Definition

Noun: 1. The office, position, or authority of a vicar: This refers to the official role and the associated spiritual and administrative duties. 2. The district or jurisdiction under a vicar's authority: This refers to the specific geographical area or community for which a vicar is responsible.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He was appointed to the vicariate of the rural parish. (This refers to the office/position.)
  • The vicariate covers several small villages in the valley. (This refers to the district/jurisdiction.)
  • Her duties within the vicariate included pastoral care and administrative oversight.

Advanced Usage

• "Apostolic Vicariate": In the Roman Catholic Church, this is a territorial jurisdiction established in missionary regions where a diocese has not yet been formed. It is headed by an apostolic vicar, who is a titular bishop.
  • The Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia serves a vast and diverse Catholic population.

Variants and Related Words

• Vicar (n): A clergyperson representing a higher authority, such as a bishop (in the Anglican Communion) or the Pope (in the Roman Catholic Church), and having particular pastoral responsibilities in a parish or district.
• Vicarious (adj): Experienced through the feelings or actions of another person. (Note: This is a related but distinct concept, often used in secular contexts like "vicarious pleasure").
• Vicarship (n): A synonym for the office or term of a vicar.

Synonyms

• Vicarship: The office or term of a vicar.
• Pastorate: The office or jurisdiction of a pastor.
• Curacy: The office or work of a curate (an assistant to a vicar or rector).

Related Phrases

• To hold a vicariate: To occupy the office of a vicar.
  • He held the vicariate for over twenty years.

Noun

1. the religious institution under the authority of a vicar