Taizé

noun

Tai·​zé ˈtā-zā 

1

: a Christian ecumenical monastic community founded in Taizé, France in 1940

Taizé was, and always had been, resolutely ecumenical, taking brothers from all Christian sects and basing itself on love, reconciliation and forgiveness; there was much space for searching there, but none for dogmatism.

—The Economist, 27 Aug. 2005

2

: a religious service modeled on the services of Taizé

Candlelight and lanterns are traditional beacons of autumn and winter for many cultures—from Diwali to Christmas to Hanukkah—as communities usher in longer nights. Taizé at the Stone Church is similar in that the Tuesday services bring light to the night with a roomful of candles.

—Leeta-Rose Ballester, The San Jose (California) Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2014

—usually used before another noun

A typical Taizé service contains chant-like simple songs repeated many times, with periods of silence, readings and prayer.

—Ann Crews Melton, The Bismarck (North Dakota) Tribune, 14 Mar. 2015

Taizé chants

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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