The word Parish is a term that has been used to designate a local Christian community since the very beginning of the Christian age. It appears in the writings of the Early Church Fathers and in various Canons issued by the Ecumenical Councils. In its original Greek form, paroikia means a “temporary” or “secondary” residence (as opposed to oikos, which means a “permanent home”). This particular word was obviously well-chosen because it reminded those Early Christians (and hopefully us, too!) that this world is but a temporary home as we sojourn ever onwards towards our permanent residence in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
