panagia

noun

pa·​na·​gia

ˌpänəˈyē(ˌ)ä

plural -s

1

usually capitalized : a ceremony observed in monasteries of the Eastern Church at the first morning meal in honor of the Virgin Mary in which a loaf on a plate is elevated before being shared among participants

2

: encolpion

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek Panagia Virgin Mary, from feminine of Greek panagios all-holy, from pan- + hagios holy

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