Ekklesia
/ˌɛk.lɛˈziː.ə/noun
An assembly or gathering, especially in a religious context.
Did you know?Ekklesia was not just a church gathering; it was a powerful assembly where citizens deliberated on matters of state, embodying the concept of democracy itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷel-
“to call, to summon”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía)
“a gathering of citizens called out for a specific purpose”
1st Century
Greek
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía)
“the assembly of the faithful in Christian contexts”
Old French
Old French
eglise
“a church or assembly place for worship”
Middle English
Middle English
chirche
“a place of Christian worship, derived from ecclesia”
Modern English
English
church
“a building for Christian worship, retaining the assembly aspect of its origin.”