A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W Z

A

Abbess

A woman who is the head of a religious community (convent)

Abbot

A man who is the head of a religious community (monastery)

Abjure

Renounce under oath, recant

Advent

Four weeks of preparation before Christmas; 1st season of the church year & begins four Sundays before Christmas; called Nativity Lent in Eastern tradition & begins November 15

Aillas

A Quechua word meaning victory, victory

Akathist

A chanted liturgy dedicated to a saint, holy event, or one of the persons of the Holy Trinity

Alsace

Northeastern region of France, borders on Germany

Ambo

a pulpit or raised reading stand

Anathema

Formal ecclesiastical ban or curse

Anatolia

Region that is now the Asian portion of modern Turkey

Anatolian

of or pertaining to Anatolia: Asia Minor; now the western two-thirds of Turkey

Andriaki

Port to the city of Myra in Bishop Nicholas' time

Antidoron

Ordinary leavened bread, blessed but not consecrated; distributed following Divine Liturgy in Orthodox tradition

Apollinarian

Person following Apollinarius, whose false teaching was declared heresy in the 4th century

Apulia

Region in southeastern Italy, Bari is the capital

Arius

Early Christian theologian; taught that Jesus (Son of God) was subordinate to God the Father, not co-eternal; this Arianism was declared heresy at the Council of Nicaea

Artemis

Ancient Greek goddess, twin sister of Apollo, prominent in Asia Minor where she was seen primarily as a fertility goddess; identified with Roman goddess Diana

Asia Minor

Large peninsula between the Mediterranean and Black Seas; includes most of Turkey; Asia Minor is where St. Nicholas lived, seven centuries before Turks came to the area

Asperges

Act of sprinkling with holy water

Athanasius

Theologian and later Patriarch of Alexandria; attended Council of Nicaea as a deacon where he defended doctrine that Christ is the same substance as God the Father against the Arian heresy

Augustine of Hippo

Philosopher and theologian, known as Doctor of Grace, established the concepts of original sin and just war; patron of the Augustinian Order and his Confessions are the among the earliest writings on spirituality

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B

Banket

Dutch almond-filled pastry

Bari

City in southeast Italy; St. Nicholas relics were taken there in 1087

Basilica

A church with a privileged canonical status granted by the Pope or of a particular architectural style

Bespoke

Custom-made

Bishop

The highest order of ministry; supervises a number of local churches; guards the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole church

Bishopric

Office or rank of a bishop

Black Fast

The most rigorous form of fasting, allowing only one meal, taken after sunset, with no meat, eggs, butter cheese, milk, nor wine

Black Peter

Comes with St. Nicholas in the Netherlands, a Moor from Africa; Zwarte Piet

Boy Bishop

Custom of electing a Boy Bishop on St. Nicholas Day; widespread in Europe in the Middle Ages, especially popular in England; carried out duties until the Holy Innocents Day, Dec 28

Brittany

Most western region of France

Byzantium

The city on the Bosporus before it became known as Contstantinople in AD 330, during the reign of Constantine the Great

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C

Canon

Clergy person connected to a cathedral chapter, may be honorary; or, by example, modeling a virtue, i.e., Nicholas, a canon, or measure, of faith; church law or rules

Cellarer

The person in a monastic community who is responsible for the supply of food and drink

Chalcedon

Fourth ecumenical council that described the full humanity and divinity of Jesus

Chalice

Cup used in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Chasuble

Outer poncho-like garment, worn by the priest or minister serving as celebrant at Holy Communion/Eucharist

Christkindl

Christ Child who brings gifts in Germany and Austria

Christkindlmarkt

European Christmas market, usually outdoors with small wooden market stalls

Christology

Theological study of the nature of Jesus the Christ, especially how the divine and human relate to his person

Constantine

Roman Emperor from AD 306-337; his Edict of Milan, 313, fully legalized Christianity throughout the Roman Empire

Constantinople

Capital of the Roman Empire under Constantine; now Istanbul

Convent

Place where a community of nuns lives

Cope

Cloak-like garment, or cape, worn by bishops and clergy in procession or for other formal events

Council of Nicaea

First Ecumenical Council, AD 325; called to preserve unity of the church which was threatened by competing claims about the nature of Jesus Christ

Crete

Largest Greek island and the 5th largest island in the Mediterranean Sea

Crozier

Bishop's gold-colored staff, shaped like a shepherd's crook; symbol of office showing that, like the Good Shepherd, bishops are spiritual shepherds to the people; also crosier

Crypt

Underground room beneath the main floor of a church; used as chapel or burial place

Czar

The emperor or ruler of Russia before 1917

Czars

the emperor or ruler of Russia before 1917

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D

Dean

Clergy person with responsibility for the property and adminisration of a cathedral

Deity

A god or goddess

Demre

Modern name for the city of Myra in Turkey

Diocese

District or churches under the authority of a bishop

Diocletian

Roman Emperor from AD 284-305; persecuted Christians

Diskos

Usually a small plate to hold bread on the altar for Divine Liturgy or Eucharist; paten

Dowry

Money or property a woman brings to marriage; such payment was necessary in order to marry in the ancient world

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E

Ecumenical

Encouraging Christian unity among all churches

Elision

Omitting something

Engolpion

Medallion with an icon in the center worn by an Orthodox bishop

Epitrachelion

the stole worn by Orthodox and Eastern Catholic priests and bishops as the symbol of their priesthood

Ex-voto

An object or painting left in gratitude as testimony for protection received, not as intercession for future aid

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F

Famine

a severe lack of food, causing hunger, starvation, and death

Feast Day

Commemorates a saint's birth into life eternal (earthly death date); any religious festival

Flanders

Northern Dutch-speaking part of Belgium

Forerunner

John the Baptist

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G

Galerius

Roman Emperor from AD 305-311;
began Christian persecution under Diocletian in 303; cancelled perscutions in 311 with the general edict of toleration, confirmed with Licinius & Constantine

Gnostic

Person who believes the knowledge of God is enabled by secret teachings

Gnosticism

In the time of the early church a way of thinking that rejected understanding the nature of Christ as established by the First Ecumenical Council

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H

Hagiography

Idealized, may be somewhat stylized, biography of a saint

Heresiarch

leader of a heretical (non-orthodox) doctrine or movement

Hierarch

One who has a high position of pastoral and governmental authority in the Eastern Church; patriarch or metropolitan

Hogshead

a large cask or barrel

Homoousios

Greek word meaning same substance or same essence, used by the First Ecumenical Council to say that Jesus Christ is, in the words of the Nicene Creed, of one Being with the Father

Hypostasis

Attributes of a particular person

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I

Icon

Stylized image of Christ, the Virgin, or saints, for devotional use in church or home; a window into heaven; present in Eastern Rite churches since the 6th century

Iconoclast

A person who destroys images used in worship

Iconostas

Screen with doors and rows of icons, separates the bema (altar area) from the nave (place where the congregation worships)

Irving, Washington

Early American writer (1783-1859); source of Dutch-American St. Nicholas legends

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K

Karyes

The largest settlement in Mount Athos; seat of the clerical and secular administration of Mount Athos

Kathismata

A division of the Psalter

Katholicon or Katholikon

The main temple (church building) of an Eastern Orthodox monastery or diocese

Knecht Ruprecht

St. Nicholas' helper in Germany; originally a farm servant

Krampus

Frightening figure, dressed in fur, with horns and chains, who comes with St. Nicholas in Austria

Kruidnoten

Small round crisp Dutch cookies, similar to pepernoten, but more tender

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L

Lampada

Oil lamp hanging before an icon

Lauds

In Eastern Orthodox tradition the Lauds are part of the early morning service of Matins

Liegeman

Devoted follower or loyal subject

Livingston, Henry

Poet, among other things, from Poughkeepsie, New York; some scholars believe he was the author of &A; Visit from St. Nicholas" ("'Twas the Night Before Christmas")

Logos

Greek for word; symbol for Christ, the Word made flesh

Lorraine

Region in northeast France, borders on Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany

Lycia

Roman province in Asia Minor, along what is now the southern coast of Turkey

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M

Mace

A ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of office

Manna

"Manna of Saint Nicholas" is pure water formed in the tomb of the Saint; it formed in the tomb in Myra and has continued to do so in Bari, Italy; formerly called "oil"; "Myron" in Eastern tradition

massa damnata

The damned masses; all are condemned and need grace

Matins

The first prayer service of the day, often at daybreak

Metochion

Parish church or monastery that is dependent on a particular monastery for blessing and support

Metropolitan

In Eastern Orthodox tradtion, the head of an ecclesiastical province, larger than a diocese, an archbishop

Miter

Bishop's hat; tall and pointed in the Western Church; rounded like a turban with a cross on top in the Eastern Church; also mitre

Moleben

An Orthodox service of intercession or supplication in honor of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, or a particular saint or martyr

Moore, Clement Clark

Clark Professor at the Episcopal General Theological Seminary in New York; commonly believed to have written "A Visit From St. Nicholas", or "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Myra

City on the southern Mediterranean seacoast of what is now Turkey; the place where St. Nicholas served as bishop

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N

Name Day

Particular day associated with a given name, especially a saint's name celebrated on the saint's feast day

Nast, Thomas

Illustrator and cartoonist; drawings in Harper's Weekly from 1863-1888 strongly influenced the American Santa image

Nativity Fast

Forty day period before the Nativity Feast (Christmas) as observed in Eastern churches

Nativity Lent

Period of preparation for Christmas, 15 November through 24 December, in the Eastern church; Advent in the Western church begins four Sundays before Christmas

New Amsterdam

Colonial Dutch town on Manhattan, capital of New Netherland; renamed New York

New Netherland

North American Dutch colony along the Hudson and lower Delaware rivers; taken over by England in 1669

Nicaea

ancient city in Asia Minor; first Ecumenical Council held there, leading to adoption of the Nicene Creed

Nicene Creed

Widely recognized statement of faith in the Christian church; used every Sunday in several traditions; incorporates essential clauses from the Council of Nicaea (AD 325)

Nicholas Bishop

Another term for Boy Bishop

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Northwestern region of France, borders on Belgium; known as French Flanders

Novena

A special prayer to be offered on nine consecutive days or a cycle of prayers for nine days; a St. Nicholas novena would often begin November 28th and last until December 6th, St. Nicholas Day

Nun

A woman who belongs to a religious order and lives under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

Nuncio

Ecclesiastical envoy; messenger

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O

Oka

A unit of weight, about 2.75 pounds

Omophorion

Liturgical stole, marked with crosses, worn by bishops in the Eastern Church

Origen

Theologian in the 3rd century who developed his own theory of the Trinity

Ottoman Empire

Turkish state (1350-1918), largest and most influential Muslim empire; at its height under Suleiman the Magnificent (16th century), it stretched from the Persian Gulf to Hungary and from Egypt to the Caucasus

Ousia

Essence, such as human or divine

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P

Père Fouettard

Hooded figure who goes about with St. Nicholas in France; said to be the evil butcher in the story of the three children

Pallium

Liturgical stole worn by bishops in the Eastern Church, also omophorion

Panachida

Lturgical memorial for those who have died

Panagia

1) Bread which is solemnly blessed in honor of the Theotokos during the Divine Liturgy; 2) A particular type of icon of the Theotokos; 3) One of the titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Orthodox Christianity

Pantheon

All the gods of a particular belief system, taken together

Paraklesis

A service in the Eastern Church tradition asking for God's help

Pascha

Another name for Easter, the Feast of Christ's Ressurection

Pashmina

A shawl made from pashmina, fine woolen fabric made from Himalayan goats; cashmere

Patara

Birthplace of St. Nicholas, city west of Myra (now Demre, Turkey)

Patina

Paten, plate used for bread used in the sacrament of the Eucharist

Patriarch

Bishop with authority over other bishops; archbishop; Orthodox patriarchs are now in Constantinople (Istanbul), Antioch, Alexandria, Moscow, & Jerusalem

Patron Saint

The saint who is the special protector of a person, group, or place

Pelagius

Monk who denied the doctrine of original sin and was declared a heretic

pelf

Money, riches

Pepernoten

Small hard spiced cookies; gingernuts; Dutch, Flemish, German; Dutch pepernoten are often tough and flavored with anise

Philoptochos

The largest organization of Greek Orthodox women; it functions at the local, archdiocesan and international level, supporting many charities and spiritually enriching its members

Phrygia

Ancient country in Asia Minor, located in the west Anatolian plateau, now in Turkey

Physis

Greek term meaning nature or natural way of being

Pieten or Piets

Sinterklaas helpers in the Netherlands

Pilgrim

A person who makes a long journey to a sacred place out of religious devotion

Pilgrimage

A journey made to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion

Pontifical

Relating to a bishop; a bishop´s formal garments or robes

Praeses

Title of provincial governor in the late 2nd century and 3rd century Roman Empire

Prebends

A sum of money; stipend

Precentor

Clergy person responible for music and liturgy in Anglican churches

Prefect

Title of many high officials in the Roman Empire

Prosopon

A particular individual

Puritans

Group of strict Protestants formed in England in the 16th century; outlawed Christmas celebrations in England and New England

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Q

Quire

Place where the choir sings

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R

Raki

A non-sweet, anise-flavored alcoholic beverage popular in Turkey, Bosnia and throughout the Balkans as an apértif

Albanian raki is a non-sweet, fruit-flavored spirit commonly made fermented and distilled fruit, particularly grapes and plums, and infused with apple tree leaves

Rector

In Roman Catholic usage, a priest in charge of a religious house, college or congregation

Refection

Refreshment, taking food and drink together

Reformation

Religious movement in the 16th century which led to Protestant churches being established

Reft

To take away; to rob

Relic

Something remaining as a memorial to a saint, often part of the body or clothing

Reliquary

Container for sacred objects or relics

Runic Letter

any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages; each rune had a magical significance

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S

Sabellius

Third century theologian who taught there was one God, shown in three different modes (modalism), rather than three persons in one

Sacristan

Person responsible for sacred objects in a church

Saint

A person who lived a life devoted to God; a worthy example of holiness, virtue, or kindness and charity; someone who lets God's love shine through them to the world

Saint-Nicolas-de-Port

French town named for St. Nicholas; home of a large basilica dedicated to St. Nicholas

Samichlaus

Swiss St. Nicholas

San Francisco Solano

St. Francis Solanus, a Franciscan missionary to present day NW Argentina and Paraguay (1589-1609). He quickly learned many of the region's native languages.

Saracens

Nomadic people who lived in the Syrian and Arabian deserts

Scarify

To puncture and scar the skin; scourge; lacerate

Schmutzli

Figure in brown hooded cloak; two of them travel with St. Nicholas in Switzerland

See

Bishop´s place of authority or jurisdiction

Seljuks

Turkish dynasties that controlled large parts of Asia from the 11th to the 13th centuries

Shrine

Place devoted to a saint or holy person; place of pilgrimage

Sint

Short name for Dutch Sinterklaas

Sint Nikolasskerk

Saint Nicholas Church

Sint-Niklaas

Town in East Flanders, named for St. Nicholas

Sinterklaas

Dutch name for St. Nicholas

Sinterklaas Eve

December 5

Sinterklaas Season

Mid-November, when Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands, until 5 December, the night of Sinterklaas Eve parties

Skoufia

Soft cap worn by Orthodox priests

Slava

unique Serbian Orthodox religious tradition, a family thanksgiving festival celebrating its patron saint

Sous

Small French coins; equal to a nickel

Sovereign

Gold coin, once worth a British pound

Speculaas

Dutch spiced cookies, often made in the shape of Sinterklaas, traditionally served on St. Nicholas Day

Speculatius

German molded spiced cookies

Speculoos

Belgian molded spiced cookies

St. Nicholas Day

December 6 or, on the Julian Calendar, December 19

St. Nicholas Eve

December 5, the eve of the feast day, December 6th

Starving

Suffering from a lack of food

Sundblom, Haddon

His annual illustrations from 1931-1964 for Coca-Cola created the familiar American Santa Claus: life-size, jovial, in a white fur-trimmed red suit

swythe

quickly

Synaxarion

The classic, abridged, collection of the lives of the saints, for reading in public worship and private devotion

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T

Taai-taai

Tough anise flavored Dutch cookies, often in small shapes; popular for Sinterklaas; taai-taai dough may also be used to make pepernoten

Theotokos

Greek word meaning God-bearer or Mother of God

Tinkunaco

Quechua word meaning "meeting, merge, mix" or reconciliation

Tonsure

Rite of shaving the crown of the head when a person joins a monastic order; symbolizes new identity as a monk

Translation

Removal of holy objects (such as relics) from one place to another

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V

Venerate

To hold in reverent or worshipful respect

Verst

A Russian measure of linear distance equal to about two-thirds of a mile

Vestments

Distinctive or offical clothing worn when leading Christian religious services; liturgical garments

Vladimir I

Brought Christianity and St. Nicholas to Kiev in AD 987

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W

Wonderworker

Term for an Orthodox saint who works miracles; frequently used to identify St. Nicholas

Wroth

Vehemently angry; incensed

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Z

Zwarte Piet

Dutch name for the Moorish helper who travels with St. Nicholas; Black Peter

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