Glossary of Terms
Prime
The second office of the seven canonical hours. It was usually recited at about 6 a.m., which was known as the first hour. Prime along with terce, sext, and none constituted the Little Hours of the Divine Office. Material from the office of Prime was included in the 1549 Prayer Book service of Matins, which […]
Prior
A man who is head of a religious house known as a priory, or the second person in authority of an abbey. An abbot is a man who is the head of an abbey. In an abbey, the prior may be selected by the abbot, elected by the community, or named by the general chapter […]
Prioress
A woman who is head of a religious house known as a priory, or the second person in authority of an abbey. An abbess is a woman who is the head of an abbey. In an abbey, the prioress may be selected by the abbess, elected by the community, or named by the general chapter […]
Priory
A religious house that has a prior or prioress as superior.
Pro-Cathedral
A church named by a diocesan bishop to serve as a cathedral but which remains under the governance of the vestry and dean. It is used as a cathedral for diocesan purposes, but without the formation of a legal cathedral organization and without a cathedral chapter. It is not the official cathedral of the diocese. […]
Process Theology
A theological approach that understands ultimate reality in terms of a dynamic process of becoming and ongoing change. This processive understanding may be contrasted with static notions of being that are based in Aristotelian and scholastic categories. Existence is understood in terms of the mutual interaction of entities, through which change occurs. Process theology is […]
Procession (Liturgical)
A movement of participants in a liturgy from one place to another. The use of processions at the eucharist followed the legalization od Christianity by Constantine in the fourth century. Church services became more formalized with increased participation in Christian liturgies and larger buildings for Christian worship. Services included entrance rites with a procession of […]
Processional Cross
A cross or crucifix mounted on a pol that is carried in a procession by an acolyte or server.
Processions (Trinitarian)
The divine processions of the Son and the Spirit in the immanent (internal) life of God are at the heart of the distinctions of the persons of the Trinity. Christian theology affirms that the Son proceeds from the Father (see Jn 8:42). Western theology has affirmed that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the […]
Profane
Expressing contempt or blasphemous disrespect for God or the sacred. For example, vandalism or desecration of a church is a profane act. The BOS provides a form for the Restoration of Things Profaned. It may be used for the restoration to sacred use of a church building, altar, font, or other consecrated objects that have […]
Professed Member of a Monastic Order
A member of a monastic or religious community who has taken vows. This person has a voice in the chapter (legislative gathering) of the community. Some communities distinguish between the rights of members in temporary vows and those in final vows.
Profession (Monastic)
The commitment by which one becomes a full member of a monastic or religious community. This is usually through the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Temporary vows, or “junior profession,” typically follows the novitiate and precedes life profession and full membership in the community.
Proper
Variable parts of the eucharistic liturgy and the Daily Office which are appointed for a particular day according the the season or occasion. These parts of the liturgy may be contrasted with the fixed portions and options of the liturgy which do not vary with the season or occasion. The proper for the Eucharist includes […]
Prophet, Prophecy
A prophet in the OT was called a messenger to proclaim the word of the God of the covenant to the people of the covenant. Prophecy refers to the message or work of a prophet. The prophetic movement in Israel developed over a period of time, from the eleventh century B.C. with ecstatic prophetic groups, […]
Propitiation
The appeasement of divine wrath through sacrifice or its substitute in prayer. The term is not in current usage. It was used in older versions of the BCP. It appears three times in the Authorized Version (King James) of the Bible and four times in the Revised Version. The death of Jesus Christ has been […]
Proposed Book
The Book of Common Prayer, . . . As Revised and Proposed to the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church (1786) incorporated recommendations from Connecticut and from the other New England states and revisions of a convention of states south of New England. The book was edited by William White of Philadelphia, William Smith of […]
Proposed Book of Common Prayer
Proposals for revision of the 1928 BCP were first published by the Standing Liturgical Commission in a series of Prayer Book Studies, the first of which was published in 1950. When trial use of a revision of the eucharistic rite was authorized by the 1967 General Convention, pew copies were printed in a book titled […]
Prostration
Lying full length and face down on the floor or ground as a gesture of humility and devotion. This posture may also express adoration or submission. Historically, prostrations have been made in some churches by the celebrant and assisting ministers at the beginning of the Good Friday service and during litanies at the Easter Vigil […]
Protestant Churchman, The
This weekly magazine began publication on Aug. 12, 1843, in New York City. In 1862 its name was changed to Christian Times. In 1866 the title was changed to the Episcopalian. The Episcopalian was published simultaneously in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore until 1869. It was mainly a news magazine. With the first issue of […]
Protestant Episcopal Quarterly Review and Church Register
A low church publication critical of Roman Catholicism that was published in New York from Jan. 1854 until Oct. 1861, by the Rev. Herman Dyer.
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.