PATERIKA

PATERIKA. “Of, or pertaining to, the Church Fathers” (q.v.), as in their works, writings, etc. The word, normally in the singular (paterikon), is used with particular reference to collections of sayings and deeds of ascetic holy men (for women, it is a materikon). One finds, for example, the Sinai paterikon, or the Kiev paterikon, referring to the anecdotes and deeds of the remarkable fathers of the monasteries of Sinai and the Pecherskaya Lavra.