t. Thomas the Apostle.
St. Mark the Evangelist. The Nativity of our Lord.
St. Philip and St. James the St. Stephen the Martyr.
Apostles. St. John the Evangelist.
The Ascension of our Lord. The Holy Innocents.
St. Barnabas the Apostle. Monday and Tuesday in Easter
The Nativity of St. John Baptist. Week.
St. Peter the Apostle. Monday and Tuesday in Whitsun
St. James the Apostle. Week.
The Transfiguration of our Lord.
Feria.--A term derived from the Latin and used to designate days
which are neither Feasts nor Fasts. {111}
Filioque.--The Latin for the words "and the Son" which occur in
our form of the Nicene Creed. They are not found in the original
Creed as used in the Greek Church, but were added by the Third
Council of Toledo, A.D. 589. This addition to the Creed by the
Western Church was the subject of a long controversy between the
East and the West, which with other complications finally led to
their entire separation in A.D. 1054. (See PROCESSION OF THE HOLY
GHOST.)
Fish.--The figure of a fish has been used from the very earliest
days as a symbol in the Christian Church. Among the early Christians
it was used as a secret sign by which they knew one another in the
days of persecution. The significance of the fish as a Christian
symbol is set forth under EMBLEMS (which see).
Flagon.--One of the Eucharistic vessels. A large pitcher-shaped
vessel made of precious metal and used to hold the wine before
its consecration in the chalice. It is sometimes used in the
consecration.
Font.--The vessel which contains the water for the purpose of
Baptism, usually of stone and vase-shaped, _i.e._, a large bowl
on a pedestal, being sometimes circular and sometimes octagonal.
The position of the Font in primitive times was at or near the
Church door to signify that Baptism is the entrance into the Church
Mystical. This position is still retained in some churches at the
present time, but in most churches it is placed near the chancel
for convenience, or because no place at the door was provided by
the architect. Fonts were formerly required to be covered and locked;
originally their covers were simple flat {112} movable lids, but
they were subsequently very highly ornamented, assuming the form of
spires and enriched with various decorations in carved wood or
polished brass. The Font is so called from the Latin word _F
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