The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (43 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Acintya-
akt
(Skt.,
acintya
, ‘unthinkable, incomprehensible, the Absolute’). The literally incomprehensible force associated with a
mantra
, which cannot be contained by reason or by bodily power.
Acit
(Skt., opposite of
cit
, ‘consciousness’). That which is inert, the material universe. In
R
m
nuja's
system, acit forms the body of God.
Acoemetae
(Gk.,
akoim
tai
, ‘sleepless ones’).
Orthodox
ascetics in general, and in particular monks following the rule of
Basil
. The term may be applied more generally to Eastern Christian
ascetics
.
Acolyte
,
In the W. Church, one of the minor
orders
, first heard of in 251 in Rome. His function is to assist the priest and deacon at the
mass
, but later, acolytes and
subdeacons
take over most functions in the liturgy of the other minor orders.

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