Система Orphus

Religious Vocabulary
TEXT BANK
texts by students
2015* (Specialists)


* graduation year



Условные обозначения:
  • CAPITALS: active vocabulary words and collocations students have used
  • Underline: elements that have been corrected by the tutor
  • Underline and Delete: superfluous erroneous elements that have been corrected by the tutor
  • Italics: where appropriate, elements which explain the corrected mistakes
Group 453 (Spring 2014)

The USSR was a completely the ATHEISTIC STATE.
The Monks usually pray in SECLUSION.

Н.В.

During the Soviet period thousands of Orthodox churches were DESECRATED. It happened because of IMPOVERISHMENT of faith of LAITY and ORDAINED PERSONS. Now we can see that the number of the WORSHIPPERS is continually increasing.

Н.М.

 Sometimes archbishops UNDERTAKE MISSIONARY WORK and travel around the world for that.
GREAT RUSSIA paid IMPOSTS to the Mongol-Tatars, while it was under their yoke.
Kipling’s hero, the boy who named Kim, comes to the SPIRITUAL REVIAL of his soul at the end of the Kipling’s novel.
Unfortunately, most of Orthodox people COMMUNICATE very seldom.
In ideal, we should have FREQUENT COMMUNION.
SPIRITUAL DESCENDANTS are people who follow their Spiritual Father and try to keep the Father’s teachings.
Monks are people whose aim to BE DETACHED FROM THE WORLD to pray to the Lord and struggle with the passions. They are usually trying to do it with ASSIDUITY.
When people are too ABSORVED IN WORDLY CONCERNS, there is a danger to forget about the spiritual life.

Н.В.

It is a very interesting fact that a MALADY of the body brings health to the soul.
I think that it is not fair that we INHERIT Adam`s corruption and mortality.

Н.М.

 Crown, sceptre and power are the supreme symbolic MANIFESTATIONS of royal power.
When we want to sin we should remember about ATONEMENT because the day of RECKONING will come.

Н.М.

 1. We should remember that our God is an INCARNATE God.
2. Jesus Christ is the SECOND PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY; He came to us to save us.

М.И.

 In SPIRITUAL COLLEGE we studied many different things. For example, we studied all books of the Old Testament, such as ECCLESIASTES or the SONG of SOLOMON.

М.И.

 1) The Sacrament of CONFESSION is very important, because it brings a person back to the CHURCH, to the COMMUNITY.
2) There is the SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT: if a person doesn’t want to recognize the sin or to accept FORGIVENESS.

Н.В.

In our parish the LAITY and the CLERGY always keep in touch with each other. Priests are always CONCERNED about the life of LAY PEOPLE.

М.И.

 1. In the Middle Ages many people were BURNT AT THE STAKE.
2. Many problems happened because of DISSENT.

Н.М.

 The main sign of Christianity is the SIGN OF THE CROSS.

Н.В.

1. In every church you can find any SERVICE BOOK that is necessary for Divine Liturgy or other services.
2. Remember! You can do many things with the help of THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.

М.И.

 1. The goal of Orthodox people on earth is DEIFICATION.
2. Orthodox people should KEEP THE FASTS, be DEVOUT and GIVE ALMS.

Н.М.

 1. In spring the AUSTERE FAST SHOULD BE OBSERVED.
2. There should be no CONCESSIONS TO HUMAN WEAKNESS in the Islamic religion.

Н.В.

1. Saint Seraphim of Sarov is as the “PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH” and religion during difficult times of Russian history.
2. Aleksandr Nevsky was not only the Great Duke but also the Great CHAMPION of Rus'.

A.C.

 1. There are good and calm RELATIONS BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE nowadays.
2. In the morning we usually read the TRISAGION thrice before the “Our Father” prayer.


Н.В.

Group 453 (Fall 2013)

1. When I was in Belorussia, I saw many UNIATE and ROMAN CATHLIC CHURCHES.
2. I'm interested in HERESIES and SECTS, I've read the work by A.L. Dvorkin "Sektovedenie".

Н.М.

 1. I was told many unpleasant thing about THE PRESENT PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE but now I understand how difficult it is to be the Patriarch in the country of ALIEN RULE.
2. What I can`t understand is if it was so dangerous TO HOLD OFFICE between the fifteenth and the twentieth century, why so many people desired to do this, desired to be the dead Patriarch of Constantinople.

Н.М.

 1. It is a catastrophe that "God-protected city" Constantinople was occupied by the infidel. It is amazing that Christians observed their faith despite persecution.
2. Only great monks like Sergius of Radonezh could withdraw into the forests and found hermitages which within several years became the greatest religious houses in the land.

Н.М.

 1. Women can not ascend Mount Athos.
2. Many of Christians died a sacrificial death in the Soviet times.

Н.В.

1. There were several missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. One of the main aims of these trips was to found Christian Churches all over the Earth.
2. If I’m not mistaken, corporal punishment is prohibited by the juvenile justice.

A.C.
Group 353 (Spring 2013)

1. The feast of Easter spills over its joy into our soul.
2. Another name of John the Baptist is John the Forerunner.
Н.В.

1. It is interesting fact that Cyril and Methodius used the dialect of the Macedonian language, which became Church Slavonic.
2. Тhe Russian tradition at Easter is to make paskha and to dye eggs.
Н.М.

 1. Memorial service is served over the deceased.
2. A mitre is worn by Orthodox priests.
Н.В.

1. Students didn't listen to the lecture, because a young dove beguiled them.
2. If you can't make up your mind, you should stay in stillness.
A.C.

 1. At the sacrament of Confession people repent of their sins.
2. After the sacrament of Marriage a man and a woman become one.
Н.В.

1. In my church children don`t take part in anointing with oil.
2. The deacon has to wear vestments which consist of the stole, the surplice or alb, and cuffs.
Н.М.

 1. Moses led the Jews to the Promised Land through the Egyptian desert.
2. Christian burial is the burial of the dead in the ground.
Н.В.

The ways of life of clergy and laity are different. People of these two strata of society serve God in different ways, but both pray to Him and ask Him for support and protection.
М.И.

 The ceremony of the Holy Fire takes place in Jerusalem every Easter.
Н.В.

1. During the Crusades warriors often performed wanton sacrilege, because the greatest part of them took part in Crusades just for money.
2. I`ve never taken part in the ceremony of the Holy Fire, but I think people have great feelings in that moment.
Н.М.

 No one's opinion in this world can be infallible.
Н.В.

1. In June 1170, the archbishop of York, the bishop of London, and the bishop of Salisbury crowned Henry the Young King at York. This was a breach of Canterbury's privilege of coronation, and in November 1170 Becket anathematized them.
2. I think that we must have only one usage and one code of rule in the Orthodox church wherever it is - in Russia, in Greece, or in the USA.
Н.М.

 1. Soon after the accession of the White Witch many inhabitants of Narnia called her just a usurper.
2. The legates from the White Witch were treated without enthusiasm.
A.C.

 1) From one of the classes we know that King Edward the Martyr’s accession to his throne was disputed by a huge party which was headed by his stepmother.
2) Roman Catholics insist that the papal claims have been originally based on the text of Saint Peter the Apostle from the Gospel according to Matthew. It means that bishops of Rome have had universal jurisdiction and infallible teaching from the very beginning.
И.Б.

 1) For warriors the Crusades were merely a means of profit.
2) Celibacy is a requirement for monks and some priests in many religious traditions.
Н.М.

Trinitarian theology is the heart of the Orthodox faith.
Н.В.

Opus Dei is a Catholic organization or order, as its members call it. It seems to be an inoffensive organization with very strict Christian rules, orders and aims. For example it is a fact that so called numerarias, official members of this organization, must remain celibate. However, some people argue that one of the main aims of Opus Dei is the activity of Vatican secret service that includes involvement of influential people and destroying the Orthodox Church.
М.И.

 As for me the doctrine of papal infallibility is an absurdity. It's human nature to make mistakes and the Roman Pontiff is a man too.
Н.М.

1) The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place after the Gethsemane prayer.
2) It is not the Roman Pontiff who has the universal supremacy, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
Н.В.

The Roman Pontiff is the main person in the life of every Roman Catholic. However, people from other confessions refuse to believe him to be a person who posseses universal supremacy. It is one of the main points of difference between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches.
М.И.

 1) The period between the sixth and the eighth centuries was called the Dark Ages by Petrarch, but the whole period between the fifth and the fifteenth centuries was called the Middle Ages by Flavio Biondo.
2) When the church was burnt down, the laity helped their prior in different ways. Some gave money, others prayed a lot.
A.C.

 1) My friend advised me to read the article by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann "Clergy and Laity in the Orthodox Church", in which the priest elucidates the division between clergy and laity.
2) I’ve read that sometimes Muslim preachers produce and spread malicious mistranslations of the Bible to create anti-Christian attitude of mind.
И.Б.

 1) Perhaps the rise of Islam in the world is not such a bad fact because this religion is closest to Orthodoxy in moral ideas.
2) There was an altar in the Holy of Holies of the ancient temple where the Bull of Excommunication was put.
3) The Mediterranean world is mild in its climate – there are rainy winters and dry summers.
4) The essence of the heresy of filioque is that the Holy Spirit proceeds not only from the Father, but also from the Son.
Н.В.

1) I don`t like sermons but I like the smell when the priest is censing.
2) If we do charitable work, the Lord will bestow upon us the kingdom of heaven.
3) Orthodox people reverence icons but worship God.
Н.М.

1) The founder of Carolingian Empire was Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great.
2) Seneca was an ancient scholar and Nero’s teacher and at the same time the consul and the first head of the state at the Court.
A.C.

 1) There are many Russian Orthodox scholars who lead a dispute with modern atheistic and skeptical teachings.
2) Iconoclasts and semi-iconoclasts often appeal to the Second Commandment.
И.Б.

 1) We know many ancient scholars who created different theories of the soul, death, life and man's place in the universe.
2) Semi-Iconoclasts were not very thoroughgoing, however they were against the icons and they were able to start a fight at any time; that’s why they were so precarious.
М.И.

 1) We begin our studies of comparative theology with the question, what is a bull of excommunication?
2) I’m really interested in the Mediterranean World as a religious, geographical, historical and cultural area.
И.Б.

The Eucharist (Holy Gifts) is being sanctified in the altar during the Liturgy, especially during the Eucharistic Canon. And then at the end of the Liturgy Christians receive Holy Communion. And it is very important that all Christians are united in faith and communion.
М.И.

 1) In different countries the Emperor was considered to be a vicegerent of God. So he had to be a protector of the Church.
2) In my opinion one of the best priests was John Krestyankin. He preached powerful sermons.
A.C.

 I couldn`t be a nun. It is very difficult to live in a monastic house in a cell, to submit to the rule of the community. It is ascetic labor to live in withdrawal and solitude, to lead the life of strict enclosure.
Н.М.

 Cooperation of the priesthood and the imperial power has always been a very important and complicated question. Very often the government took part in many ecclesiastical matters; for example there was a time when the Emperor was able to summon councils.
М.И.

There are a lot of elders in the monastic houses of Mount Athos, who have spiritual discernment and are guided by the direct inspiration of the Spirit; many of them had led their lives in withdrawal and solitude.
М.И.

 During Iconoclasm the great protector of Orthodoxy Saint John of Damascus defended the veneration of icons, because iconoclasm was a heresy.
Н.В.

Saint Stephen the Wonderworker, who celebrated liturgy in his cell and at the age of 37 went into absolute solitude, was a nephew of Saint John of Damascus.
И.Б.