noun
hierarch
Hierarch (noun) means a person with the highest authority over religious matters, or the head of a religious order.
noun
1
A person with the highest authority over religious matters, or the head of a religious order.
2
(religion) A title for a bishop acting as the senior legal authority within their diocese.
"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."
— Peter Jesserer Smith, Pope’s Canon-Law Change Strengthens East and West (2016)
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Etymology
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).
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of hierarch?
"hierarch" (noun) means a person with the highest authority over religious matters, or the head of a religious order.
What is another word for hierarch?
Other words for "hierarch" include primate, archpriest, prelate.
What are the different meanings of hierarch?
"hierarch" has 2 main meanings: 1. A person with the highest authority over religious matters, or the head of a religious order; 2. (religion) A title for a bishop acting as the senior legal authority within their diocese.
