Medieval Church Definitions Flashcards
Cardinal
Appointed by pope to assist him
Pope
Bishop of Rome and supreme head of Roman Catholic Church
Archbishop
Oversaw large areas called archdioceses
Bishop
Governed areas called dioceses from cathedrals
Priest
Served parishes (local communities)
Parish
Smaller local church communities
Diocese
District under the pastoral care of a bishop
Monastery
Community of monks
Monk
Man who has taken a solemn vow to devote his life to prayer and service in a monastery
Excommunication
Formally deprive a person of membership in a church
Heresy
Belief contrary to orthodox religious doctrine
Doctrine
Set of beliefs held and taught by the church
Interdict
State in which entire regions excommunicated
Purgatory
Place of suffering inhabited by souls of sinners repenting their sins before being allowed into heaven
Inquisition
Tribunal established to suppress heresy
Canon law
Ecclesiastical law by papal governments
Sacraments
Solemn rite of Christian churches
Charity
Helped sick and poor (e.g. opened hospitals)
Education
Clergy taught poor boys basic literacy and numeracy
Tithe
10% of annual income is given to church
Pilgrimage
Journey to a place of (religious) significance
Relics
Objects surviving from earlier times
Salvation
Preservation or deliverance from harm