Coptic Centre, UK


The Official Website of the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre, United Kingdom Under the care of H.G. Bishop Angaelos

By Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malty

EAST	* Originally altars were located at the east end of churches because it is there where the sun rises, symbolizing Christ as the "Sun of righteousness who sends His illuminating rays to light our souls."
EASTERTIDE	* The five and one-half weeks following Easter up to the Ascension Day, commemorating the forty days the Lord has spent on earth after His resurrection; commonly called 'The Great Forty Days."
ELEMENTS	* The water, wine and bread of the Eucharist.
EL-NAYROUZ FEAST	* Celebrating the new Coptic year. * We offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for He gave us a new year. * On this occasion we remember our beloved martyrs. * Moreover we thank God for the blessings He gave us in the previous year.
ELUGIA (bit of holy bread)	* The priest distributes it over the believers when the service of the Eucharist ends.
ENTHRONIZATION	* The rite by which a newly consecrated metropolitan or bishop is put into possession of his throne.
EPICLESIS	* This term is used for the prayer put to ask the Father for sending the Holy Spirit upon the elements to be transfered into the Body and Blood of Christ.
EPISCOPACY	* It means "overseer." The system of Church Government by bishops. Where it prevails it is commonly held to be the continuation of the institution of the Apostolate by Christ.
EPITRACHELION	* The epitrachelion is a liturgical vestment worn by priests and bishops over the sticharion .It is a rectangular band of silk or cotton that measures about six feet by nine inches, and is embroidered with crosses or, if worn by a patriarch or bishop, with the figures of the twelve apostles. It has an opening for the head, allowing a small section of it to hang down the back while the remainder reaches down in front to the feet. * The wearing of the epitrachelion is a symbolic allusion to the words of the Psalmist that form part of a hymn chanted by the deacons in the presence of the patriarch when he is thus robed: "Praised be God who has poured His grace upon His priests, like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes" Ps. 133:2-3. It also signifies the act of carryi~g. t~e cross and, I assummg the yoke of responsIbIlIty on behalf II of the congregation.
EUCHARIST	* It is the sacrament of Thanksgiving or ofnHoly Communion. * Our Lord Christ established it in Person (Matt. 26:26). * The whole congregation participate with the celebrant and deacons together in the Eucharist's prayers and Hymns. * Although all sacraments contain and impart grace, the Eucharist carries the most sub lime grace of all. * In the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Whereas in other sacraments the Lord bestows His gifts in accordance with each sacrament. In the Eucharist He offers His entire Self, so that partakers may enter in full and complete communion with Him. Being the sacrifice of Christ for all humanity, the Eucharist is universal in nature, embracing the living and the dead, and is not, as in the case of other sacraments, a grace restricted to one individual. * The Eucharist has also been known as the sacrament of Thanksgiving, the Lord's supper, the Lord's table, Christ's table, the sacred table, Holy Communion, the Holy sacrifice, the divine mystery.
EUCHARISTIC BREAD	* One of the two visible elements constituting the Eucharistic sacrament, the other ele ment being the Eucharistic wine. * The bread is leavened, unsalted bread made of the finest wheat flour. * A round loaf of bread (round as the sun) for it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. * The central part is called "Despatikon" meaning "Lordly." Around the "Despatikon" there is twelve crosses referring to the twelve disciples. * It has five holes referring to the spear and nails. * The word "Agios" or "Holy" is written on it three times.
EUCHARISTIC BREAD BASKET	* The Eucharistic bread basket is a large basket, with a cross-embroidered lining, to hold the loaves baked for the Eucharist. Only one of the loaves, the most perfect of three, five, seven or nine etc..., is chosen for consecration as the "Lamb," and the remaining loaves are kept for distribution as blessed bread "Elugia" among the congregation at the end of the service.
EUCHARISTIC VESTMENTS	* The special vestments worn in celebrat ing the Eucharist. * See "Priestly Vestments."
EUCHOLOGION	* The book comprising the Liturgy of the Eucharist. * Originally a comprehensive prayer book but now confined to the prayers used in the evening and morning offering of incense, and the three anaphoras of SS. Basil, Gregory The Theologian, and Cyril the Great, the last being the Liturgy of Saint Mark the apostle.
EVANGELISTS	* The authors of the four Gospels: St. Matthew, whose symbol is a winged face of man; St. Mark, a winged lion; St. Luke, a winged ox; and St. John, a winged eagle.
EVE or EVEN	* The day preceding a festival, giving an opportunity for prepa ration for the festival.
EXALTATION OF THE CROSS	* We have two feasts in honor of the Cross of Christ, one commemorates its discovery by St. Helene, the mother of Constantine, and the other the exposition of the Cross at Jerusalem in 629 by the Emperor Heraclius, after getting it back from the hands of the Persians who got hold of it in 614.
EXCOMMUNICATION	* An exclusion from the communion of the faithful, especially being deprived of the Holy Communion. * See "Anathema."
FAN	A fan made of ostrich or peacock feathers, linen cloth, thin sheets, or fine threads of metal is sometimes used in the church during the divine Liturgy to drive flies and other insects away from the chalice. It usually carries a draw ing of the six-winged cherubim or is made in the shape of the cherubim, but is rarely used in modern churches.
FASTING	* Fasting, which was practised in Judaism and by the disciples of St. John the Baptist, was recommended by Christ both by example and

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

EAST * Originally altars were located at the east end of churches because it is there where the sun rises, symbolizing Christ as the "Sun of righteousness who sends His illuminating rays to light our souls."
EASTERTIDE * The five and one-half weeks following Easter up to the Ascension Day, commemorating the forty days the Lord has spent on earth after His resurrection; commonly called 'The Great Forty Days."
ELEMENTS * The water, wine and bread of the Eucharist.
EL-NAYROUZ FEAST * Celebrating the new Coptic year.
* We offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for He gave us a new year.
* On this occasion we remember our beloved martyrs.
* Moreover we thank God for the blessings He gave us in the previous year.
ELUGIA (bit of holy bread) * The priest distributes it over the believers when the service of the Eucharist ends.
ENTHRONIZATION * The rite by which a newly consecrated metropolitan or bishop is put into possession of his throne.
EPICLESIS * This term is used for the prayer put to ask the Father for sending the Holy Spirit upon the elements to be transfered into the Body and Blood of Christ.
EPISCOPACY * It means "overseer." The system of Church Government by bishops. Where it prevails it is commonly held to be the continuation of the institution of the Apostolate by Christ.
EPITRACHELION * The epitrachelion is a liturgical vestment worn by priests and bishops over the sticharion .It is a rectangular band of silk or cotton that measures about six feet by nine inches, and is embroidered with crosses or, if worn by a patriarch or bishop, with the figures of the twelve apostles. It has an opening for the head, allowing a small section of it to hang down the back while the remainder reaches down in front to the feet.
* The wearing of the epitrachelion is a symbolic allusion to the words of the Psalmist that form part of a hymn chanted by the deacons in the presence of the patriarch when he is thus robed: "Praised be God who has poured His grace upon His priests, like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes" Ps. 133:2-3. It also signifies the act of carryi~g. t~e cross and, I assummg the yoke of responsIbIlIty on behalf II of the congregation.
EUCHARIST * It is the sacrament of Thanksgiving or ofnHoly Communion.
* Our Lord Christ established it in Person (Matt. 26:26).
* The whole congregation participate with the celebrant and deacons together in the Eucharist's prayers and Hymns.
* Although all sacraments contain and impart grace, the Eucharist carries the most sub lime grace of all.
* In the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Whereas in other sacraments the Lord bestows His gifts in accordance with each sacrament. In the Eucharist He offers His entire Self, so that partakers may enter in full and complete communion with Him. Being the sacrifice of Christ for all humanity, the Eucharist is universal in nature, embracing the living and the dead, and is not, as in the case of other sacraments, a grace restricted to one individual.
* The Eucharist has also been known as the sacrament of Thanksgiving, the Lord's supper, the Lord's table, Christ's table, the sacred table, Holy Communion, the Holy sacrifice, the divine mystery.
EUCHARISTIC BREAD * One of the two visible elements constituting the Eucharistic sacrament, the other ele ment being the Eucharistic wine.
* The bread is leavened, unsalted bread made of the finest wheat flour.
* A round loaf of bread (round as the sun) for it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.
* The central part is called "Despatikon" meaning "Lordly." Around the "Despatikon" there is twelve crosses referring to the twelve disciples.
* It has five holes referring to the spear and nails.
* The word "Agios" or "Holy" is written on it three times.
EUCHARISTIC BREAD BASKET * The Eucharistic bread basket is a large basket, with a cross-embroidered lining, to hold the loaves baked for the Eucharist. Only one of the loaves, the most perfect of three, five, seven or nine etc..., is chosen for consecration as the "Lamb," and the remaining loaves are kept for distribution as blessed bread "Elugia" among the congregation at the end of the service.
EUCHARISTIC VESTMENTS * The special vestments worn in celebrat ing the Eucharist.
* See "Priestly Vestments."
EUCHOLOGION * The book comprising the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
* Originally a comprehensive prayer book but now confined to the prayers used in the evening and morning offering of incense, and the three anaphoras of SS. Basil, Gregory The Theologian, and Cyril the Great, the last being the Liturgy of Saint Mark the apostle.
EVANGELISTS * The authors of the four Gospels: St. Matthew, whose symbol is a winged face of man; St. Mark, a winged lion; St. Luke, a winged ox; and St. John, a winged eagle.
EVE or EVEN * The day preceding a festival, giving an opportunity for prepa ration for the festival.
EXALTATION OF THE CROSS * We have two feasts in honor of the Cross of Christ, one commemorates its discovery by St. Helene, the mother of Constantine, and the other the exposition of the Cross at Jerusalem in 629 by the Emperor Heraclius, after getting it back from the hands of the Persians who got hold of it in 614.
EXCOMMUNICATION * An exclusion from the communion of the faithful, especially being deprived of the Holy Communion.
* See "Anathema."
FAN A fan made of ostrich or peacock feathers, linen cloth, thin sheets, or fine threads of metal is sometimes used in the church during the divine Liturgy to drive flies and other insects away from the chalice. It usually carries a draw ing of the six-winged cherubim or is made in the shape of the cherubim, but is rarely used in modern churches.
FASTING * Fasting, which was practised in Judaism and by the disciples of St. John the Baptist, was recommended by Christ both by example and