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==Main articleEtymology==
The Greek word [[ecclesia]] (ἐκκλησία) is translated as "church" in English. This word means "gathering" or "assembly". The word "church" itself is actually derived through Middle and from the Old English word "cirice, circe from " (which is related to the [[Greek]] κυριακον (δωμα) Lord's (house). However, most English versions of the New Testament use the word "churchκυριακή" to translate [[ecclesia]] (Greek ἐκκλησία which means "congregation, assemblyof the Lord", a word originally used without specific reference to religious gatherings) The study of the church is called Ecclesiology. ===Uses of the word===
In English, the word can be used in reference to a gathering of people for a religious meeting, but is sometimes used to refer to a building or group of buildings. It is also used to refer to a [[denomination]] that places the leadership of all congregations in a central location, such as the "Roman Catholic Church". It can also be used in an institutional sense to refer to all churches, such as "... the church today...."