Apostle: Each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ which includes:
- Peter
- James
- John
- Andrew
- Bartholomew or Nathanael
- James, the Lesser or Younger
- Judas
- Jude or Thaddeus
- Matthew or Levi
- Philip
- Simon the Zealot
- Thomas
| Apostolic Succession: The ministry of the Church is derived from Christ through successive bishops |
| Asceticism: Derived from the Greek word for practice/exercise and denoting rigorous religious practices meant to promote spiritual discipline |
| Bethlehem: Birthplace of Jesus Christ. |
| Bible: Book of sacred and holy texts and scriptures. Studied and practiced by Christians |
| Bishop: The highest order of minister in the Christian Church |
| Calvary: Death-place of Jesus Christ. |
| Catherine of Siena: Showed considerable spiritual insight in her “Book of Divine Providence” |
| catholic (as opposed to Catholic): Latin word for universal |
| Charlemagne: Was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope at Christmas in 800 |
| Christianity: The religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices. |
| Creed: Concise formal statement of Christian doctrine |
| Cross: Wooden beams perpendicular to each other. Known for its crucifixion. |
| Crucifixion: The Roman’s method of punishment which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang, perhaps for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. |
| Disciples: A personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles. |
| Ethiopia: Fourth century historical accounts indicate missionaries came from the east across the Red Sea |
| Ethiopian Church: The presiding bishop was not native but from Alexandria as late as 1951. |
| God: The creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being. |
| Hildegard of Bingen: Widely recognized as a seer this gave her special authority rare for women |
| Hypostasis: A nature in its concrete realization in a particular thing or person |
| India: Claims to be founded by the Apostle Thomas, which is quite possible |
| Jerome: Monk who translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate) |
| Jesus Christ: Son of God. Crucified on the cross aged 33 years old. Known as a teacher and miracle maker. |
| Julian of Norwich: An anchorite who had intense visions of Jesus Christ |
| New Testament: The second part of the Christian biblical canon |
| Nicene Creed: Statement of belief drawn up at the Council of Nicaea (325) to deny Arianism |
| Oecumenical: Greek for household, empire, and by extension the civilized world |
| Old Testament: The first part of the Christian biblical canon |
| Original Sin: The sin of Adam and Eve which is passed on to children through sexual intercourse |
| Ousia: Greek for substance or essence |
| Patriarchate: One of the five chief sees of Christendom governing neighboring territory |
| Predestination: The teaching that God has determined beforehand who is to be saved |
| Prosopon: Greek for person or persona or mask (as in play) |
| Schism: When Christians formally separate from one another |
| Teresa of Avila: Desired to be a spiritual guide, wrote “Interior Castle” and was friends with John of the Cross |
| The Arian Controversy: The debate over the nature and extent of the divinity of Christ |
| The church of the East: They traveled east astonishing distance including to India and China |
| Thecla: Virgin disciple of Paul known from apocryphal Acts |
| Trinity: Three-in-one. The Father (God), The Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit. |
