Церковный справочник

Sacraments

Sacrament

A church action in which something invisible is given through something visible — water, bread, wine, oil, the laying on of hands. There are seven of them.

Vestments

Sakkos

The bishop's outer vestment in place of the phelonion, its edges hung with small bells.

Clergy and ranks

Schema

The highest monastic degree: the great-schema monk takes stricter vows, receives a new name again and wears the kukol and analavos.

Feasts and fasts

Sedmitsa and nedelya

In church language nedelya means Sunday, while the seven-day week is a sedmitsa — without this no notice board in a church makes sense.

Church utensils

Seven-branched candlestick

A lamp-stand with seven lights standing behind the altar table, visible through the open royal doors.

The church building

Side chapel (pridel)

An additional altar with its own holy table inside the same church, with its own dedication and patronal feast.

Parish practice

Sign of the Cross

How to make the Sign of the Cross: three fingers joined, forehead, stomach, right shoulder, then left.

Vestments

Skufia

A soft pointed cap: black for everyday clerical wear, purple as an award to a priest.

Books and chant

Sluzhebnik (Priest's Service Book)

The book of the priest and deacon: their prayers and parts at Vespers, Matins and Liturgy.

The church building

Solea

The raised platform running the full width of the iconostasis — the sanctuary floor extended into the church.

Parish practice

Sorokoust (forty-day commemoration)

Commemoration of a name at forty consecutive Liturgies, most often for the newly departed.

Vestments

Sticharion

A long straight garment with wide sleeves: outermost for deacons and readers, undermost for priests.

Books and chant

Sticheron

A hymn sung after a verse of a psalm; stichera come in groups and make up much of what is sung at the vigil.

Clergy and ranks

Subdeacon

The bishop's liturgical attendant: he vests him, carries the staff and candles, and is not one of the three degrees.

Feasts and fasts

Svyatki (Christmastide)

The days from the Nativity to the eve of Theophany, 7–17 January — the longest fast-free stretch of the year.

Ranks of sanctity

Synaxis of saints

Here 'synaxis' means neither a building nor a council of bishops but the joint commemoration of a whole group of saints.