolution, and believes that for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terrors."
Penance
–
The reproach of
Nathan and the penance of
King David (
Paris Psalter, folio 136v, 10th century).
Penance
–
Confession in a
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
14.
Eucharist
–
The Eucharist /ˈjuːkərɪst/ is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches. Through the Eucharistic celebration Christians remember Christs sacrifice of himself on the cross, the elements of the Eucharist, bread and wine, are consecrated on an altar and consumed thereafter. Communicants may speak of receiving the Eucharist, as well as celebrating the Eucharist, Christians generally recognize a special presence of Christ in this rite, though they differ about exactly how, where, and when Christ is present. While all agree there is no perceptible change in the elements, Catholics believe that they actually become the body. Some Protestants view the Eucharist as an ordinance in which the ceremony is not as a specific channel of divine grace. Do this in remembrance of me, the term Eucharist is that by which the rite is referred by the Didache, Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr. Today, the Eucharist is the still used by Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians. Other Protestant denominations rarely use this term, preferring either Communion, one remains hungry, another gets drunk. Communion or Holy Communion are used by some groups originating in the Protestant Reformation to mean the entire Eucharistic rite. The term Communion is derived from Latin communio, which translates Greek κοινωνία in 1 Corinthians 10,16, the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ. The phrase appears five times in the New Testament in contexts which, according to some and it is the term used by the Plymouth Brethren. The Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar are common terms used by Catholics, Lutherans and some Anglicans for the consecrated elements, Sacrament of the Altar is in common use also among Lutherans. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the term The Sacrament is used of the rite. Among the many terms used in the Catholic Church are Holy Mass, the Memorial of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The term Mass is probably derived from the fact that the Roman rite celebrates the Eucharist with unleavened bread and this explains why the Eastern Catholic Liturgies are never referred to as the Mass. Eastern rite Liturgies are celebrated with leavened bread, although the prevailing theory is that it is derived from the Latin word missa, a word used in the concluding formula of Mass in Latin, Ite, missa est. The reverse is more likely. The word dismissal probably came about because the Mass signaled the time for the Catechumens to leave, thus, the term Misa came to imply a mission, because at the end of the Mass the congregation are sent out to serve Christ
Eucharist
–
The Eucharist has been a key theme in the depictions of the
Last Supper in Christian art, as in this 16th-century
Juan de Juanes painting.
Eucharist
–
A
Kremikovtsi Monastery fresco (15th century) depicting the
Last Supper celebrated by Jesus and his disciples. The early Christians too would have celebrated this meal to commemorate Jesus' death and subsequent resurrection.
Eucharist
–
Christ with the Eucharist,
Vicente Juan Masip, 16th century.
15.
Apostolic Blessing
–
The Apostolic Blessing or papal blessing is a blessing imparted by the Pope, either directly or by delegation through others. Bishops are empowered to grant it three times a year and any priest can do so for the dying, the Apostolic Blessing is not to be confused with an episcopal blessing, also known as a pontifical blessing, which bishops can impart at any time by their own authority. The Pope gives his blessing in many ways and he may use, with or without the introductory liturgical greeting, Dominus vobiscum, the formula of pontifical blessing that any other bishop may use. This was the used by Pope Paul VI when he gave his blessing at his first appearance on the balcony of St. At a general audience, when the blessing immediately follows the singing of the Pater Noster, Pope Francis however has chosen to include Dominus vobiscum when imparting the apostolic blessing at his general audiences. Letters sent by the Pope to Catholics often conclude with the granting of the Apostolic Blessing to the person addressed, an example is the letter of Pope Francis to Cardinal Agostino Vallini on the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination. Within his own diocese, a bishop may impart the Apostolic Blessing three times a year on solemn feasts, the same holds, within their territories, for non-bishop prelates recognized by canon law as juridically equivalent to diocesan bishops. In exceptional circumstances, they can impart it also on other occasions, the blessing is imparted in place of the normal blessing at the end of Mass, using a particular formula. It is granted also to those who are unable to be present at the rite itself, Apostolic Blessings are granted also in written form on parchment through the Office of Papal Charities in Vatican City. Its website provides information on the occasions for which Catholics can request the granting of such a blessing, Apostolic Nuncios also are delegated to impart the Papal Blessing in written form
Apostolic Blessing
–
Pope Benedict XVI - in a General Audience
16.
Indulgence
–
In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, an indulgence is a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins. It may reduce the temporal punishment after death, in the state or process of purification called Purgatory and this temporal punishment would not be considered time, as Purgatory, like Heaven and Hell, is said to exist outside of time. The recipient of an indulgence must perform an action to receive it and this is most often the saying of a specified prayer, but may also include the visiting of a particular place, or the performance of specific good works. They draw on the Treasury of Merit accumulated by Christs superabundantly meritorious sacrifice on the cross and they are granted for specific good works and prayers in proportion to the devotion with which those good works are performed or prayers recited. By the late Middle Ages, the abuse of indulgences, mainly through commercialization, had become a problem which the Church recognized but was unable to restrain effectively. Indulgences were from the beginning of the Protestant Reformation a target of attacks by Martin Luther, eventually the Catholic Counter-Reformation curbed the excesses, but indulgences continue to play a role in modern Catholic religious life. Reforms in the 20th century largely abolished the quantification of indulgences and these days or years were meant to represent the equivalent of time spent in penance, although it was widely taken to mean time spent in Purgatory. The reforms also reduced the number of indulgences granted for visiting particular churches. When a person sins, he acquires certain liabilities, the liability of guilt, a mortal sin is equivalent to refusing friendship with God and communion with the only source of eternal life. The loss of life with God, and the eternal death of hell that is the effect of this rejection, is called the eternal punishment of sin. The Sacrament of Penance removes the guilt and the liability of eternal punishment related to mortal sin, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the punishment of sin. The process of sanctification and interior renewal requires not only forgiveness from the guilt of sin and this purification process gives rise to temporal punishment, because, not involving a total rejection of God, it is not eternal and can be expiated. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer, the temporal punishment that follows sin is thus undergone either during life on earth or in purgatory. Indulgences are a help towards achieving this purification, an indulgence does not forgive the guilt of sin, nor does it provide release from the eternal punishment associated with unforgiven mortal sins. Similarly, an indulgence is not a permit to commit sin, ordinarily, forgiveness of mortal sins is obtained through Confession. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, The treasury of the Church is the value, which can never be exhausted
Indulgence
–
Inscription on the
Basilica of St. John Lateran in
Rome: Indulgentia plenaria perpetua quotidiana toties quoties pro vivis et defunctis (English trans: "Perpetual everyday plenary indulgence on every occasion for the living and the dead")
Indulgence
–
St. Peter's Basilica,
Vatican City
Indulgence
–
Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas bestows the
Easter Mass Plenary Indulgence in 2012 (St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral,
Dagupan City, Pangasinan).
Indulgence
–
Engraving of the
Mass of Saint Gregory by
Israhel van Meckenem, 1490s, with an unauthorized indulgence at the bottom
17.
Russian Orthodox
–
The Russian Orthodox Church, alternatively legally known as the Moscow Patriarchate, is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches, in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox patriarchates. The Primate of the ROC is the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus and it also exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the autonomous Church of Japan and the Orthodox Christians resident in the Peoples Republic of China. The ROC branches in Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine since the 1990s enjoy various degrees of self-government, in Ukraine, ROC has tensions with schismatic groups supported by the current government, while it enjoys the position of numerically dominant religious organisation. The ROC should also not be confused with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, headquartered in New York, New York, the two Churches reconciled on May 17,2007, the ROCOR is now a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to one of the legends, Andrew reached the location of Kiev. The spot where he erected a cross is now marked by St. Andrews Cathedral. By the end of the first millennium AD, eastern Slavic lands started to come under the influence of the Eastern Roman Empire. There is evidence that the first Christian bishop was sent to Novgorod from Constantinople either by Patriarch Photius or Patriarch Ignatios, by the mid-10th century, there was already a Christian community among Kievan nobility, under the leadership of Byzantine Greek priests, although paganism remained the dominant religion. Princess Olga of Kiev was the first ruler of Kievan Rus′ to convert to Christianity and her grandson, Vladimir of Kiev, made Rus officially a Christian state. The Kievan church was a metropolitanate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Ecumenical patriarch appointed the metropolitan, who usually was a Greek. The Metropolitans residence was located in Kiev itself, the capital of the medieval Rus state. Following the tribulations of the Mongol invasion, the Russian Church was pivotal in the survival, despite the politically motivated murders of Mikhail of Chernigov and Mikhail of Tver, the Mongols were generally tolerant and even granted tax exemption to the Church. Such holy figures as Sergius of Radonezh and Metropolitan Alexis helped the country to withstand years of Tatar oppression, the Trinity monastery founded by Sergius of Radonezh became the setting for the flourishing of spiritual art, exemplified by the work of Andrey Rublev, among others. The followers of Sergius founded four hundred monasteries, thus extending the geographical extent of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. However, the Moscow Prince Vasili II rejected the act of the Council of Florence brought to Moscow by Isidore in March 1441, Isidore was in the same year removed from his position as an apostate and expelled from Moscow. The Russian metropolitanate remained effectively vacant for the few years due largely to the dominance of Uniates in Constantinople then. In December 1448, Jonas, a Russian bishop, was installed by the Council of Russian bishops in Moscow as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia without the consent from Constantinople. Subsequently, there developed a theory in Moscow that saw Moscow as the Third Rome, the successor to Constantinople
Russian Orthodox
–
The
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in
Moscow Russian: Храм Христа Спасителя [Khram Khrista Spasitelya]
Russian Orthodox
–
Russian Orthodox monks defended the
Trinity Lavra monastery against Polish-Lithuanian troops during the
Time of Troubles.
Russian Orthodox
–
An Old Believer Priest,
Nikita Pustosviat, Disputing with Patriarch Joachim the Matters of Faith. Painting by
Vasily Perov
18.
Orthodox Church
–
The Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that it is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission to the apostles. It practices what it understands to be the original Christian faith, the Eastern Orthodox Church is a communion of autocephalous churches, each typically governed by a Holy Synod. It teaches that all bishops are equal by virtue of their ordination, prior to the Council of Chalcedon in AD451, the Eastern Orthodox had also shared communion with the Oriental Orthodox churches, separating primarily over differences in Christology. Eastern Orthodoxy spread throughout the Roman and later Eastern Roman Empires and beyond, playing a prominent role in European, Near Eastern, Slavic, and some African cultures. As a result, the term Greek Orthodox has sometimes used to describe all of Eastern Orthodoxy in general. However, the appellation Greek was never in use and was gradually abandoned by the non-Greek-speaking Eastern Orthodox churches. Its most prominent episcopal see is Constantinople, there are also many in other parts of the world, formed through immigration, conversion and missionary activity. The official name of the Eastern Orthodox Church is the Orthodox Catholic Church and it is the name by which the church refers to itself in its liturgical or canonical texts, in official publications, and in official contexts or administrative documents. Orthodox teachers refer to the Church as Catholic and this name and longer variants containing Catholic are also recognized and referenced in other books and publications by secular or non-Orthodox writers. The common name of the Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, is a shortened practicality that helps to avoid confusions in casual use, for this reason, the eastern churches were sometimes identified as Greek, even before the great schism. After 1054, Greek Orthodox or Greek Catholic marked a church as being in communion with Constantinople and this identification with Greek, however, became increasingly confusing with time. Missionaries brought Orthodoxy to many regions without ethnic Greeks, where the Greek language was not spoken. Today, many of those same Roman churches remain, while a large number of Orthodox are not of Greek national origin. Eastern, then, indicates the element in the Churchs origin and development, while Orthodox indicates the faith. While the Church continues officially to call itself Catholic, for reasons of universality, the first known use of the phrase the catholic church occurred in a letter written about 110 AD from one Greek church to another. Quote of St Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, thus, almost from the very beginning, Christians referred to the Church as the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Orthodox Church claims that it is today the continuation and preservation of that same Church, a number of other Christian churches also make a similar claim, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Assyrian Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The Church of England separated from the Roman Catholic Church, not directly from the Orthodox Church, the depth of this meaning in the Orthodox Church is registered first in its use of the word Orthodox itself, a union of Greek orthos and doxa
Orthodox Church
–
Orthodox liturgy
Orthodox Church
–
An
icon of
John the Baptist, 14th century, Macedonia
19.
Byzantine Rite
–
It has also been employed, although less frequently, in the Anglican Communion and Lutheran churches. Its development began during the century in Constantinople and it is now the second most-used rite in Christendom after the Roman Rite. Traditionally, the stands throughout the whole service, and an iconostasis separates the sanctuary from the nave of the church. The faithful are very active in their worship, making frequent bows and prostrations, also, traditionally, the major clergy and monks neither shave nor cut their hair or beards. Scripture plays a role in Byzantine worship, with not only daily readings. The entire psalter is read each week, and twice weekly during Great Lent, fasting is stricter than in the Roman rite. On fast days, the faithful give up not only meat, but also dairy products, and on many fast days they also give up fish, wine, the rite observes four fasting seasons, Great Lent, Nativity Fast, Apostles Fast and Dormition Fast. In addition, most Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year are fast days, there are two ancient liturgical traditions from which all of the Eastern Rites developed, the Alexandrian rite in Egypt and the Antiochene Rite in Syria. These two Rites developed directly from practices of the Early Church, of these two traditions, the Rite of Constantinople developed from the Antiochene Rite. Prior to the see of Constantinoples elevation to the dignity of patriarch by the Second Ecumenical Council in 381, with the councils elevation of Constantinople to primacy in the East, with the words The Bishop of Constantinople. Further developments continued to occur, centered mostly around Constantinople and Mount Athos, monasticism played an important role in the development of the rituals. In Constantinople, the work of the monastery of the Studion greatly enriched the liturgical traditions, iconography continued to develop and a canon of traditional patterns evolved which still influences Eastern religious art to this day. Historical events have also influenced the development of the liturgy, the great Christological and Trinitarian controversies of Late Antiquity are reflected in the glorifications of the Trinity heard in the numerous ekphonies encountered during the services. All liturgical rites change and develop over time, as new saints are canonized, new hymns are composed, as new needs arise, new prayers are written. The rite also profits from the fact that the Christian East is not so centralized in ecclesiastical polity as the West and this allows for greater diversity, and as members of one church visit another, a natural cross-pollination occurs with resultant enrichment on all sides. In spite of its emphasis on tradition, the Byzantine Rite comprises a constantly growing and expanding ritual. The tradition of the Church of Constantinople ascribes the oldest of its two main Divine Liturgies to St. Basil the Great, Metropolitan of Cæsarea in Cappadocia and this tradition is confirmed by the witness of several ancient authors, some of whom were contemporaries. It is certain that St. St. Basil himself speaks on several occasions of the changes he made in the services of Cæsarea. Basil had as his goal the streamlining of the services to make them more cohesive and attractive to the faithful
Byzantine Rite
–
An iconostasis separates the sanctuary from the nave in Byzantine Rite churches. Here is shown part of a six-row iconostasis at
Uglich Cathedral. North Deacon's Door (left) and
Holy Doors (right).
Byzantine Rite
–
Fresco of
Basil the Great in the
cathedral of
Ohrid. The saint is shown
consecrating the
Gifts during the
Divine Liturgy which bears his name.
Byzantine Rite
–
Monks and seminarians on cliros.
Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York
20.
Sacred Mysteries
–
Sacred mysteries are the areas of supernatural phenomena associated with a divinity or a religious ideology. Beliefs of the religion which are public knowledge but cannot be explained by normal rational or scientific means. Mysticism may be defined as an area of philosophical or religious thought which focuses on mysteries in the first sense above, a mystagogue or hierophant is a holder and teacher of secret knowledge in the second sense above. In some, parts of the doctrine were apparently known to priests. They included the Eleusinian Mysteries, Mithraism, the Cult of Isis, the Cult of Sol Invictus, Mystery traditions were popular in ancient Greece and during the height of the Roman Empire, and as discussed below, parts of Early Christianity used secrecy in the same way. Although the term is not used equally by all Christian traditions, to name but a few key examples, these include the nature of the Trinity, the Virgin Birth of Jesus, and the Resurrection of Jesus. These are mysteries in the sense that they cannot be explained or apprehended by reason alone, the word mysterion is used 27 times in the New Testament. It denotes not so much the meaning of the modern English term mystery, in the biblical Greek, the term refers to that which awaits disclosure or interpretation. The position, if not the terminology, of other Christian churches is essentially the same, as the Age of Persecution ended, the secrecy was gradually relaxed. But the term continued to be used, and the word is used in the Eastern Orthodox churches to describe mysteries. Hence Pope Paul VIs papal encyclical of 3 September 1965 on the Eucharist was titled, from its opening words, in the Roman Rite Catholic Mass within or immediately after the formula of consecration of the wine, the celebrant says Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. The term is used in Eastern Christianity to refer to what the Western Church currently calls Sacraments and Sacramentals, thus, for instance, the Council of Trent declared there to be exactly seven sacraments. The Eastern Churches, in contrast, have never defined the Mysteries in such precise terms, and, though the Western Church teaches that the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist are one Sacrament, the Divine Liturgy refers to the Eucharist as the Mysteries, in the plural. Orthodox Christians have always received Holy Communion in both species, and even reserve both in the tabernacle, the Sacred Mysteries can be defined as those holy acts through which the Holy Spirit mysteriously and invisibly confers Grace upon man. Christian life is centered in the Mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, however, the redemption of man is not considered to have taken place only in the past, but continues to this day through theosis. The Sacraments, or Sacred Mysteries are the most important means by which the faithful may obtain union with God, Christians believe that God is present everywhere and fills all things by his Divine grace, and that all of creation is, in some sense, a sacrament. However, they believe that He is more specifically and intensively present in particular and reliable manners which He Himself has established, in several other religions, knowledge of some esoteric parts of the doctrine or teachings is reserved only for certain members. This has been a feature of Tantric Buddhism, Hinduism, Catharism, some parts of Shia Islam, in traditional Judaism, study of much of the mystical tradition of Kabbalah is reserved for scholars
Sacred Mysteries
–
Wrisberg epitaph in
Hildesheim Cathedral, showing distribution of the divine graces by means of the church and the sacraments, or mysteries. By Johannes Hopffe 1585.
21.
Confession (religion)
–
Confession, in many religions, is the acknowledgment of ones sins or wrongs. Buddhism has been from its primarily a tradition of renunciation. Within the monastic framework of the regular confession of wrongdoing to superiors is mandatory. In the sutras of the Pali Canon Bhikkhus confessed their wrongdoing to the Buddha himself and that part of the Pali Canon called the Vinaya requires that monks confess their individual sins before the bi-weekly convening for the recitation of the Patimokkha. In Catholic teaching, the Sacrament of Penance is the method of the Church by which men and women may confess sins committed after baptism and have them absolved by a priest. Although it is not mandatory, the Catholic rite is usually conducted within a confessional box and this sacrament is known by many names, including penance, reconciliation and confession. For the Catholic Church, the intent of this sacrament is to provide healing for the soul as well as to regain the grace of God, in theological terms, the priest acts in persona Christi and receives from the Church the power of jurisdiction over the penitent. The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental confession requires three acts on the part of the penitent, contrition, disclosure of the sins, the basic form of confession has not changed for centuries, although at one time confessions were made publicly. Typically, the penitent begins sacramental confession by saying, Bless me Father and it has been since my last confession. The penitent must then confess what he/she believes to be grave and mortal sins, the sinner may also confess venial sins, this is especially recommended if the penitent has no mortal sins to confess. According to the Catechism, without being strictly necessary, confession of faults is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ, by receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Fathers Mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as He is merciful. When Christs faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, as a result, even mortal sins which the penitent inadvertently forgot are forgiven if the confession was good. In general, Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christians choose an individual to trust as his or her spiritual guide. In most cases this is the parish priest, but may be a starets or any individual, male or female and this person is often referred to as ones spiritual father or spiritual mother. Once chosen, the turns to his spiritual guide for advice on his or her spiritual development, confessing sins. What is confessed to ones spiritual guide is protected by the seal as would be any priest hearing a confession. While one does not have to be a priest to hear confession, Confession does not take place in a confessional, but normally in the main part of the church itself, usually before an analogion set up near the iconostasion
Confession (religion)
–
Traditional
confessional
Confession (religion)
–
A confessional in
Colombia
Confession (religion)
–
Pilgrims queueing to confess at
Međugorje,
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Confession (religion)
–
Modern confessional in the Church of the Holy Name,
Dunedin,
New Zealand. The penitent may kneel on the kneeler or sit in a chair facing the priest (not shown)
22.
Blessing
–
A blessing is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, or divine will. The modern English language term bless likely derives from the 1225 term blessen, due to this, the term is related to the term blōd, meaning blood. References to this practice, Blót, exist in related Icelandic sources. To be blessed means to be favored by God, Blessings therefore are directly associated with God and come from God. Thus to express a blessing is like bestowing a wish on someone that they experience the favor of God. May you have a blessed Christmas, therefore can also be translated as, a curse, at least in its most formal sense, is the opposite of a blessing. In the Bible, blessings and curses are related, the book of Deuteronomy prescribes that obedience to the Law of Moses brings Gods blessing, similar constructions appear in the New Testament, as in the blessings and curses of Jesus recorded in the Beatitudes of Luke 6, 20-22. One of the first incidences of blessing in the Bible is in Genesis 12, 1-2 where Abram is ordered by the LORD to leave his country and is told, I will bless you, I will make your name great. In Judaism, a blessing is recited at a moment during a prayer, ceremony or other activity, especially before. The function of these blessings is to acknowledge God as the source of all blessing, a berakhah typically starts with the words, Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe. Judaism teaches that food ultimately is a gift of the one great Provider, God, within Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and similar traditions, formal blessings of the church are performed by bishops, priests, and deacons. Particular formulas may be associated with episcopal blessings and papal blessings and they also give blessings to begin divine services and at the dismissal at the end. In the Orthodox Church liturgical blessings are performed over people, objects, or are given at specific points during divine services. A priest or bishop blesses with his hand, but may use a blessing cross, candles, an icon. When blessing with the hand, a priest uses his hand, holding his fingers so that they form the Greek letters IC XC. A bishop does the same, except he uses both hands, or may hold the crozier in his hand, using both to make the Sign of the Cross. A bishop may also bless with special candlesticks known as the dikirion and trikirion, when blessing an object, the rubrics often instruct Orthodox bishops and priests to make use of such substances as incense and holy water. Also, formal ecclesiastical permission to undertake an action is referred to as a blessing, the blessing may be bestowed by a bishop or priest, or by ones own spiritual father
Blessing
–
Isaac Blessing
Jacob, painting by
Govert Flinck (
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).
Blessing
–
Position in which a Jewish
kohen places his hands and fingers during the
Priestly Blessing.
Blessing
–
Aarti.
Blessing
–
Hindu priest giving blessing.
23.
Psalm 51
–
Psalm 51, traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin incipit, is one of the Penitential Psalms. It begins, Have mercy on me, O God, the psalms opening words in Latin, Miserere mei, Deus, have led to its being called the Miserere mei or just Miserere. It is often known by name in musical settings. The psalm is used in various liturgical traditions because of its spirit of humility. Many psalms include introductory text in the manuscript attributing it to a particular author, the New King James Version of the Bible introduces it, To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, the superscription in the Septuagint reads, For the End, A Psalm of David, When Nathan the Prophet Came unto Him, When He Went in unto Bersabee the Wife of Urias. Robert Alter has Do not fling me from Your presence, commenting, as elsewhere, Verse 13, Cast me not away from thy presence. Forms a central part of the Selihot services Verse 17, O Lord, is recited as a preface to the Amida, the central prayer in Jewish services. Verse 20, Do good in thy will unto Zion. is recited in the liturgy as the Torah is removed from the Ark before being read on Sabbath. The psalm is recited along with Parashat Para, the Torah portion describing the ritual of the red heifer that is read in preparation for Passover, in the Daily Office it is recited in each of three aggregates. In the Divine Liturgy it is recited by the deacon while he censing the church at the conclusion of the Proskomedie. It is also a part of many sacraments and other services, notably, as a penitential psalm, in the Agpeya, Coptic Churchs book of hours, it is recited at every office throughout the day as a prayer of confession and repentance. In Western Christianity, Psalm 51 is also used liturgically, in the Roman Catholic Church this psalm may be assigned by a priest to a penitent as a penance after Confession. Verse 7 of the psalm is sung as the priest sprinkles holy water over the congregation before Mass, in a rite known as the Asperges me. This reference lends a striking significance to the Mass as Sacrifice, in the Divine Office, it was traditionally said at Lauds on all ferias, the 1911 reform restricted this use to the ferias of Advent and Lent. It is otherwise said as part of the cycle on Wednesday at Matins. In the Liturgy of the Hours, it is prayed during Lauds every Friday, Psalm 51 was recited by Lady Jane Grey before her beheading at the Tower of London in 1554. A section of verse 17 is often used as the invitatory antiphon the Liturgy of the Hours, parts of Psalm 51 are used as a responsorial psalm in both the Revised Common Lectionary and the Roman Catholic Lectionary on Ash Wednesday and on other days
Psalm 51
–
Psalm 51:7 inscribed on a
Holy water font
24.
Theotokos
–
Theotokos is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations, Dei Genetrix or Deipara, are translated as Mother of God or God-bearer, the Council of Ephesus decreed in 431 that Mary is the Theotokos because her son Jesus is both God and man, one divine person with two natures intimately and hypostatically united. Similar to this is the title of Mother of God, Mother of God is most often used in English, largely due to the lack of a satisfactory equivalent of Greek τόκος / Latin genetrix. The title has been in use since the 3rd century, in the Syriac tradition in the Liturgy of Mari and Addai, Theotokos is an adjectival compound of two the Greek words Θεός God and τόκος childbirth, parturition, offspring. A close paraphrase would be whose offspring is God or who gave birth to one who was God, the usual English translation is simply Mother of God, Latin uses Deipara or Dei Genetrix. The Church Slavonic translation is Bogoroditsa, in an abbreviated form, ΜΡ ΘΥ, it often is found on Eastern icons, where it is used to identify Mary. The Russian term is Матерь Божия, variant forms are the compounds Θεομήτωρ and Μητρόθεος, which are found in patristic and liturgical texts. The theological dispute over the term concerned the term Θεός God vs. Χριστός Christ, and not τόκος vs. μήτηρ, to make it explicit, it is sometimes translated Mother of God Incarnate. This decree created the Nestorian Schism, Cyril of Alexandria wrote, I am amazed that there are some who are entirely in doubt as to whether the holy Virgin should be called Theotokos or not. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, how is the holy Virgin who gave birth, not. But the argument of Nestorius was that divine and human natures of Christ were distinct, at issue is the interpretation of the Incarnation, and the nature of the hypostatic union of Christs human and divine natures between Christs conception and birth. Within the Orthodox doctrinal teaching on the economy of salvation, Marys identity, role, for this reason, it is formally defined as official dogma. The only other Mariological teaching so defined is that of her virginity, both of these teachings have a bearing on the identity of Jesus Christ. The term was certainly in use by the 3rd century, athanasius of Alexandria in 330, Gregory the Theologian in 370, John Chrysostom in 400, and Augustine all used theotokos. Origen is often cited as the earliest author to use theotokos for Mary, although this testimony is uncertain, the term was used c.250 by Dionysius of Alexandria, in an epistle to Paul of Samosata. The Greek version of the hymn Sub tuum praesidium contains the term, in the vocative, the oldest record of this hymn is a papyrus found in Egypt, mostly dated to after 450. But according to a suggestion by de Villiers possibly older, dating to the mid-3rd century, the use of Theotokos was formally affirmed at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. Nestorius opponents, led by Cyril of Alexandria, viewed this as dividing Jesus into two persons, the human who was Son of Mary, and the divine who was not
Theotokos
–
An 18th-century Russian icon depicting various types of the Theotokos icons
Theotokos
–
Theotokos of Kazan
Theotokos
–
A series of articles on
Theotokos
–
Theotokos of Vladimir
25.
Saint
–
A saint, also historically known as a hallow, is a term used for a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness to God. Depending on the context and denomination, the term also retains its original Christian meaning, as any believer who is in Christ and in whom Christ dwells, whether in Heaven or on Earth. Depending on the religion, saints are recognized either by official ecclesiastical declaration, the English word saint comes from the Latin sanctus. The word translated the Greek ἅγιος, which derives from the verb ἁγιάζω, the word ἅγιος appears 229 times in the Greek New Testament, and its English translation 60 times in the corresponding text of the King James Version of the Bible. In the New Testament, saint did not denote the deceased who had recognized as especially holy or emulable. Many religions also use similar concepts to venerate persons worthy of some honor, the anthropologist Lawrence Babb in an article about Sathya Sai Baba asks the question Who is a saint. These saintly figures, he asserts, are the points of spiritual force-fields. They exert powerful attractive influence on followers but touch the lives of others in transforming ways as well. In the Bible, only one person is called a saint, They envied Moses also in the camp. The apostle Paul declared himself to be less than the least of all saints in Ephesians 3,8, in the Catholic Church, a saint is anyone in Heaven, whether recognized on Earth or not. There are many persons that the Church believes to be in Heaven who have not been formally canonized, sometimes the word saint also denotes living Christians. They remind us that the Church is holy, can never stop being holy and is called to show the holiness of God by living the life of Christ, the Catholic Church teaches that it does not make or create saints, but rather recognizes them. Proofs of heroicity required in the process of beatification will serve to illustrate in detail the general principles exposed above upon proof of their holiness or likeness to God. On 3 January 993, Pope John XV became the first pope to proclaim a person a saint, on the petition of the German ruler, before that time, the popular cults, or venerations, of saints had been local and spontaneous. Pope John XVIII subsequently permitted a cult of five Polish martyrs, walter of Pontoise was the last person in Western Europe to be canonized by an authority other than the Pope, Hugh de Boves, the Archbishop of Rouen, canonized him in 1153. Thenceforth a decree of Pope Alexander III in 1170 reserved the prerogative of canonization to the Pope, one source claims that there are over 10,000 named saints and beatified people from history, the Roman Martyrology and Orthodox sources, but no definitive head count. Alban Butler published Lives of the Saints in 1756, including a total of 1,486 saints, the latest revision of this book, edited by Rev. Herbert Thurston, SJ and British author Donald Attwater, contains the lives of 2,565 saints. Monsignor Robert Sarno, an official of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints of the Holy See, expressed that it is impossible to give an exact number of saints
Saint
–
In traditional
Christian iconography, saints are often depicted with
halos, a symbol of holiness; note how
Judas Iscariot at the forefront is the only apostle without a halo.
Saint
–
A portrait depicting
Saint Francis of Assisi by the Italian artist
Cimabue (1240-1302)
Saint
–
(
The Ninety-Five Theses)
26.
Rubric
–
A rubric is a word or section of text that is traditionally written or printed in red ink for emphasis. The word derives from the Latin, rubrica, meaning red ochre or red chalk, rubric can also mean the red ink or paint used to make rubrics, or the pigment used to make it. Although red was most often used, other colours came into use from the late Middle Ages onwards, various figurative senses of the word have been extended from its original sense. Usually these senses are used within the set phrase under rubric, for example, under this rubric, or under the rubric of Y. Instructions for a priest explaining what he must do during a liturgy were also rubricated in missals and the liturgical books. From this, rubric has a denotation of an instruction in a text. This is the oldest recorded definition in English, found in 1375, less formally, rubrics may refer to any liturgical action customarily performed, whether or not pursuant to a written instruction. The history, status, and authority of the content of rubrics are significant, in the past, some theologians distinguished between rubrics they considered of Divine origin and those merely of human origin. Rubrics were probably originally verbal, and then written in separate volumes, the earliest extant liturgical books do not contain them, but from references in texts of the first millennium it appears that written versions existed. Full rubrics regarding matters such as vesture, appearance of the altar, timing of specific liturgies, in modern liturgical books, e. g. Red is also used to distinguish words spoken by the celebrant. Other versions of the Bible have since adopted the popular practice, code of Rubrics Rubrication Scriptorium Rubrics of the Anglican Low Mass Very full set of rubrics, perversely, the words to be spoken are here shown in red, and the rubrics in black. Catholic Order of Mass Rubrics showing who speaks are in red, Kelmscott Press Examples of Kelmscott Press pages showing use of red accents. So this then is the preachment entitled Chicago tongue A flip book presentation of the Roycroft Press edition c,1913, illustrating use of rubrics in the Arts and Crafts tradition
Rubric
–
Dominican Missal, c. 1240, with rubrics in red (Historical Museum of
Lausanne)
Rubric
–
Rubrics in an illuminated
gradual of ca. 1500
27.
Book of Needs
–
For the Book of Common Order, sometimes called The Order of Geneva or Knoxs Liturgy, see that entry. The Euchologion is one of the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches, containing the portions of the services which are said by the bishop, priest. There are several different volumes of the book in use, the texts for these and the following services are provided in full. The Ritual or Pontifical contains the portions of Vespers, Matins, liturgy, the Euchologion contains first, directions for the deacon at the Vespers, Matins, and Divine Liturgy. The priests prayers and the deacons litanies for Vespers and Matins follow, then come the Liturgies, first, rubrics for the Divine Liturgy in general, and a long note about the arrangement of the prosphora at the Proskomide. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is the frame into which the other Liturgies are fitted, after the Liturgies follow a collection of the Sacred Mysteries with various rules, canons, and blessings. Basil and St. John Chrysostom, and the Rite of Consecrating Chrism on Holy Thursday, then comes a collection of prayers for various necessities. Then follows a miscellaneous collection of prayers and hymns, Canons of penance, against earthquakes, in time of pestilence, and war, more prayers for various occasions end the book. Thus the Euchologion is the handbook for bishops, priests, and it contains only the short responses of the choir, who have their own choir-books. The most ancient document of the Rite of Constantinople is the Barberini Euchologion, the first printed edition was published at Venice in 1526. This was followed by another, also in Venice, in 1638 of the Euchologion used by Jacques Goar for his edition. Another edition was published at Venice in 1862, which forms the basis of the current edition of the Great Euchologion, the text in the Venetian edition of 1862 was the basis of the edition published in Bucharest in 1703. The 7th edition, edited by Spiridion Zerbos, was printed in 1898 at the Phoenix press at Venice, the Orthodox Churches that use other liturgical languages have presses for their translations. The Euchologion was first translated into Church Slavonic in the 9th century, the definitive version of the Euchologion used in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was prepared by Peter Mohyla, and published in 1646. This edition contains some 20 rituals that were of local origin and are not performed in other Eastern churches, provost Alexios Maltzew of the Russian Embassy Church at Berlin edited the Euchologion in Old Slavonic and German with notes. A complete Euchologion, in volumes, was printed in Moscow by the Synodal Press in 1902. Greek-Catholics use the Propaganda edition and have a compendium containing only the Liturgies, Apostles and Gospels, baptism, marriage, unction, and confession. J. Goar, O. P. edited the Euchologion with very complete notes, explanations, and illustrations, euchologia are also found among the Coptic, Armenian and East Syrian Churches, which differ from the Byzantine
Book of Needs
–
A
server holding the Archieratikon for the
Russian Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.
28.
Pannikhida
–
A memorial service is a liturgical solemn service for the repose of the departed in the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches, which follow the Byzantine Rite. For this reason, memorial services have an air of penitence about them and they tend to be served more frequently during the four fasting seasons. If the service is for an individual, it is held at the deceaseds graveside. The deacon swings the censer throughout almost the entire service, while all stand holding lighted candles, near the end of the service, during the final troparia, all, either extinguish their candles, or place them in a candle holder by the memorial table. Each candle symbolizes the soul, which, as it were. The extinguishing of the candle, at the end of the service, symbolizes the fact that person will have to surrender his soul. The service is composed of Psalms, ektenias, hymns and prayers, in its outline it follows the general order of Matins and is, in effect, a truncated funeral service. Some of the most notable portions of the service are the Kontakion of the Departed, the memorial service is most frequently served at the end of the Divine Liturgy, however, it may also be served after Vespers, Matins, or as a separate service by itself. For the memorial service, koliva is often prepared and is placed in front of the table or an icon of Christ. Afterwards, it is blessed by the priest, who sprinkles it with holy water, the koliva is then taken to the refectory and is served to all those who attended the service. After an Orthodox Christian dies there are special Prayers for the Departure of the Soul that are said by the priest, on these days, not only is the memorial service served, but there are also special propers at Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy. e. The celebration of memorial services is forbidden from Holy Thursday through Bright Week and this is often celebrated in the narthex of the church on ordinary weekdays, especially during Great Lent. The Romanian 2016 film Sieranevada features a parastas in a Bucharest apartment with documentary precision, while the priest arrives, the family argues about several issues. The priest and his aides finally arrive, they sing and bless the home, a Wallachian ritual involving a suit is also a plot element. Prayer for the dead Koliva Wake Photo, Memorial Table Photo, Ektenia during Panikhida Photo, Blessing Kolyva at the end of a Panikhida
Pannikhida
–
Bishop conducting a parastas in a cemetery
Pannikhida
–
Golgotha (Crucifixion icon), Orthodox cathedral in
Vilnius. The lity tray (memorial stand) is at lower right, where the memorial services are celebrated. The stand has holders for the faithful to place candles.
Pannikhida
–
A dish of Koliva made from wheat and raisins, which is traditionally used during Orthodox memorial services.
29.
Holy Unction
–
Anointing of the sick, known also by other names, is a form of religious anointing or unction for the benefit of a sick person. It is practiced by many Christian churches and denominations, Anointing of the sick was a customary practice in many civilizations, including among the ancient Greeks and early Jewish communities. The use of oil for healing purposes is referred to in the writings of Hippocrates and it does not, of course, forbid the use of other names, for example the more archaic term Unction of the Sick or the term Extreme Unction. Cardinal Walter Kasper used the term in his intervention at the 2005 Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. However, the Church declared that Extreme unction, may also and more fittingly be called anointing of the sick, and has itself adopted the latter term, while not outlawing the former. Extreme Unction was the name for the sacrament in the West from the late twelfth century until 1972. Peter Lombard is the first writer known to have used the term, which did not become the name in the West till towards the end of the twelfth century. The word extreme indicated either that it was the last of the sacramental unctions or because at that time it was administered only when a patient was in extremis. Other names used in the West include the unction or blessing of consecrated oil, the unction of God, and the office of the unction. Among some Protestant bodies, who do not consider it a sacrament, in the Greek Church the sacrament is called Euchelaion. Other names are used, such as ἅγιον ἔλαιον, ἡγιασμένον ἔλαιον. The Community of Christ uses the term administration to the sick, the normal order of administration is, first Penance, next, Anointing, finally, Viaticum. The chief Biblical text concerning the rite is James 5, 14-15, matthew 10,8, Luke 10, 8-9 and Mark 6,13 are also quoted in this regard. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Coptic and Old Catholic Churches consider this anointing to be a sacrament, other Christians too, in particular Anglicans, Lutherans and some Protestant and other Christian communities use a rite of anointing the sick, without necessarily classifying it as a sacrament. In the Churches mentioned here by name, the oil used is blessed specifically for this purpose, an extensive account of the teaching of the Catholic Church on Anointing of the Sick is given in Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499–1532. Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven Sacraments recognized by the Catholic Church, only ordained priests can administer it, and any priest may carry the holy oil with him, so that in a case of necessity he can administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick. The Catholic Church sees the effects of the sacrament as follows, as the sacrament of Marriage gives grace for the married state, the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick gives grace for the state into which people enter through sickness. The duly blessed oil used in the sacrament is, as laid down in the Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum and it is blessed by the bishop of the diocese at the Chrism Mass he celebrates on Holy Thursday or on a day close to it
Holy Unction
–
Detail of
The Seven Sacraments (1445) by
Rogier van der Weyden showing the sacrament of Extreme Unction or Anointing of the Sick.
30.
Anointing
–
Anointing is the ritual act of pouring aromatic oil over a persons head or entire body. By extension, the term is applied to related acts of sprinkling, dousing, or smearing a person or object with any perfumed oil, milk, butter. Scented oils are used as perfumes and sharing them is an act of hospitality, in present usage, anointing is typically used for ceremonial blessings such as the coronation of European monarchs. This continues an earlier Hebrew practice most famously observed in the anointings of Aaron as high priest, the concept is important to the figures of the Messiah and the Christ who appear prominently in Jewish and Christian theology and eschatology. Anointing—particularly the anointing of the sick—may also be known as unction, the present verb derives from the now obsolete adjective anoint, equivalent to anointed. The adjective is first attested in 1303, derived from Old French enoint, the past participle of enoindre, from Latin inungere and it is thus cognate with unction. The oil used in a ceremonial anointment may be called chrism, several related words such as chrismation and chrismarium derive from the same root. Anointing served and serves three purposes, it is regarded as a means of health and comfort, as a token of honor. Used in conjunction with bathing, anointment with oil closes pores and it was regarded as counteracting the influence of the sun, reducing sweating. Aromatic oils naturally masked body and other odors, and other forms of fat could be combined with perfumes. Applications of oils and fats are used as traditional medicines. The Bible records olive oil being applied to the sick and poured into wounds and it is still used in traditional Indian medicine to remove illness, bad luck, and demonic possession. For sanitary and religious reasons, the bodies of the dead are sometimes anointed, in medieval and early modern Christianity, the practice was particularly associated with protection against vampires and ghouls who might otherwise take possession of the corpse. Anointing guests with oil as a mark of hospitality and token of honor is recorded in Egypt, Greece and it was a common custom among the ancient Hebrews and continued among the Arabs into the 20th century. For about 3,000 years, Persian Zoroastrians honor their guests with rose extract while holding a mirror in front of their guests face, the guests hold their palms out, collect the rose water, and then spread the perfumed liquid upon their faces and sometimes heads. The words of rooj kori aka might be said as well, east African Arabs traditionally anointed themselves with lions fat to gain courage and provoke fear in other animals. Australian Aborigines would rub themselves with a human victims caul fat to gain his powers, in religions like Christianity where animal sacrifice is no longer practiced, it is common to consecrate the oil in a special ceremony. The most famous example of this is on the throne of Tutankhamun, anointment of the corpse with sweet-smelling oils was an important part of mummification
Anointing
–
The Anointing of David, from the
Paris Psalter, 10th century (
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris).
Anointing
–
Anointing of Pharaoh in
Ancient Egypt, image from the 1901-1906
Jewish Encyclopedia.
Anointing
–
Jain Abhisheka at
Śravaṇa Beḷgoḷa
Anointing
–
Samuel anoints David,
Dura Europos,
Syria, 3rd century.
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