Our Lady Of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral
Altar/Table of Preparation: A small altar or table at the right side of the sanctuary at which the offerings of bread and wine used in the Qoorbono are accepted.
Anamnesis (an um NEE sis) (Greek: remembrance): The part of the Qoorbono after the Words of Institution which recall the saving deeds of the Lord for His people. However, far from being mere recollection, this special kind of remembrance invites the worshiper to realize that the Eucharistic Banquet is the sacramental and mysterious participation in the Lords Last Supper and Death on the Cross, made present again in the Eucharistic Prayer, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Anaphora (an APH or a) (Gr.: offering): The Eucharistic Prayer of the Qorbono. The Anaphora is the central prayer of thanksgiving of the Liturgy in which the Trinity is invoked to accomplish the sanctification of the Offerings. The Anaphora is the second basic part of the worship service (the Service of the Word being the first). While trinary in structure, the emphasis differs in the East and West. In the Easter Liturgies, the trinary pattern of prayers is Father-Son-Spirit, culminating in the Epiclesis; while in the west, the pattern is Father-Spirit-Son, culminating in the Consecration, a decidedly Christological emphasis.
Antioch (AN tee ok): Prominent Roman Imperial city in northwestern Syria which played an important role in the development of early Church expansion. St. Paul writes about his travels to the Church at Antioch, and St. Peter evangelized there. Here, the followers of Jesus were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Antioch also became an influential center of Christianity, where a very famous theological school was established. It eventually became the center of an important Eastern Church Tradition, the Antiochene Tradition, which includes the three West Syriac Churches, of which the Maronite Church is one. It also later became the seat of certain Patriarchates, Catholic- such as the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch- and others. Antioch produced such famous men as Bishop Ignatius and John Chrysostom.
Aramaic (air a MAY ic): The language of the ancient Aramaean people. This language survived down through our Lords time and into the seventh century as a spoken language. It was then gradually replaced with Arabic with the Arab conquerors. Aramaic developed different dialects, divided into eastern and western Aramaic. While on earth, Jesus spoke a western (Palestinian) form of the language, although his exact (spoken) language is not known today. Closely related to Aramaic is Syriac.
Bema (BAY ma) (Syriac): Following Jewish Temple roots, some Syriac church buildingsfound from Antioch to Mesopotamiacontain a special place or area at which the Scriptures were read. This U-shaped structure was located often in the midst of the congregation, in front of the curtain of the sanctuary area of the church. This area was called the bema, and many Antiochene and Syriac texts attest that the Service of the Word was conducted here. Scholars are divided over the existence of the bema in Maronite churches.
Consecration: Traditional Latin Rite term for the Words of Institutionor Institution Narrativeof the Last Supper.
Doxology: From the Greek, a speech of glory or of praise. It usually begins with such words as, Glory be to the Father
Epiclesis (EP I KLEE sis, or e PIK le sis) (Gr.: invocation): The calling upon the Holy Spirit in a sacramental prayer context for the purpose of sanctification or enlightenment. In the Eucharistic Liturgies of the East, the Epiclesis occurs very soon after the Words of Institution and is distinctly noticeable; while in the Latin Mass an abbreviated invocation is found, though not as distinguishable or pronounced. The reason for this is that the theologies of the East have always laid greater liturgical emphasis on the action of the Spirit in the Holy Mysteries.
Lectionary: A systematic pattern of Scripture Readings, for Sundays, weekdays, feasts and special occasions, according to a proper liturgical Tradition. The distinctive way in which a lectionary organizes its Readings reveals a Traditions uniqueness.
Mazmooro (maz MOOR o) (Syr.: psalm of praise, or psalm of the Readings): In the Qoorbono variable verses before the First Scripture Reading that alternate between Congregation and Celebrant.
Offerings: In liturgical terms, the bread and wine used in the Divine Liturgy. At one time, in all of the liturgical Traditions, the bread and the wine were brought to the Church by the people, and the Celebrant selected them personally for the Service. Some of the Traditions still maintain this practice.
Qoorbono (koor BO no) (Syr.: offering): This is the Syriac word for the Maronite Service of the Holy Mysteries. This term captures the meaning of the nature of the Eucharistic Prayer: an offering in thanks.
Rozo (RO zo) (Syr.: mystery): Syriac term for sacrament.
Sacrament: Traditional Western (Latin) term for one of the seven sacramental Mysteries.
Syriac (SEER ee ak): A language closely related to Aramaic. Syriac is divided into two basic dialects: eastern (centered in ancient Nisibis and Edessa, in modern-day southern Turkey), and western (centered in Antioch and Palestine). Syriac survived as an academic language for several centuries, as many of the classics of Greek learning were translated into Syriac; and a whole body of original Syriac literature exists. It also served as a liturgical language in the Syriac Churches (of which the Maronite Church is one) even to this day. The metrical homilies of St. Ephrem are a good example of the use of Syriac.
Trisagion (tree SAH gee on): Greek word for thrice (tris) holy ([h]agios). This prayer, which begins, Holy are You, O God, (or in Syriac, Qadeeshat Aloho), is a standard element of the Eastern Liturgies. It has, at various times during the history of the Church, been understood as addressed to the Trinity or only to the Christ. Both are correct. In Maronite Tradition the response to the Trisagion varies with the liturgical season
