THEO Flashcards
(242 cards)
1
Q
What does the title ‘Christ’ signify?
A
A title assigned to Jesus of Nazareth by his followers, meaning anointed one in Greek and messiah in Hebrew. It indicates recognition of Jesus as the promised saviour of Israel.
2
Q
What is the Christian Bible?
A
The collection of texts considered sacred and foundational to the Christian faith, consisting of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the New Testament.
3
Q
Who are the Evangelists?
A
The four traditionally recognized writers of the Gospels: Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
4
Q
What is the Incarnation?
A
The Christian belief that God entered human history in the form of Jesus of Nazareth.
5
Q
What does ‘Word of God’ refer to?
A
A title given to Jesus in the Gospel of John, indicating his co-existence with God, and also applied to the Bible as Holy Scripture.
6
Q
What is a canon in Christianity?
A
An officially recognized set of principles or texts, with the canonical Bible being the authoritative collection used in the Early Church.
7
Q
What does ‘Church’ mean?
A
Refers to both the community of Christians and the location where they assemble for worship, derived from the Greek word for house of the Lord.
8
Q
What is the Apostolic Period?
A
The time from 30 - 100 AD after Jesus’ death, during which his first disciples established early church communities.
9
Q
What is faith in Christianity?
A
The believers’ trust in God revealed in Jesus, supported by the Holy Spirit, and articulated in Trinitarian formulation.
10
Q
What is the Trinity?
A
The belief that one God exists in three persons: the Father (Creator), the Son (Saviour), and the Holy Spirit (enlightener).
11
Q
What is the Rule of Faith?
A
A simple formulation of the essential contents of the Christian faith, often expressed as a confession.
12
Q
What does ‘Agape’ mean?
A
The Greek word for love used in the New Testament, generated in God and expressed in love of God and concern for others.
13
Q
What is the Kingdom of God?
A
Refers to the righteousness brought about by God, usually after a Last Judgement, with associated theology called eschatology.
14
Q
What is baptism?
A
The Christian ritual of immersion in water, marking entry into the Christian community, symbolizing purification.
15
Q
What is the Eucharist?
A
The Christian ritual meal commemorating Jesus’ Last Supper, celebrating community unity.
16
Q
What does ‘Celticity’ refer to?
A
The state or quality of being Celtic.
17
Q
What is ethnicity?
A
The state of belonging to a category of people based on common ancestry or nationhood.
18
Q
What is material culture?
A
The physical objects and artifacts produced and used by a society.
19
Q
What is history?
A
The study of the past based on written documents; prehistory refers to the time before writing.
20
Q
What is the Atlantic Zone?
A
The Atlantic seaboard of Europe, from Scotland to the Iberian Peninsula.
21
Q
What is Celto-Scepticism?
A
A philosophy of skepticism toward traditional academic understandings of the term Celtic.
22
Q
What are Q-Celtic languages?
A
A group of Celtic languages characterized by the hard ‘c’ sound, including Irish, Scots Gaelic, and Manx.
23
Q
What are P-Celtic languages?
A
A group of Celtic languages characterized by the ‘p’ sound, including Welsh, Cornish, and Breton.
24
Q
What are the Celtic Isles?
A
Islands and peninsula in northwest Europe where Celtic languages are still spoken, including Britain, Ireland, and Brittany.
25
Who were the Picts?
Native peoples in northern Scotland during the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Period, speaking an extinct P-Celtic language.
26
What are the Early Middle Ages?
The historical period from 400 - 1200 AD in the Celtic Isles, recognized for distinctive Celtic Christianity.
27
What is a paradox?
A statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals a truth upon further examination.
28
What does 'insular' mean?
Pertaining to islands or being isolated and narrow-minded.
29
What is asceticism?
The practice of self-discipline, such as fasting, for self-knowledge and spiritual strengthening.
30
What is sacramentality?
The recognition of the sacred within God's creation, viewing the material world as a medium for spiritual growth.
31
What is a codex?
A manuscript in book form.
32
What is prehistory?
The study of the past prior to written record.
33
What does 'longue duree' mean?
French for long stretch of time, referring to historical structures over very long periods.
34
What is the Ice Age?
A period of long-term temperature reduction, during which polar ice sheets expand and glaciers form.
35
What is the Irish Sea?
The body of water between Ireland and Britain, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.
36
What is the North Sea?
An arm of the Atlantic Ocean between Great Britain and mainland Europe.
37
What is the English Channel?
The body of water between southern England and northern France, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the North Sea.
38
What is the Stone Age?
The period between 200,000 BP and 4500 BC in the Isles, divided into Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.
39
What is the Bronze Age?
The period from around 2200 to 750 BC in the Isles, marked by mobility, connectivity, and the spread of Celtic languages.
40
What is the Iron Age?
The period from around 750 BC to 43 AD in the Isles, characterized by advances in metallurgy and settled clan life.
41
What is a megalith?
A large prehistoric stone monument, constructed from the Neolithic Period into the Bronze Age.
42
What is Iberia?
Refers to ancient Spain or the southwestern peninsula of Europe, including present-day Spain and Portugal.
43
What is the Tagus?
The longest river in Iberia, associated with a Bronze Age culture and the spread of Celtic languages.
44
What is the Bell Beaker Culture?
A culture that emerged around 2800 BC in the Tagus Valley, known for its distinctive ceramic drinking vessel.
45
What is a lingua franca?
A language used as a shared means of communication among people of different cultures.
46
What was the Roman Conquest of Britain?
The process beginning in 43 AD under Emperor Claudius, marking the transition from the Iron Age to the Roman Era.
47
What is the Celtic Invasion Hypothesis?
A discredited theory suggesting that Celts originated in Central Europe and spread to the Isles through invasion.
48
What is Classical Antiquity?
The period of cultural history comprising the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome.
49
What is La Tene culture?
A distinctive Iron Age culture known for its flowing art style, migrating westward with trade.
50
What is a carnyx?
An elongated bronze wind instrument used as a war trumpet among Celtic peoples.
51
What is a torc?
A distinctive metal neck ring worn by the elite in Iron Age European cultures, signifying high status.
52
Who were the Druids?
High-ranking spiritual and intellectual leaders among pre-Christian Celts, officiating ceremonies and preserving knowledge.
53
Who were the Bards?
Poets, musicians, and storytellers in Celtic society, maintaining cultural significance into the Christian Era.
54
What are Vates?
Spiritual authorities among some pre-Christian Celts, working under druids as seers and performers of sacrifices.
55
What is oral transmission?
The communication of knowledge and stories without written record, preferred by Druids according to Julius Caesar.
56
What is a pantheon?
The collection of deities in a particular religious tradition.
57
Who is The Dagda?
An important god in ancient Ireland, representing wisdom and magic.
58
Who is Sulis Minerva?
A composite Romano-Celtic goddess at Aquae Sulis, linking Celtic and Roman traditions.
59
What is a votive offering?
The ritual placement of an object as a gift to a deity, expressing a vow or thanksgiving.
60
What is a bog body?
A human cadaver preserved in a peat bog, some showing signs of ritual slaying, indicating possible human sacrifice.
61
Who is Joseph of Arimathea?
According to legend, he brought the Holy Grail to Glastonbury, introducing Christianity to Britain.
62
What are myths and legends?
Narratives that transmit meaning symbolically, often accepted as historical but not in the modern sense.
63
Who is Joseph of Arimathea in Arthurian legend?
According to Arthurian legend, Joseph of Arimathea was purported to have brought the Holy Grail to Glastonbury, thereby introducing Christianity to Britain. This story is not accepted as historical by modern scholars.
64
What are myths and legends?
Myths and legends are not historical narratives in the modern sense; rather, they transmit meaning symbolically and may contain elements of local history, beliefs, and practices.
65
What significant event occurred in 43 AD?
In 43 AD, Emperor Claudius joined his troops in Britain, establishing the Roman occupation that would last almost four centuries.
66
How did trade routes contribute to the spread of Christianity?
Trade along well-established routes provided the means for the spread of ideas, including Christian beliefs and practices, throughout and beyond the Roman Empire.
67
Which Roman emperors were known for Christian persecutions?
The harshest persecutions of Christians occurred under Emperor Decius in the mid-third century AD and Emperor Diocletian in the early fourth century.
68
What is a martyr in the early Christian church?
A martyr, from the Greek word for witness, was someone who was persecuted and put to death for advocating or refusing to renounce their Christian faith.
69
What does the term apostate mean?
Apostate refers to Christians who abandon their faith, often in the face of threat and persecution.
70
What was the Edict of Milan?
Issued in 313 AD, the Edict of Milan was an agreement spearheaded by Emperor Constantine I that made Christianity a legal religion in the Roman Empire, ending sporadic persecutions.
71
What did the Edict of Thessalonica establish?
Issued in 380 AD, the Edict of Thessalonica, spearheaded by Emperor Theodosius I, made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
72
What is monotheism?
Monotheism is the belief in and worship of a single deity.
73
What is monolatry?
Monolatry is the worship of only one deity while recognizing the existence of other gods.
74
What does Chi-Rho represent?
Chi-Rho are the first two letters in the Greek spelling of Christ and appears as the monogram of Christ in early Christian material culture.
75
How did Christianity likely arrive in the Isles?
Christianity most likely arrived in the Isles via Roman Gaul, where it was established by the second century.
76
Who was Tertullian?
Around the year 225, Tertullian, a North African theologian, wrote about the Gospel having reached Britain, marking the earliest extant reference to Christianity in the Isles.
77
What was the significance of the Council of Arles?
The Council of Arles, held in 314, provides the earliest mention of bishops and an organized Church in Britain.
78
What is notable about Lullingstone Roman Villa?
Lullingstone Roman Villa, dating from the fourth century, contained the earliest extant Christian paintings in the Isles.
79
What does the mosaic from Hinton St. Mary Roman Villa depict?
The figure in the great fourth-century mosaic roundel from Hinton St. Mary Roman Villa is commonly identified as Christ due to the Chi-Rho monogram behind his head.
80
What happened in 410 AD?
The final withdrawal of Roman troops from Britain took place in 410 AD.
81
Who was Gildas?
Gildas was a sixth-century British monk who wrote the important text On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain.
82
What does Sub-Roman Britain refer to?
Sub-Roman Britain refers to the transition period in Britain between the decline of the Roman Empire and the Early Medieval Period, dating from the mid-third century to the beginning of the sixth century.
83
Who is St. Alban?
St. Alban is popularly called the proto-martyr of Britain, traditionally believed to have lived in the third or fourth century.
84
Who was Bede?
Bede, often called the Venerable, was an eighth-century monk in Northumbria and the author of the Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
85
Who was Pelagius?
Pelagius was a British monk and theologian whose teachings on grace and free will put him in conflict with St. Augustine of Hippo, leading to his condemnation as a heretic.
86
Who is St. Ninian?
St. Ninian is traditionally known as the founder of the important church at Whithorn in Galloway, although scholars debate his historical existence.
87
Who was Prosper of Aquitaine?
Prosper of Aquitaine was a fifth-century Christian native of Gaul whose Chronicle provides important information for dating Christianity in Ireland.
88
Who was Palladius?
Palladius was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 AD as the first Bishop to the Irish Christians, indicating existing Christian communities in Ireland.
89
Who was Germanus of Auxerre?
Germanus of Auxerre was a bishop who traveled to Britain around 429 to combat Pelagianism and is traditionally identified as a teacher of St. Patrick.
90
What is grace in Christian tradition?
Grace refers to the gifts that God bestows on humans for their salvation, emphasizing that humans cannot attain salvation without it.
91
How did slavery relate to the spread of Christianity?
Slavery was widespread in the ancient world, including the Roman Empire and the Celtic Isles, and the slave trade likely contributed to the spread of Christianity.
92
Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian who journeyed to Ireland to preach the Gospel and is celebrated as the 'Apostle of Ireland.'
93
What does mission mean in a Christian context?
Mission refers to the response by Christians to the scriptural command to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
94
What is Patrick’s Confessio?
Patrick’s Confessio is his declaration of God’s grace in his life, a defense of his mission in Ireland, and an expression of his theology.
95
What is Patrick’s Epistola?
Patrick’s Epistola is his earlier text, where he condemns the actions of a Pictish warlord who captured some of his recent converts.
96
Who were the Picts?
The Picts were Celtic-speaking people living in northern Scotland during the Iron Age and early Medieval period, with St. Ninian known as the Apostle to them.
97
Who is Victoricus in Patrick's writings?
Victoricus is the name Patrick gives to the dream-messenger who shows him letters calling him back to Ireland.
98
What is the Trinitarian God?
The Trinitarian God is the Christian doctrine that there is one God existing in three equal, consubstantial, co-eternal persons.
99
What is a monk?
A monk lives a communal or solitary life centered on spiritual values and goals, usually under a superior.
100
What is a hermit?
A hermit lives a solitary monastic life, with their dwelling called a hermitage.
101
What does coenobitic mean?
Coenobitic describes communal monasticism, derived from the Greek word for 'common life.'
102
What is a layperson?
A layperson is someone who is not a member of the clergy or a monk.
103
What is the role of a bishop?
A bishop oversees the spirituality of a group of Christian churches organized into a diocese.
104
What is an abbot?
An abbot is the leader of a monastic community, with the term abbess used for a woman.
105
What is discernment?
Discernment is the process of developing awareness and understanding of one’s life choices.
106
What is asceticism?
Asceticism is the practice of abstaining from indulgence for the purpose of self-reorientation.
107
What does anamchara mean?
Anamchara means 'soul-friend' in Irish and refers to someone who guides another in their spiritual journey.
108
What are annals?
Annals are chronological records of events, often compiled by monastic communities.
109
What is a coracle?
A coracle is a small boat made of a waterproof layer stretched over wickerwork, used in the Isles since prehistoric times.
110
What is peregrinatio?
Peregrinatio refers to the practice of pilgrimage as exile, seen as ascetical in nature.
111
What is a homily?
A homily is a commentary on a scriptural text intended to provide spiritual guidance.
112
What does white martyrdom signify?
White martyrdom indicates the figurative death of self-will through an ascetical life.
113
Who were the Franks?
The Franks were a group of Germanic peoples who eventually ruled the region between the rivers Loire and Rhine.
114
What does Anglo-Saxon refer to?
Anglo-Saxon refers to members of the Germanic peoples who inhabited parts of England and Wales from the fifth to the eleventh centuries.
115
Who was Gregory I?
Gregory I, known as Gregory the Great, was the sixth-century Pope who sent St. Augustine to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons in 597.
116
What was Northumbria?
Northumbria was a major Anglo-Saxon kingdom that included important Christian evangelization sites.
117
What are Benedictines?
Benedictines are a Christian monastic order grounded in the sixth-century Rule of St. Benedict.
118
Who were Æthelberht and Bertha?
Æthelberht and Bertha were the King and Queen of Kent who welcomed Augustine when he landed in 597.
119
What does liturgy mean?
Liturgy refers to the customary collective public worship incumbent upon the Christian community.
120
What is a psalter?
A psalter is a volume containing the Psalms, used in monastic contexts as part of the Liturgy of the Hours.
121
Who was Oswald of Northumbria?
Oswald was a seventh-century king of Northumbria who requested a missionary from Iona to bring Christianity to his people.
122
What are the Farne Islands known for?
The Farne Islands are known for being the retreat locations for Saints Aidan and Cuthbert for solitude and prayer.
123
What are the Columban and Continental traditions?
The Columban tradition refers to customs from the monastic paruchia of Iona, while the Continental tradition refers to customs developed in Western Europe promoted by the See of Rome.
124
Who were Oswiu and Eanflæd?
Oswiu and Eanflæd were king and queen of Northumbria whose differing customs regarding Easter led to the Synod of Whitby.
125
What was the Synod of Whitby?
The Synod of Whitby, convoked by King Oswiu in 664, addressed the dispute over the dating of Easter.
126
Who were Æd and Eanflæd?
Æd of Deira and Eanflæd were king and queen of Northumbria in the seventh century.
127
What was the significance of the Synod of Whitby?
Convoked by King Oswiu, the Synod of Whitby was held in 664 to unify the customs of Christians of Britain, particularly the dating of Easter.
128
Who was Wilfrid?
Wilfrid was an Anglo-Saxon abbot and bishop who argued for Roman practices at the Synod of Whitby based on the authority of St Peter.
129
Who was Colman of Lindisfarne?
Colman was an Irish bishop educated at Iona who represented the Celtic Party at the Synod of Whitby.
130
What does 'incorruptibility' mean in Christian traditions?
'Incorruptibility' denotes the belief that the bodies of some saints have not decomposed after death, seen as a sign of holiness.
131
What is hagiography?
Hagiography refers to writings about the lives of saints, containing elements of history, folk memory, and legend.
132
What is catechesis?
Catechesis is a term for religious instruction, derived from the Greek word meaning 'instruction by word of mouth'.
133
What is the Cult of the Saints?
The Cult of the Saints is a framework of beliefs and rituals focused on saints, including veneration of relics and pilgrimages.
134
What does veneration mean in Christianity?
Veneration is the reverential honoring of saints, distinct from adoration, which is reserved for God alone.
135
What is a reliquary?
A reliquary is a container that houses the relics or physical remains of a saint.
136
What is an imram?
Imram is the Old Irish word for 'voyage', referring to a genre of literary voyage tales in Celtic cultures.
137
What is martyrology?
Martyrology is a list or catalogue of martyrs and saints, usually arranged by the dates of their feasts.
138
What does 'incarnational' refer to in Christian theology?
'Incarnational' refers to the affirmation of the goodness of human existence as created by God and entered into by Jesus Christ.
139
What is the Liturgy of the Hours?
The Liturgy of the Hours is the ancient practice of daily prayer in the Church, punctuating monastic life.
140
What is the liturgical year?
The liturgical year is the annual cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches, including feast days and celebrations.
141
What is the Nativity?
The Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus, celebrated starting on December 25th as the feast of the Incarnation.
142
What is Pentecost?
Pentecost is the feast celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit, occurring fifty days after Easter.
143
What is Ordinary Time in the liturgical year?
Ordinary Time refers to two periods in the Christian liturgical year, between Christmas and Lent, and between Easter and Advent.
144
What is the Promised Land?
The Promised Land is the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants, echoing in Brendan's Promised Land of the Saints.
145
What is the Garden of Eden?
The Garden of Eden is described in Genesis as the place of primordial innocence where Adam and Eve lived before their Fall.
146
What is a hymn?
A hymn is a song or poem of praise and honor addressed to God or a saint.
147
What does accommodation mean in Celtic Christian culture?
Accommodation refers to the openness of Celtic Christian culture to its pre-Christian past and other cultures.
148
Who is Brigantia?
Brigantia is the ancient Celtic goddess of poetry, craft, and fertility, associated with the Christian Saint Brigid.
149
What is lactation?
Lactation is the production of milk by post-pregnancy female mammals.
150
What is a patron saint?
A patron saint is a saint who protects and mediates for a person, group, or cause.
151
What does 'Mary of the Gaels' refer to?
'Mary of the Gaels' is a title for St Brigid, likening her to the Virgin Mary.
152
What is a type in theology?
In theology, a 'type' refers to a person or thing believed to foreshadow or echo another.
153
What is a blessing?
A blessing is the bestowal of something good on a person or thing.
154
What is a curse?
A curse is the bestowal of something harmful on a person or thing.
155
What is ordination?
Ordination is the dedication and commissioning of a person with ministerial authority.
156
What does hierarchy mean?
Hierarchy refers to a system of persons or things ranked above another in terms of power and authority.
157
What is patriarchy?
Patriarchy refers to a social system where a father or male elder has authority over the family and community.
158
Who was Boudicca?
Boudicca was an ancient British queen who led a revolt against Roman rule in 60 AD.
159
What is an anchorite?
An anchorite is one who retires from society for religious reasons and lives in solitude.
160
What does 'Place of Resurrection' refer to?
'Place of Resurrection' indicates one's burial place, referring to the grave as the location for resurrection.
161
What is theology?
Theology comprises the intellectual component of religious life, defined as 'faith seeking understanding'.
162
What is spirituality?
Spirituality encompasses the experiences and practices of religious living.
163
What is a neologism?
A neologism is a newly-coined word.
164
What is a stanza?
A stanza is a grouping of lines forming divisions within a poem or hymn.
165
What is lectio divina?
Lectio divina, meaning 'divine reading', is the contemplative reading of Scripture for spiritual purposes.
166
What does 'triune' mean?
'Triune' means three-in-one, as in the Trinity.
167
Who is Lucifer in Christian tradition?
Lucifer, meaning 'Light-Bringer', is a name for the Devil, traditionally seen as a fallen angel.
168
What is an angel?
An angel is a messenger created by God to support His will within creation.
169
What is a demon?
A demon is a corrupted spirit known for carrying out Satan's will.
170
What does 'abyss' refer to?
'Abyss' denotes a great depth or bottomless pit, sometimes used to refer to hell.
171
What are the aes sidhe?
The aes sidhe are a supernatural race in Irish and Scottish myth cycles, inhabiting fairy mounds.
172
What is the Last Judgement?
The Last Judgement is the belief that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead at the end of time.
173
What is eschatology?
Eschatology is a branch of theology concerning the last things of history and the ultimate destinies of human beings.
174
What is apocalyptic literature?
Apocalyptic literature deals with the revelation of hidden heavenly knowledge, often related to end times.
175
What does 'semiotic' mean?
'Semiotic' refers to something that transmits meaning beyond the literal.
176
What is incarnational theology?
Incarnational theology embraces the material world as revelatory of the divine.
177
What does 'sacramental' mean?
'Sacramental' relates to the transmission of transcendent meaning through material things.
178
What is idolatry?
Idolatry is the mistaken understanding of created reality as divine in itself.
179
What is theopany?
Theopany refers to a visible manifestation of a deity or God.
180
What is negative theology?
Negative theology acknowledges that the full reality of God is beyond human understanding.
181
What is mystical theology?
Mystical theology deals with the unknowability of God and transcendent experiences of unity.
182
What is logos in Christian theology?
Logos refers to the rational structure of created reality and is also a title for Jesus Christ.
183
What is deification?
Deification refers to the transformation of a person to participate in the life of God as a gift of grace.
184
What does reconciliation mean in Christian theology?
Reconciliation refers to the restoration of harmonious relationships between a person and God and the Church.
185
What is holiness?
Holiness indicates a state of right relationship with God and community, constituting spiritual good health.
186
What is penance?
Penance is a disciplinary action taken as a sign of correcting a confessed fault.
187
What are penitentials?
Penitentials are manuals guiding confessors toward appropriate penitential actions for specific sins.
188
What is sin in Christian belief?
Sin is a disordered act that ruptures one's relationship with God, self, and others.
189
What is almsgiving?
Almsgiving means freely giving what is needed to those in need, whether material or spiritual.
190
What was the Iconoclastic Controversy?
The Iconoclastic Controversy involved hostility towards the making and use of Christian imagery in the 8th and 9th centuries.
191
What is an illuminated manuscript?
An illuminated manuscript is a hand-written text decorated with elaborate designs or pictures.
192
What is a scribe?
A scribe is a writer or copier of manuscripts.
193
What is a folio?
A folio is a leaf or sheet of a manuscript.
194
What does recto refer to?
Recto denotes the side of a leaf that is read first, or the right-hand page when the book is open.
195
What does verso refer to?
Verso refers to the side of a leaf that is read second, or the left-hand page.
196
What is a script?
A script is a handwriting style, with Insular majuscule and minuscule being the main types used.
197
What is a zoomorph?
A zoomorph is a figure in art that has the form of an animal.
198
What is an initial in manuscript terminology?
An initial is an enlarged and often decorated letter introducing a section of text.
199
What is diminuendo in manuscript decoration?
Diminuendo is a decorative device used to transition from a large initial to the main script.
200
What is a Chi-Rho Page?
A Chi-Rho Page is a decorated page in Insular Gospel books marking the beginning of the story of Jesus' birth.
201
What is a colophon?
A colophon is an inscription added at the end of a manuscript explaining authorship and details.
202
What is a gloss?
A gloss is a translation or explanation of a text.
203
What is a cross-carpet page?
A cross-carpet page is a fully-decorated manuscript page resembling an Oriental carpet.
204
What are canon tables?
Canon tables are a concordance device used to indicate which passages correspond with each other.
205
What is the Incarnation page?
A decorated page in Insular Gospel books marking Matthew 1:18, the beginning of the story of Jesus’ birth.
206
What do the Greek letters XP represent?
They are used as a monogram for Jesus.
207
What is a Colophon?
An inscription added at the end of a manuscript, usually explaining authorship and other manufacturing details.
208
What is a Gloss?
A translation or explanation of a text.
209
What is a Cross-Carpet Page?
A fully-decorated manuscript page resembling an Oriental carpet.
210
What are Canon Tables?
A concordance device used to indicate which passages are shared and where among the four Gospels.
211
What is an Incipit?
The opening of a manuscript or section of a manuscript, from the Latin word incipere: 'to begin'.
212
What is Smithery?
The work, craft, or workshop of a metalworker.
213
What is a Hoard?
Collections of valuable ancient artifacts intentionally buried in the ground, probably due to social or political unrest.
214
What is a Detectorist?
An amateur treasure hunter.
215
What is a Pectoral Cross?
A pendant cross, made to be worn on the chest, often suspended from a cord or chain.
216
What is Filigree?
Ornamentation of metalwork formed by fine wire tracery soldered in place.
217
What does Gilt mean?
Covered thinly with metal leaf or paint; the process is known as gilding.
218
What is Pointille?
A process of impressing a pattern of dots into a metal surface, done manually with a pointed tool.
219
What is a Scabbard?
A sheath for the blade of a sword or dagger, usually made of leather or metal.
220
What is a Chape?
A metal fitting attached to the end of a scabbard to prevent the blade from going through the scabbard.
221
What are Penannular Brooches?
A type of cloth fastener associated with the Insular Celts consisting of a ring with a small break in the circumference and a long pin attached by its head to a ring; it is sometimes called a 'Celtic brooch'.
222
What is Repousse?
A metalworking technique involving the working of a metal sheet from behind.
223
What is Chasing?
A metalworking technique involving the working of a metal sheet from the front.
224
What is Engraving?
A kind of chasing whereby designs are made by cutting into a metal surface with a sharp tool.
225
What is a Chalice?
The vessel used for administering Eucharistic wine during the celebration of the Mass.
226
What is an Escutcheon?
A flat piece of metal, often decorated in Insular metalworking.
227
What is a Codex?
A manuscript in book form.
228
What is the True Cross?
The reputed physical remnants of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
229
What is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
A church built on the reputed sites where Jesus’s crucifixion, entombment, and resurrection occurred.
230
What does Cruciform mean?
Shaped like a cross.
231
What is Stone dressing?
The smoothing and shaping of natural stones.
232
What is a Triquetra?
A triple knot design originating in pre-Christian Celtic culture and adopted by Celtic Christians to symbolize the Holy Trinity.
233
What is a Shaft in the context of a cross?
The vertical arm of a cross.
234
What is a Transom?
Also known as a cross-bar, the horizontal arm of the cross.
235
What is a Boss?
A rounded raised ornamentation.
236
What is a Skeuomorph?
A design feature borrowed from an older object where the feature had a structural function; it retains the appearance of the original but is no longer functional.
237
What is Relief in carving?
The projection of a carving from the ground out of which it is carved.
238
What is a Rood?
A large crucifix, often hung over the space before the altar.
239
What is Mortise and Tenon?
A joint made by a projection (tenon) made for insertion into a hole (mortise) of the same dimensions.
240
What is a Capstone?
The shrine-shaped cap joined atop the shaft of a high cross, theorized as representing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
241
Literally, 'Way of Grief', it refers to the route that Christ walked while carrying his cross to the Hill of Calvary, the site of his crucifixion.
Via Dolorosa
242
The center of Christian faith, referring to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paschal Mystery
