Glossary of Terms

As a field of study, the subject matter of ethics is the moral life. The moral life itself has been variously understood, although two approaches have most fundamentally defined ethics. One approach emphasizes human fulfillment and happiness and results in a teleological ethic focusing on ends. The other approach emphasizes moral duty and results in […]

Eucharist

The sacrament of Christ's body and blood, and the principal act of Christian worship. The term is from the Greek, “thanksgiving.” Jesus instituted the eucharist “on the night when he was betrayed.” At the Last Supper he shared the bread and cup of wine at a sacred meal with his disciples. He identified the bread […]

Eucharistic Adoration

Adoration of God in prayer “is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God's presence” (BCP, p. 857). Eucharistic adoration is devotional adoration of the real presence of Christ in the consecrated bread and wine of the eucharist. Private eucharistic adoration often involves prayer near the tabernacle […]

Eucharistic Canon

The fixed portion of the eucharistic prayer which does not vary with the liturgical season or occasion. See Canon.

Eucharistic Elements

Bread and wine that are consecrated in the eucharist. The bread recalls the work of human hands required to harvest the wheat and make the bread, and the companionship of sharing. The wine recalls festivity and celebration, along with sacrifice. These elements of the communal meal are offered by the congregation and blessed during the […]

Eucharistic Prayer

This prayer over the bread and wine at communion begins with the Sursum Corda dialogue and concludes with the doxology and the Great Amen. The prayer is also called The Great Thanksgiving, the anaphora, the prayer of consecration, and the canon of the Mass. The BCP includes eight eucharistic prayers: two for Rite 1 (pp. […]

Eucharistic Sacrifice

That which is offered to God in the Holy Communion. The identification of Jesus' sacrifice with the eucharist is derived from the Last Supper, when Jesus identified the bread with his body and the wine with his blood of the new covenant (see 1 Cor 11:23-26; Mk 14:22-25). The Letter to the Hebrews describes Christ […]

Eucharistic Sharing

The sharing of the Holy Communion among members of different churches. Conditions for such admission are defined and stated by each church for itself. See Ecumenical Movement.

Eucharistic Vestments

Traditional liturgical garments worn at the celebration of the eucharist. In medieval times in the western church, priests officiating at the altar wore six garments over the cassock. These were the amice (a loose collar or hood), the alb (a full-length sleeved gown), and girdle. Over them was the stole, the maniple on the left […]

Eutychianism

Heretical teaching about the person of Christ associated with Eutyches (c. 378-454). He was the archimandrite (monastic superior) of a large monastery in Constantinople, and influential at the imperial court in Constantinople in the middle of the fifth century. Eutyches was caught up in the controversy then raging over the relationship between the humanity and […]

Evangelical

Formed from the noun evangel (from the Greek euanggelion, "good news"), it means simply "pertaining to the gospel." Hooker referred to the Magnificat, Benedictus, and Nunc Dimittis as "Evangelical Hymns" since their texts come from the Gospel of Luke. During the intra-Protestant controversies in Germany and Switzerland in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Lutherans […]

Evangelical Catholic, The

This journal was published biweekly and then weekly from Sept. 13, 1851, until Dec. 30, 1852. It was founded and edited by William Augustus Muhlenberg. It was intended to be above the party divisions of the Episcopal Church at the time. Muhlenberg wanted to unite evangelical and catholic in the church. Its subtitle called it […]

Evangelical Catholics

This was a party or style of churchmanship which was advocated primarily by William Augustus Muhlenberg. Muhlenberg developed its ideas in his publication The Evangelical Catholic. An evangelical catholic is evangelical in stressing a personal faith in Jesus Christ and the role of the emotions in the Christian life. An evangelical catholic is catholic by […]

Evangelical Movement, Evangelicalism

Evangelicalism first expressed itself in the Episcopal Church during the Great Awakening. From 1811 until 1873, there was a very significant evangelical movement or party within the Episcopal Church. The beginning of the movement can be dated from the consecration of Alexander Viets Griswold as Bishop of the Eastern Diocese on May 29, 1811. The […]

Evangelical Quarterly, The

It was published by the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, also known as the Evangelical Knowledge Society. It was published in Philadelphia from Jan. 1860, until Sept. 1862.

Evangelism, Evangelist

From the Greek euangelion, "good news." An evangelist is one who tells the story of Jesus. The epistle to the Ephesians (4:11) names evangelists after apostles and prophets in the list of ministers in the NT church. Little else is said about evangelists or evangelism except that Philip was an evangelist (Acts 21:8), and Paul […]

Evans, Hugh Davey

(Apr. 26, 1792-July 16, 1868). Lay theologian and defender of high church principles. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Evans began to study law when he was eighteen, and entered practice on Aug. 19, 1815. Throughout his life, Evans was a widely published author and an editor of church journals. From 1843 until 1856, he […]

Eve (liturgical)

The evening or day before a feast or other important celebration. Depending on local customs and practice, the celebration of a feast may begin on the eve of the feast. In many parishes, the principal Christmas services take place on Christmas Eve. The BCP provides directions for a Vigil of Pentecost (pp. 175, 227). The […]

Evening Prayer

One of the principal Daily Offices. Evening Prayer has been the title for the Evening Office in Anglican worship since the 1552 revision of the Prayer Book. The BCP provides forms for Daily Evening Prayer in traditional and contemporary language (pp. 61, 115). Evening Prayer may begin with an opening sentence of scripture and with […]

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church