Encaenia
Encyclopedia
Encaenia is an academic or sometimes ecclesiastical ceremony
, usually performed at college
s or universities. It generally occurs some time near the annual ceremony for the general conference of degrees to students. The word is from Latin
, meaning dedication or consecration, and is ultimately derived from the Greek
word 'εγκαίνια', meaning a festival of renewal or dedication, and corresponds to the English
term Commencement
.
The term was originally used to indicate the eight days of celebration for the dedication of the church of the Holy Sepulchre
in Jerusalem, which celebration covered also to the discovering of the True Cross
by Empress Helena
in 326. Because the church of the Holy Sepulchre was consecrated on September 13, 335, the Encaenia started on September 13, while the cross itself was brought outside the church on September 14 so that the clergy and faithful could pray before the True Cross (Feast of the Cross
).
.
The most famous Encaenia is the ceremony at the University of Oxford
, which usually takes place on the Wednesday of the ninth week of Trinity Term
(i.e. a Wednesday in the latter part of June). Preceding the ceremony is a procession of some of the participants to the Sheldonian Theatre
, inside which the main event takes place. Those who take part in the procession are the Chancellor
, Vice-Chancellor, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
s, the Heads of Houses (i.e. the university's colleges, societies, and halls
), the four Heads of Division (i.e. the divisions of [1] Humanities, [2] Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences [3] Medical Sciences, and [4] Social Sciences), holders of Higher Doctorates (i.e. those in Divinity
, Civil Law
, Medicine
, Letters
, Science
, and Music
), the Proctors, the Assessor, the Public Orator, the Professor of Poetry
, and the Registrar
, together with the outgoing President of the Oxford University Student Union
, and the Presidents of the Junior and Middle Common Rooms of the colleges to which the Proctors and the Assessor belong.
The Encaenia is depicted in the film Shadowlands
and in the Morse
episode Twilight of the Gods, and is depicted in the Jeffrey Archer novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
.
on which the College honors the graduating class with awards and prizes following a procession of candidates and faculty
in academic regalia, often joined by trustees and administrators. In the case of Fordham University
, the graduates in turn bid farewell in the persons of the Class Valedictorian
and, in a humorous yet loving way, the honorary "Lord" or "Lady of the Manor".
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
, usually performed at college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s or universities. It generally occurs some time near the annual ceremony for the general conference of degrees to students. The word is from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, meaning dedication or consecration, and is ultimately derived from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word 'εγκαίνια', meaning a festival of renewal or dedication, and corresponds to the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
term Commencement
Commencement
Commencement may refer to:* Graduation, the ceremony at which students receive academic degrees** Commencement speech* "Commencement" * Commencement , by Deadsy* Commencement, a novel by J...
.
The term was originally used to indicate the eight days of celebration for the dedication of the church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
in Jerusalem, which celebration covered also to the discovering of the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
by Empress Helena
Helena of Constantinople
Saint Helena also known as Saint Helen, Helena Augusta or Helena of Constantinople was the consort of Emperor Constantius, and the mother of Emperor Constantine I...
in 326. Because the church of the Holy Sepulchre was consecrated on September 13, 335, the Encaenia started on September 13, while the cross itself was brought outside the church on September 14 so that the clergy and faithful could pray before the True Cross (Feast of the Cross
Feast of the Cross
In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus....
).
United Kingdom
At certain universities, Encaenia is an annual ceremony typically involving the presentation of honorary degrees to distinguished alumni and to distinguished personages from the worlds of arts and sciences. In most British universities, it corresponds to part of GraduationGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
.
The most famous Encaenia is the ceremony at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, which usually takes place on the Wednesday of the ninth week of Trinity Term
Trinity term
Trinity term is the name of the third and final term of Oxford University's and the University of Dublin's academic year. It runs from about mid April to about the end of June and is named after Trinity Sunday, which falls eight weeks after Easter, in May or June.At the University of Sydney, it was...
(i.e. a Wednesday in the latter part of June). Preceding the ceremony is a procession of some of the participants to the Sheldonian Theatre
Sheldonian Theatre
The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1668 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, chancellor of the university at the time and the project's main financial backer...
, inside which the main event takes place. Those who take part in the procession are the Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
, Vice-Chancellor, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Pro-Vice-Chancellor
In a university, an assistant to a vice-chancellor is called a pro-vice-chancellor . These are sometimes teaching academics who take on additional responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are in charge of Administration, Research and Development, Academic and Education affairs...
s, the Heads of Houses (i.e. the university's colleges, societies, and halls
Permanent Private Hall
A Permanent Private Hall at the University of Oxford is an educational institution within the university. There are six Permanent Private Halls at Oxford, five of which admit undergraduates. They were founded by different Christian denominations....
), the four Heads of Division (i.e. the divisions of [1] Humanities, [2] Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences [3] Medical Sciences, and [4] Social Sciences), holders of Higher Doctorates (i.e. those in Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
, Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
, Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
, and Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
), the Proctors, the Assessor, the Public Orator, the Professor of Poetry
Oxford Professor of Poetry
The chair of Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford is an unusual academic appointment, now held for a term of five years, and chosen through an election open to all members of Convocation, namely, all graduates and current academics of the university; in 2010, on-line voting was allowed....
, and the Registrar
Registrar (academic)
In education outside the United Kingdom, a registrar or registrary is an official in an academic institution who handles student records. Typically, a registrar processes registration requests, schedules classes and maintains class lists, enforces the rules for entering or leaving classes, and...
, together with the outgoing President of the Oxford University Student Union
Oxford University Student Union
The Oxford University Student Union is the official students' union of the University of Oxford. It is better known in Oxford by its acronym, OUSU . It exists to represent Oxford University students in the University's decision-making, to act as the voice for students in the national higher...
, and the Presidents of the Junior and Middle Common Rooms of the colleges to which the Proctors and the Assessor belong.
The Encaenia is depicted in the film Shadowlands
Shadowlands (film)
Shadowlands is a 1993 British biographical film directed by Richard Attenborough. The screenplay by William Nicholson is based on his 1985 television production and 1989 stage adaptation of the same name. The original television film began life as a script entitled I Call it Joy written for Thames...
and in the Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
episode Twilight of the Gods, and is depicted in the Jeffrey Archer novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less was Jeffrey Archer's first novel, first published in 1976. It was said to have been inspired by Archer's real-life experience of near-bankruptcy.-Synopsis:...
.
United States
At some institutions, Encaenia is the evening shortly before commencementCommencement
Commencement may refer to:* Graduation, the ceremony at which students receive academic degrees** Commencement speech* "Commencement" * Commencement , by Deadsy* Commencement, a novel by J...
on which the College honors the graduating class with awards and prizes following a procession of candidates and faculty
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in academic regalia, often joined by trustees and administrators. In the case of Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, the graduates in turn bid farewell in the persons of the Class Valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and, in a humorous yet loving way, the honorary "Lord" or "Lady of the Manor".