hierarch
nounEtymology From Medieval Latin hierarcha, from Ancient Greek ἱεράρχης (hierárkhēs) Derived from ἱερός (hierós, “holy”) + -άρχης (-árkhēs, “ruler”, “leader”). ἱερός from Proto-Hellenic *iherós, from Proto-Indo-European *ish₁ros. There are a number of candidate cognates with this word. Compare Sanskrit इषिर (iṣira, “vigorous, fresh, blooming”) and Oscan 𐌀𐌉𐌔𐌖𐌔𐌉𐌔 (aisusis).
1
Lifestyle, Religion One who has high and controlling authority in sacred things; the chief of a sacred order.
2
A title of bishops in their role as ordinaries (arbiters of canon law) over their respective dioceses.
Eastern Orthodoxy
- The law states that the local ordinary can give to any Catholic priest the faculty to bless the marriages of non-Catholic Eastern Christians if the faithful voluntarily ask for it and the priest prudently informs the appropriate hierarch.2016 October 11, Peter Jesserer Smith, “Pope’s Canon-Law Change Strengthens East and West”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), National Catholic Register:
- Derived terms
- hierarchal, hierarchate, hierarchic, hierarchical
- Related terms
- hierarchy, patriarch, patriarchy