Glossary of Terms
Paschal Candle
A large candle that symbolizes the risen Christ. It is often decorated with a cross, symbols of the resurrection, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, and the year. The term “Paschal” concerns Easter or Passover. At the Easter Vigil, the Paschal candle is lit from the new fire. It is carried by the deacon, who […]
Paschal Mystery
In this context, the word “mystery” means a transcendent purpose of God. It exceeds human understanding, but we have some knowledge and experience of it. Paschal means pertaining to Easter (the Pascha) and to its antecedent the Hebrew Passover. The Passover has the promise of redemption and the gift of freedom at the Red Sea. […]
Passion
The redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ in the events surrounding his death. The term is from the Latin passio, “suffering.” A gospel narrative of the Passion is called the Passion. It may also be called the Passion gospel or the Passion narrative. It is read liturgically during Holy Week. The accounts of Matthew, Mark, or […]
Passion Gospel, Passion Narrative
See Passion.
Passion Sunday
See Palm Sunday (The Sunday of the Passion).
Passover
A Jewish festival of eight days that celebrates the events leading to the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. According to the accounts of the Book of Exodus, a lamb was sacrificed by each household. Its blood was sprinkled on the lintel and door posts so that the Lord would pass over houses which bore these markings […]
Pastor, Pastoral Ministry
The word “pastor” derives from the work of tending sheep: a pastor is one who cares for sheep. The term came into the Christian understanding of the ordained ministry because of the frequent references in Holy Scripture to God as a shepherd of the people of Israel and Jesus as the Good Shepherd. A priest […]
Pastoral Care
The ministry of caring at the heart of the church's life. It may include hospital visitation, counseling, and ministries of shared presence, listening, and support. Pastoral care can refer to the ministries of hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors and therapists, social workers, and other professionals who serve in the name of the church. It also includes […]
Pastoral Leader
A lay person licensed under special circumstances to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation. A pastoral leader may be licensed to lead regularly the offices authorized by the Prayer Book. This ministry is licensed under the provisions of the canon for licensed lay persons. A pastoral leader must be a confirmed adult communicant […]
Pastoral Letter
From the Latin littera pastoral, the original definition was an official letter addressed by a bishop to all members of the diocese. Pastoral letters may be issued in the Episcopal Church by the Presiding Bishop, the House of Bishops, or any diocesan bishop. The canons require that pastoral letters of the House of Bishops and […]
Pastoral Offices
Prayer Book services that are done on an occasional basis according to pastoral need at significant moments in the lives of church members. The pastoral offices are also known as occasional offices. These services include the sacramental rites of Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of a Penitent, and Unction. These sacramental rites are means of grace, […]
Pastoral Staff
See Crozier, or Crosier.
Paten
A shallow dish or small plate for the bread at the eucharist. The bread is placed on the paten for consecration and distribution. It typically matches the chalice. The paten should be large enough to hold all the wafers or pieces of bread that will be distributed at communion.
Pater Noster
See Lord's Prayer, The.
Patrick
(c. 390-c. 460). Bishop and missionary of Ireland. He was born into a Christian family somewhere on the northwest coast of Britain. Patrick was the son of a local town councilman and deacon of the church. When Patrick was about sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates and forced to serve as a slave for […]
Patripassianism
From the Latin pater, “father,” and passio, “suffering,” it is a form of modalism chiefly associated with a third-century Roman Christian teacher, Praxeas, whose work is known to us chiefly through Tertullian's treatise, Against Praxeas. Praxeas regarded Word and Spirit as mere names or modes of being of the one God. Praxeas held that the […]
Patristics
The term is from the Latin and Greek for “father.” It is the study of the lives and writings of the “Fathers” of the first centuries of the church. It now usually includes the study of the contributions of the “Mothers” of this period as well, when their history and works can be discovered. The […]
Patronal Feast
The feast of the patron saint or title of a church, school, religious order, or other organization. The custom of having a patron saint can be traced to the practice of building churches over the tombs of martyrs. Patron saints may be chosen for a variety of reasons. For example, a church that was founded […]
Patteson, John Coleridge
(Apr. 1, 1827-Sept. 21, 1871). Bishop and martyr. Born in London, Patteson graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, in 1849, and in 1852 became a fellow at Merton College. He was ordained deacon on Sept. 14, 1853, and priest on Sept. 24, 1854. After a brief ministry at Alfington, Devonshire, he was persuaded by George Augustus […]
Paul, Saint
(d. c. 64). Apostle to the Gentiles, author of several NT epistles, preeminent Christian missionary. He was originally named Saul. He was a Jew of the Diaspora, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, and a native of Tarsus in Cilicia. He spoke and wrote in Greek. Saul held Roman citizenship from birth, and his […]
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.