Glossary of Terms

One of the twelve apostles. Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee. He seems to have belonged to a small group who were under the influence of John the Baptist. In the synoptic gospels there is no mention of Philip except in the list of apostles. In the Gospel According to John he is mentioned several […]

Philippine Independent Church

At the end of the Spanish-American War in 1901, a number of Roman Catholic clergy in the Philippines wanted to be independent of the Roman Catholic bishops of Spain. On Aug. 3, 1902, they established an independent Catholic Church and elected Gregorio Aglipay their first Supreme Bishop. On Apr. 7, 1948, three bishops of the […]

Philippines, Diocese of the

The 1901 General Convention established the Missionary District of the Philippines, sometimes called the Philippine Islands. In 1972 it became the Missionary Diocese of the Philippines. The Cathedral Church of St. Mary and St. John was consecrated in 1902. In July 1988 the House of Bishops voted to release the Philippine Episcopal Church to form […]

Phos hilaron

The traditional candle-lighting hymn, which begins “O gracious Light, pure brightness of the ever living Father in heaven.” It appears in the BCP at Evening Prayer before the selection from the Psalter and in the Order of Worship for the Evening after the candle lighting (BCP, pp. 64, 112, 118). It was an ancient hymn […]

Phyletism

The principle of autonomy for national churches in Eastern Orthodoxy. It arose after the destruction of Constantinople in 1453 and gave autonomy to the various churches of the Byzantine Rite. Each national church was to be independent of the ecclesiastical control of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. See Byzantine Rite.

Piccard, Jeanette Ridlon

(Jan. 5, 1895-May 17, 1981). First woman ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. She was born in Chicago. Piccard received her B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from Bryn Mawr College in 1918, her M.S. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1919, and her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Minnesota in […]

Pike, James Albert

(Feb. 14, 1913-c. Sept. 3-7, 1969). Controversial theologian and bishop. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Pike received his B.A. in 1934 and his LL.B. in 1936, both from the University of California at Los Angeles. In 1938 he received his J.S.D. from Yale University. After a law career in Washington, D. C., and […]

Pilgrim

A pilgrim is one who goes on a pilgrimage or journey with a religious or devotional intention. See Pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage

A journey taken with a religious or devotional intention. Pilgrimages are typically made to shrines, holy places, or locations of religious significance. They may be made as prayers of thanksgiving, penitence, intercession, or petition. Pilgrimages have been practiced in many religious traditions, including Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Lk 2:41 records that Jesus' parents went […]

Pilmore, or Pilmoor, Joseph

(Oct. 31, 1739-July 24, 1825). A leading early evangelical preacher. He was born in Tadmouth, England. Pilmore was educated in John Wesley's school at Kingswood and was a Methodist lay missionary in Great Britain, 1767-1769. In 1769 he came to the American colonies. He served as a lay missionary from 1769 until 1774, when he […]

Piscina

A small sink, basin, or niche that empties into the earth instead of a sewer. It is typically located in the sacristy or in the wall of the sanctuary. It may be used for the reverent disposal of consecrated wine from the eucharist, blessed water from baptism, and water used in washing vessels that have […]

Pittenger, W. Norman

(July 23, 1905-June 19, 1997). Leading process theologian. He was born in Bogota, New Jersey. Pittenger received his S.T.B. from the General Theological Seminary in 1936. He was ordained deacon on June 11, 1936, and priest on Feb. 24, 1937. He began teaching at General Seminary while still a student in 1935. He taught apologetics […]

Pittsburgh, Diocese of

The 1865 General Convention voted “that all that portion of the State of Pennsylvania lying west of the eastern lines of the counties of McKean, Cameron, Clearfield, Cambria, and Somerset . . . be separated from the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and formed into a new Diocese.” The primary convention of this new diocese met at […]

Pix

See Pyx.

Plainchant

See Plainsong.

Plainsong

Sacred unison (monophonic) chant. Plainsong dates from the earliest centuries of Christianity. It has one melody (monodic). The plainsong melody is traditionally sung without musical accompaniment, although it is now at times accompanied by organ harmonies. Plainsong was most frequently based on the psalms. It is also used for canticles, antiphons, other sung liturgical texts, […]

Plainsong Psalter, The

This volume, edited by James Litton and published by the Church Hymnal Corporation in 1988, includes the entire Psalter of the BCP, plus the antiphons which were compiled by Howard E. Galley, Jr., and published in his The Prayer Book Office (1980). See Plainsong.

Planeta

See Chasuble.

Plate (Offering)

Undesignated or “loose” offering of money that is among the gifts presented at the offertory (BCP, pp. 333, 361). The term may be used to distinguish the loose offering of money from pledge payments or gifts of money designated for specific purposes. The term is associated with the practice of putting the money in an […]

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church