Holy Order
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A sacrament in certain Christian churches: "holy order" refers specifically to the sacrament of ordination, a sacred rite through which a person is consecrated for ministry.
- A rank within the Christian clergy: (Often used in the plural: holy orders) This meaning denotes the status, rank, or office of an ordained Christian minister (e.g., deacon, priest, bishop) within an ecclesiastical hierarchy.
Usage Examples
Noun (Sacrament):
- He received the holy order of priesthood in a solemn ceremony.
- The sacrament of holy order confers a special grace for ministry.
Noun (Rank/Office - usually plural):
- After years of study, she took holy orders and became a deacon.
- He was admitted to the holy orders of the church last year.
Advanced Usage
- "To be in holy orders": to be an ordained member of the clergy.
- Only those in holy orders may perform certain sacraments.
- "To take holy orders": to enter the clergy by being ordained.
- He decided to take holy orders and dedicate his life to the church.
Variants and Related Words
- Ordination (n): The act or ceremony of conferring holy orders; the state of being ordained.
- His ordination was attended by the entire congregation.
- Holy Orders (n, plural): The specific term for the ranks of the clergy, treated as a plural noun.
- The bishop holds the highest of the holy orders.
Different Meanings
The term has two primary, closely related meanings: 1. The sacramental rite itself (ordination). 2. The ecclesiastical office or status received through that rite. The plural form "holy orders" is standard for the second meaning.
Synonyms
- Ordination: (for the sacrament) Consecration, holy sacrament.
- Clergy: (for the status/rank) Ministry, priesthood, the cloth.
Related Idioms
- "Called to holy orders": Experiencing a spiritual vocation to become ordained.
- From a young age, he felt called to holy orders.
Noun
- the sacrament of ordination
- (usually plural) the status or rank or office of a Christian clergyman in an ecclesiastical hierarchy
- theologians still disagree over whether `bishop' should or should not be a separate Order