Ecclesia Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ɪˈkliːziə/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A term used to describe a church or a community of people gathered for worship, derived from the Greek word for “assembly” or “gathering”.

Examples

• The ecclesia gathered to celebrate the Easter Sunday service.
• The local ecclesia was known for its charitable work in the community.

Synonyms

• Church
• Congregation

Antonyms

• Secular
• Individual

Additional Information

Ecclesia is a term often used in Christian contexts to describe the universal church, comprising all believers across different denominations and geographical locations. The concept of ecclesia emphasizes the unity and solidarity of the Christian community.

In historical contexts, the term ecclesia was used in ancient Greece to describe a gathering of citizens for political or social purposes. The term was later adopted by early Christian communities to describe their own gatherings for worship and fellowship.

In modern times, the term ecclesia is often used in ecumenical contexts to promote unity and cooperation among different Christian denominations and traditions.

Etymology

The term ecclesia is derived from the Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia), meaning “assembly” or “gathering”. The word is composed of two Greek words: ἐκ (ek), meaning “out of” or “from”, and κλησία (klēsia), meaning “calling” or “gathering”.

Usage Notes

The term ecclesia is often used in formal or technical contexts to describe the universal church or a specific Christian community. In informal contexts, the term may be used more broadly to describe any gathering of people for worship or fellowship.

Cultural References

The term ecclesia has been used in various cultural and literary contexts to describe the Christian community or the universal church. Examples include the writings of early Christian theologians such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• “Ecclesia in the wilderness”, referring to a community of believers in exile or persecution.
• “Ecclesia militans”, referring to the church militant, or the community of believers on earth.

Related Words or Phrases

• Church
• Congregation
• Assembly
• Gathering

Collocations

• Ecclesia mater, referring to the mother church or the universal church.
• Ecclesia particularis, referring to a specific local church or community.

Frequency of Use

The term ecclesia is relatively uncommon in modern language, but is often used in formal or technical contexts to describe the universal church or a specific Christian community.

Common Misspellings

• Eclesia
• Ecclesa
• Ecclesiai