epiclesis

noun

ep·​i·​cle·​sis

variants or epiklesis

ˌepəˈklēsə̇s

plural epicleses or epikleses

-ēˌsēz

often capitalized

: a liturgical invocation of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of consecrating the eucharistic elements found particularly in Eastern liturgies where it follows the words of institution and is regarded as the point at which the eucharistic bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek epiklēsis, from Greek, surname, title, invocation, from epikalein to summon, invoke, call by a surname (from epi- + kalein to summon) + -ēsis -esis

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