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Icon (Ikon)
Greek eikon, image - in the Eastern Orthodox Church an image of Jesus or a venerated saint held as sacred. Iconography is the art of producing such images. Iconolatry is the worship of icons. Iconology is the study of icons. An iconostasis is a screen or partition decorated with icons separating the sanctuary from the rest of an Eastern Orthodox Church.
Iconoclast
Greek - eikon (icon) + klaein (to break) - Anyone opposed to the religious use of images or advocating the destruction of such images, specefically a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church during the eighth and ninth centuries who denounced the use of icons. Iconoclasm is the actions or beliefs of an iconoclast.
Idol
Ecclesiastic Late Greek eidos, "form" -- an image of a god; heathen diety; spiritual impostor. Idolater: Ecclesiastic Late Greek eidololatres: eidolon (idol) + latris (hired servant) -- a worshiper of idols; devoted admirer.
Ignatius
Christian martyr and bishop of Antioch (c. A.D. 50-110), observed on February 1.
Ignatius of Loyola
Iñigo López de Recalde (1491-1556), Spanish priest and founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), observed July 31.
IHS
Abbreviation for one of the following three Latin terms: Iesus Hominum Salvator, Jesus, Savior of Men; In Hoc Signo (Vinces), in this sign (thou shalt conquer); In Hoc (Cruce) Salus, in this (cross) salvation. Originally ΙΗΣ, a contraction derived from the Greek word for Jesus (ΙΗΣΟΤΣ), used as a symbol or monogram. IHS is considerd a Latin misspelling of the Greek ΙΗΣ, of which the proper Latin form would be IES.
Illuminati
People who have or profess to have intellectual or spiritual enlightenment; any of various societies, usually secret, composed of such people. Illuminism is the doctrines or claims of any of the illuminati.
Immaculate Conception
Doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that Mary conceived of Jesus by the Holy Spirit, but remained free of original sin.
Immanent
Theological term for God's pervasive presence throughout the universe.
Immanuel (Emmanuel)
Hebrew, "God with us" ('im, with + anu, us + el, God); the name given by Isaiah to the coming Messiah (Isaiah 7:14), attributed to Jesus in Matthew 1:23.
Impanation
Latin impanare (in, in + panis, bread), to embody in bread. Roman Catholic doctrine that the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine of the Eucharist after consecration by the priest, with no actual change in their substance (transubstantiation).
Imprimatur
Modern Latin, "let it be printed" -- license or permission, particularly by an ecclesiastical censor, to publish or print a book, article, etc.
Impute
Theological term, to ascribe a condition (such as goodness or guilt) from one person to another.
Incarnate
Latin (in, in + carnis, flesh -- past participle of incarnari, to be made flesh), in human form, ascribed to God becoming man in the form of Jesus Christ.
Incorporeal
Without material body or substance, as spirits or angels.
Index Expurgatorius
A list of books that the Roman Catholic Church forbade its members to read unless certain passages condemned as dangerous to the faith were deleted or changed.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum
A list of books that the Roman Catholic Church forbade its members to read, except by special permission, which were condemned as dangerous to the faith.
Indulgence
In the Roman Catholic Church, a remission of temporal or purgatorial punishment still due for a sin after the guilt has been forgiven in the sacrament of penance.
Indult
Variant of indulgence (favor), a privilege or special permission granted by the Pope to bishops and others to do something otherwise prohibited by the general law of the Roman Catholic Church.
Ineffable
Too awesome or sacred to be spoken, inexpressible, or too overwhelming to be described in words -- said of God's name, "I AM" (YHWH, the Tetragrammaton), as expressed to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
Inerrant
Latin inerrans, not wandering, fixed -- infallible, making no mistakes, not erring.
Infallible
Never wrong; incapable of error; always reliable.
Infralapsarian
Group of Calvinists who believed that God's plan of salvation for some people was a consequence of the fall of man from grace.
Iniquity
Latin iniquitas, unequal -- lack or righteousness or justice.
Inner Light
Quaker belief of a guiding influence resulting from the presence of God in the soul.
Innocent
Any of thirteen popes, including Innocent I (c. A.D. 417), Innocent II (Gregorio Papareschi, c. 1143), Innocent III (Lotario de' Conti de' Segni, c. 1161-1216, Innocent IV (Sinibaldo de' FFieschi, c. A.D. 1254), and Innocent XI (Benedetto Odescalchi, 1611-89).
Inpetto
Italian, "in the breast" -- secretly, not revealed, said of cardinals appointed by the Pope but not named in consistory.
Inquisition
The general tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church established in the thirteenth century for the discovery and suppression of heresy and the punishment of heretics; the activities of this tribunal; an intensive inquest.
I.N.R.I.
Latin Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
Insufflate
Latin insufflatus, to blow or breathe into from below -- to breathe on baptismal water or a person being baptized as a rite of exorcism.
Intercede
Latin intercedere, to go between -- to plead or make a request in behalf of another; intervene or mediate. Intercession is prayer in behalf of others. According to Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25, Christ comes before God to intercede in behalf of those who come to him. According to Romans 8:26-27, the Spirit intercedes to express to God what is in our hearts. According to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, intercession is to be made for everyone, including those in authority.
Intercommunion
Mutual communion among religious groups.
Interdenominational
Between, among, shared by, or involving different religious denominations.
Interfaith
Between or involving persons adhering to different religions.
Interlinear
Having the same text in different languages printed in alternate lines.
Introit
Latin introitus, entrance -- a song or hymn sung or played at the opening of a Christian worship service; the first variable part of Roman Catholic Mass consisting of a few psalm verses followed by the Gloria Patri and then repeated.
Invocation
The act of calling on God or spiritual forces for blessing, assistance, support, etc.; a formal prayer said at the beginning of a church service.
Isagogics
From the Greek eisagein, to introduce -- the study of the literary history of the Bible, considerd as introductory to the study of Bible interpretation.
Ishmaelite
A descendant of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, the original progenitor of Arab peoples.
Ishtar
The Babylonian and Assyrian goddess of love and fertility.
Islam
Arabic, "submission" (to the will of Allah) -- Muslim religion founded by Muhammed.
Israel
Hebrew yisra'el, "contender with God" (sarah, to wrestle + el, God) -- the name given to Jacob by the angel of the Lord after wrestling with him throughout the night (Genesis 32:28); ancient land of the Hebrews located at the SE end of the Mediterranean Sea; the Jewish people, as descendants of Jacob; northern kingdom of the Hebrews established in the tenth century B.C. by the ten tribes of Israel that broke from Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:1-24, 2 Chronicles 10); Jewish state established in 1948 by the United Nations.
Issachar
Ninth son of Jacob (Genesis 30:18) and the tribe of Israel descended from him.
Iyar
Eighth month of the Jewish year.
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