The English term “church,” tserkvie in Russian, kirche in German, kerke in Dutch, and other similar sounding names, are all derivatives of the Greek word “kyriakon;” which means, “something belonging to the Lord.” The word was originally applied to the church building (i.e. the “Lord’s House”), but soon became synonymous with both, the people and the action of the people (e.g. I’m going to church… Church begins at 10:00 a.m.… I’m helping our church cook a meal for the homeless…).
The Greek word “ecclesia” (forming the root of the term ecclesiastical), although also applied to the building’s structure, is actually a Greek word meaning, “an assembly” – as in a gathered unit or body of citizens – with the distinct connotation of being self-governing or self-ruling. Hence, in Christian terms, the Ecclesia is the “People of God.”
The English word temple (“xhram” in Russian), from the Latin term templum which ironically also is derived from another Greek word temenous, is a far more appropriate term to use when referring to a church structure. Therefore, instead of saying, “The church gathered in the church for church,” it’s much better to say, “The church gathered in the temple for services.”
