The antimension (Greek: in place of an altar ) is a decorated cloth that fulfils the same functions as a communion table. It is usually adorned with an engraved or hand-drawn image of the Entombment,...

Foundation document or book of instructions regulating the life of a monastery. Greek for “following the order.”

Collection of sayings of saints, martyrs and hierarchs, or tales about them. Derived from the Greek paterikon, meaning “father’s book” or “lives of the fathers.”

Barrier in Orthodox churches originally separating the laity in the nave from the priests preparing the sacraments at the altar. Evolved into the iconostasis by the fifteenth century. Derived from th...

Written account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Generally refers to the four canonical books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.