apostolic
Like early disciples
Apostolic means relating to the apostles—the twelve disciples of Jesus—or to their teachings and traditions.
In Christian contexts, apostolic often implies authority derived from unbroken succession back to the original apostles: the apostolic see of Rome, apostolic succession.
The word also describes missionary or evangelical work in the spirit of the apostles: apostolic zeal.
Papal city-state
- pontiffSupreme Catholic leader
- PopeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- encyclicalFormal papal circular letter
- conclavePrivate, secretive assembly
curia · infallibility · papacy · Rome · nuncio · pallium · keys · vicar
Custom passed through generations
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- iconsRepresentative small images
- patriarchMale head of family
- councilsDeliberative governing bodies
ecumenical · Byzantine · Eucharist · vespers · fasting · eastern · patristic · synod
Statement of belief
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- theologyStudy of the divine
- canonAccepted authoritative works
catechism · exegesis · gospel · teachings · orthodoxy · tradition · trinitarian
Formal worship structure
- altarSacred ritual table
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- hymnsReligious songs of worship
- psalmsReligious songs of praise
prayer · mass · Eucharist · benediction · chalice · incense · sacrament · agape
Delivering moral discourse
- evangelismPromoting beliefs to others
- conversionAct of changing states
- missionPurpose-driven task
- gospelSacred choral tradition
discipleship · outreach · witnessing · proselytism · pioneer · tentmaker · unreached · sending
Following in order
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- disciplesDevoted followers of teachings
- patriarchsMale ancestral leaders
- fathersMale parents collectively
teachings · lineage · episcopacy · bishopric · ordination · continuity · inheritance · authority
Vatican
Papal city-state
- pontiffSupreme Catholic leader
- PopeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- encyclicalFormal papal circular letter
conclave · curia · infallibility · papacy · Rome · nuncio · pallium · keys · vicar · primacy
tradition
Custom passed through generations
councils · ecumenical · Byzantine · Eucharist · vespers · fasting · eastern · patristic · synod
creed
Statement of belief
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- theologyStudy of the divine
canon · catechism · exegesis · gospel · teachings · orthodoxy · tradition · trinitarian
liturgy
Formal worship structure
psalms · prayer · mass · Eucharist · benediction · chalice · incense · sacrament · agape · gathering
preaching
Delivering moral discourse
- evangelismPromoting beliefs to others
- conversionAct of changing states
- missionPurpose-driven task
gospel · discipleship · outreach · witnessing · proselytism · pioneer · tentmaker · unreached · sending · apostolate
succession
Following in order
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- disciplesDevoted followers of teachings
- patriarchsMale ancestral leaders
fathers · teachings · lineage · episcopacy · bishopric · ordination · continuity · inheritance · authority · transmitted
vocation
Dedicated career path
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- chastityAbstaining from sexual activity
- celibacyAbstaining from intimate relations
monasticism · novitiate · poverty · calling · humility · rule · mendicants · vows · community · renunciation
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- Black ChurchBaptist church, gospel choir, pastor, preacher, deacons
- Popepontiff, Holy Father, papacy, papal, Vatican
- Sacred Authoritydivine right, papal authority, papal supremacy, theocracy, divine mandate
- sacred adjectivesdivine, holy, blessed, sacred, sanctified
- Canadian CatholicismJesuits, Catholic parishes, separate schools, parish priests, archdioceses
apostolicheretical
Contrary to accepted doctrine
schismatic · heterodox · illegitimate · unorthodox · non-canonical
apostolicsecular
Nonreligious, worldly
irreligious · profane · worldly · temporal · godless
- apostolic authorityLeadership descending from disciples
- apostolic fathersSecond-century disciples of disciples
- apostolic delegatePope's official representative abroad
- apostolic povertyReligious vow against ownership
- apostolic churchChristianity from Christ's envoys
apostle, apostles, epistle, epistolary, epistles, apostleship