What’sIt!

Apostle: Each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ which includes:

  1. Peter
  2. James
  3. John
  4. Andrew
  5. Bartholomew or Nathanael
  6. James, the Lesser or Younger
  7. Judas
  8. Jude or Thaddeus
  9. Matthew or Levi
  10. Philip
  11. Simon the Zealot
  12. 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.
50 Total Definitions
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