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mystagogy

mystagogy

9.9
Teaching about the meaning of religious ceremonies for new members of a church
  • noun
  • /ˌmɪstəˈɡoʊdʒi/
  • Formal
translation icon : mística
  • In the hymns, biblical exegesis has its face turned toward theophany, thus becoming a mystagogy—an account of and a guide into the experience of God.

Examples

  • If you enjoy Mystagogy's ongoing exploration of Orthodox Christian and other related themes, please consider making a donation to help continue this ministry and defray the time and costs associated with this project.

    Blog text (14)
  • There are eighteen chapters before the one on mysteries, and they more or less systematically exclude from serious consideration the idea that worship, mystagogy, or spirituality might be intrinsically relevant to theological method.

    Academic text (1991)
  • In the Christian community, mystagogy helps new members understand the significance of sacraments.

  • During mystagogy, new believers are guided through the deeper meanings of their faith and rituals.

  • The retreat focused on mystagogy, offering insights into the sacred traditions and mysteries of the church.

Synonyms

catechesis
vsmystagogy
  • Specialized
3 9.9

Religious teaching for people preparing for baptism or confirmation

is more about explaining sacraments to new members after initiation
catechization
vsmystagogy
  • Formal
9.9

Teaching the beliefs of a religion by asking and answering questions before a ceremony

focuses on explaining mysteries and sacraments to new members
catechetical instruction
vsmystagogy
  • Formal
9.9

Teaching religious beliefs by asking and answering questions, often before baptism or confirmation

serves to explain sacramental meaning to new community members

Antonyms

316 3.9

Not knowing about something or how it works

How Detailed

mystagogy
  • Formal
9.9
catechesis
  • Specialized
3 9.9
instruction
141 1.9
reference
329 3.2
introduction
45 1.4

Surface Forms

mystagogy singular
mystagogies plural

Morphology

mystagogy = mystagogue (opaque) = myst + agog + y

The term is a rare, specialized formation (from Greek combining elements) and its meaning 'instruction about religious mysteries' is not reliably inferable by an average B1 learner from the parts.

Etymology

The word mystagogy comes from Greek parts myst- meaning 'mystery' and -agogy meaning 'leading', like in pedagogy, a word for teaching. So mystagogy literally means 'leading people into the mysteries', which is why it refers to teaching new members about religious sacraments.