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Dar al-Islam (Ar., "abode of Islam"): country under
the rule of a Muslim Leader and in which the ordinances of Shari’a
law are established as the law of the land. The inhabitants
are either Muslims, or non-Muslims who have submitted to Muslim
political dominance and the restrictions imposed upon them,
i.e. the inability to enjoy full citizenship, specific inhibitions
on modes of dress, and different method of taxation.
deesis (Gr., entreaty"): A representation of Christ between
the Virgin and Saint John the Baptist. The Virgin stands at
Christ’s right hand, as ultimate mediatrix for mankind,
John, Christ’s cousin stands to his left, and is the final
Prophet before the new economy of salvation. The earliest reference
of an image of this type is mentioned in the Miracles of Cyrus
and John, attributed to Bishop Sophronius of Jerusalem.
despot, despotes, despotai (Gr., "lord," "master"):
honorary court title of the Byzantine Empire, introduced in
the twelfth century and only second in rank to the Emperor and
Co-Emperor.
despoitissa: the wife of a despot.
despotic icon: term used for the larger icons in the lower portion
of an icon screen on either side of the Royal Doors.
Digenes Akrtitas: eponymous hero of a secular
epic romance, probably compiled in the twelfth century from
earlier oral sources.
discokalymma (Gr. "plate-veil"): one of a pair of
small matching veils that drapes of the Eucharistic vessels.
The discokalymma is placed over the diskos, or paten; see aer
and poterokalymma.
diskos, see paten
divetesion: long silk tunic worn by the Emperor and bishops
on important state occassions.
Dodekaorton (Gr., "Twelve Feasts"):
the twelve theophanic feasts: they are The Annunciation, March
15, The Nativity, December 25, The Presentation in the Temple,
February 2, The Theophany or Baptism of Christ, January 6, The
Transfiguration, August 6, The Birth of the Virgin, September
8, The Presentation of the Virgin, December 4, The Entry into
Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, The Resurrection or Anastasis, the
Ascension, Pentecost and the Dormition of the Virgin, August
15. The feasts of the Paschal Cycle, including the Entry into
Jerusalem through the Ascension, were calculated according to
the lunar Julian calendar, and varied in date from year to year.
Dominican Order: western mendicant order founded
by Saint Dominic. The order’s mission was sanctioned by
Pope Honorius III in 1216, who charged it to counteract the
popularity of heretical movements through preaching and teaching
sound orthodox doctorine. The mendicants rejected the ownership
of private property and were popular and effective preachers.
During the Latin occupation of Constantinople, there was a Dominican
house in Pera.
Dormition (Gr., "Koimēsis"): the death or "falling
asleep" of the Virgin, one of the Twelve Great Feasts of
the church calendar, celebrated August fifteenth, also the called
the Panagiotissa. Depictions of the scene in art are based on
apocryphal accounts of James, Christ’s stepbrother. The
event was described in three homilies by John of Damascus, who
cited the death of the Virgin as proof of Christ’s humanity.
Tenth century ivories are the first evidence of visual representations
of the event: in them the iconographic program is already established.
Mary is seen lying upon a bier, which is flanked by groups of
Apostles and mourners. Christ stands behind the bier carrying
the soul of Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes, see eidolon
and (cat 216). The term dormition is also found in images of
the death of some saints, as for example found in (Cat 120),
which depicts the Dormition of Saint Nicholas and (cat 80) depiction
the Dormition of Saint Isidoros (see cat 80).
Doxology (Gr., "glorification"):
liturgical formula of glorification to the Holy Trinity ("Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit"),
that occurs at the conclusion of a prayer. The Great Doxology
is taken from the Annunciation to the Shepherds (Luke 2:14)
"glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, good will
among men;" it is sung at the end of Matins.
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