Meanings
nounepiclesis (plural epicleses)
plural epicleses
- ChristianityA prayer invoking the Holy Spirit, especially one offered in the liturgical context of the Eucharist so as to change the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus.
- GreekRomanhuman sciencesA particular appearance or aspect of a deity.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐπίκλησις“invocation”
- Englishepiclesis
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἐπίκλησις (epíklēsis, “invocation”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech epikleze
- epiklezeprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Dutch Epiklese
- Epikleseprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
French épiclèse
- épiclèseprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
German Epiklese
- Epikleseprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Italian epiclesi
- epiclesiprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Japanese エピクレーシス
- エピクレーシス (epikurēshizu)prayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Polish epikleza
- epiklezaprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Portuguese epiclese
- epicleseprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Spanish epíclesis
- epíclesisprayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Cite this entry
APA
epiclesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epiclesis
MLA
“epiclesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epiclesis. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epiclesis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epiclesis.
Source: epiclesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.