Holy Alliance |
the 1815 alliance of Austria, Prussia, and Russia, which was formed to stifle European democratic movements. |
Holy Ark |
in Judaism, a cabinet or enclosure in a synagogue, where the scrolls of the Torah are kept. |
Holy Bible |
see "Bible." |
Holy Communion |
any of various Christian rites in which bread and wine are consecrated and distributed as the body and blood of Jesus Christ, or as representations thereof. [2 definitions] |
holy day |
a day of special religious observance. |
Holy Father |
one of the pope's titles. |
Holy Ghost |
the third member of the Christian Trinity; Holy Spirit. |
Holy Grail |
see "Grail." |
Holy Land |
ancient Palestine, now the site of the modern state of Israel. |
holy man |
in some cultures, one who is attributed with the power to heal the sick and to guide the community. [2 definitions] |
Holy Mother |
Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. |
holy of holies |
the inner chamber of the Jewish tabernacle and temple, that housed the ark of the covenant. [2 definitions] |
Holy Office |
an organization within the Roman Catholic Church that oversees matters of doctrine and morality. |
holy orders |
the rite of ordination into the priesthood. [3 definitions] |
Holy Roman Empire |
the empire of central European, Germanic-speaking nations and Italy, beginning with Charlemagne's reign as Roman emperor in 800 A.D. or the crowning of Otto I in 962, and ending in 1806. |
Holy Scripture |
(sometimes pl.) the Bible, esp. the Old and New Testaments. |
Holy See |
the office or jurisdiction of the pope; Apostolic See. |
Holy Spirit |
the third member of the Christian Trinity; Holy Ghost. |
Holy Synod |
the governing body of any of the Eastern Orthodox churches, composed of bishops under the authority of a patriarch. |
holy water |
in the Roman Catholic Church, water blessed by a priest and used for certain religious purposes. |