Roman Catholic church - Page 3 of 3

Ethiopian Heresies And Theological Controversies

ETHIOPIAN HERESIES AND THEOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES Although isolated from the Christian world until the twentieth century, Ethiopia has had knowledge, and even followers, of the major heresies that caused schism and created ecclesiastical minorities in the early history of the Christian church. A letter from the emperor Constantius II (337-361) (Athanasius,1857, cols. 636-37) shows a reasonable …

Ethiopian Heresies And Theological Controversies Read More »

Epiclesis

Liturgy / By Armia FAYEZ

EPICLESIS The invoking of the name of God upon a person or thing. Although in the baptismal liturgy the Holy Trinity is invoked upon the baptized person, and in the rites of confirmation and ordination the invocation is of the Holy Spirit, this article is limited to the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist. In the …

Epiclesis Read More »

Ephraem Syrus, Saint (c. 306-373)

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

EPHRAEM SYRUS, SAINT (c. 306-373) One of the most productive spiritual writers of the fourth century. Lives of Saint Ephraem (Bibliotheca Hagiographica Orientalis 269) are late and provide us with no objective information about him. His portrait can best be traced through the considerable quantity of his works. He was born at Nisibis around 306 …

Ephraem Syrus, Saint (c. 306-373) Read More »

Isidhurus (1867-1942)

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

ISIDHURUS (1867-1942) Bishop and abbot who wrote a history of the Coptic church. Isidhurus was born at Homs, Syria, into a pious Christian family named Na‘um. In 1880 he emigrated to Alexandria at the age of thirteen in the company of a relative, Hegumenos Isaiah, who was the resident priest in charge of the Coptic …

Isidhurus (1867-1942) Read More »

Immaculate Conception

Theology / By Armia FAYEZ

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION The doctrine held by the Roman Catholic church that from the very first moment of her conception, the Virgin Mary was free from the stain of original sin, and that, unlike the rest of mankind, she inherited human nature in an unsullied condition to make her worthy of being the Mother of Christ. …

Immaculate Conception Read More »

Jerome, Saint

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

JEROME, SAINT (c. 347-419/420) A father of the church who was one of the greatest biblical scholars of all time. His foremost accomplishment was translating the Bible from its original languages into Latin. Jerome (Eusebius Hieronymus in Latin) was born in Stridon at the head of the Adriatic. His advanced education began in Rome and …

Jerome, Saint Read More »

Agnus Dei, Lamb Of God

Liturgy / By Youssef Matta

AGNUS DEI, Lamb of God A designation of Jesus Christ based on Isaiah 53:7 and used by John the Baptist who, upon seeing Jesus Christ, said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). The formula sounds the theme of divine sacrifice, calling to mind the sacrifice of …

Agnus Dei, Lamb Of God Read More »

Absolution

Liturgy / By Youssef Matta

ABSOLUTION The pronouncement of remission to the penitent, granting him release from the guilt of sin if he is truly contrite over his trespass, confesses to a priest, and promises not to revert to his former ways. The priest gives this absolution, not in his own name, but in the name of God, in accordance …

Absolution Read More »