Followed by all Orthodox churches, by Melchites in Syria and Egypt, Balkan Uniats, Italo-Greeks in Calabria, Apulia, Sicily and Corsica, by over 100,000,000 Christians. It is of Antiochene origin. It employs the Greek, Arabic, Old Slavonian, and Rumanian languages, and follows the Julian Calendar (Old Style), the liturgical year beginning September 1,. There are four great fasts: of Christ's Birth, November 15, to December 25,; of Easter, seven weeks before the feast; of the Apostles, first Sunday after Pentecost to June 28,; of the Mother of God, 14 days from August 1,. Instead of a Missal and Breviary, it has many service books, 20 in number. The liturgy followed is that of Saint Chrysostom but, except Palm Sunday, on all Sundays in Lent, Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday, the Eves of Christmas and Epiphany, the Liturgy of Saint Basil is used.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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