Priest

:This article is about religious workers. For other uses of the word, see priest (disambiguation).

In Christianity

In the Christian context, some confusion is caused for English speakers by two different Greek words traditionally translated as priest. Both occur in the New Testament, which draws a distinction not always observed in English.

Related Topics:
English - Greek - New Testament

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The first, presbyteros (πρεσβυτερος), Latin presbyter, is traditionally translated priest and the English word priest is indeed etymologically derived from this word; literally, it means elder, and is used in neutral and non-religious contexts in Greek to refer to seniority or relative age.

Related Topics:
Latin - Presbyter - Etymologically

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The second, hiereus ('ιερευς), Latin sacerdos, refers to priests who offer sacrifices, such as the priesthood of the Jewish Temple, or the priests of pagan gods. The Epistle to the Hebrews draws a distinction between the two types of priesthood; it teaches that atonement by Jesus Christ has made the hiereus or sacerdotal priesthood redundant, in terms of the sacrifices the Jews previously offered. Thus, Christ himself is the only hiereus for Christians. Catholics and Orthodox believe that there is a new priesthood in the sense of the presbyteros, which offers the one sacrifice of Jesus in the form of the Eucharist.

Related Topics:
Sacrifice - Temple - Pagan - Epistle to the Hebrews - Atonement - Jesus - Eucharist

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At some point after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (A.D. 70), however, Greek-speaking Christians also began using hiereus to refer to presbyters, but still making a distinction between the old priesthood and the new. Thus, in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Anglicanism generally a priest is also called a "presbyter" or elder. Priests are considered clergy and can only be ordained by a bishop.

Related Topics:
Jerusalem - 70 - Presbyter - Eastern Orthodoxy - Catholicism - Anglicanism - Elder - Clergy - Bishop

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Catholic & Orthodox

The most significant liturgical acts reserved to Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic priests are the administration of the Sacraments, including the celebration of the Mass or Divine Liturgy (see also Eucharist), Holy Baptism and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a rite of Repentance, also called Confession. The presence and ministry of a priest is required for a parish to function fully. This activity is known in Roman Catholicism as the cure of souls.

Related Topics:
Liturgical - Eastern Orthodox - Roman Catholic - Sacrament - Mass - Divine Liturgy - Eucharist - Holy Baptism - Repentance - Confession - Parish - Cure of souls

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In both traditions, only men who meet certain requirements may become priests. In Catholicism the canonical minimum age is twenty-five. Bishops may dispense with this rule and ordain men up to one year younger; dispensations of more than a year are reserved to the Holy See (Can. 1031 §§1, 4.) A Catholic priest must be incardinated by his bishop in order to engage in public ministry. In Orthodoxy the normal minimum age is thirty (Can. 9 of Neocaesarea) but a bishop may dispense with this at need. In neither tradition may priests marry after ordination. In the Latin rite of the Roman church, they must be celibate and there are special rules for married clergy converting from certain other Christian confessions. Married men may become priests in Eastern Orthodoxy and the Eastern Rites of the Roman church but in neither case may they marry after ordination even if they become widowed.

Related Topics:
Canonical - Holy See - Incardinated - Celibate

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Some Catholic churches, not in communion with the Roman Church, do ordain women as well as men as priests; such churches include some Old Catholic congregations, as well as some Independent Catholic Churches. These churches also generally permit the ordination of married people.

Related Topics:
Catholic - Old Catholic - Independent Catholic Churches

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Protestant

Most Protestant denominations do not use the term "priest" to describe the individual who has an officiating role because of its association with the idea of a sacrificial mass. In these denominations leaders of congregations are instead typically called "ministers" or "pastors" and are not necessarily believed to possess any special sacramental charism by virtue of their office. Lutheranism uses "priest" in Scandinavia and the Baltics and in churches deriving from there, but not in Germany and churches deriving from there.

Related Topics:
Protestant - Charism - Lutheranism - Scandinavia - Baltics - Germany

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Anglican Communion

The churches of the Anglican Communion universally refer to three orders of ordained ministry: bishops, priests and deacons. Priestly celibacy was abolished during the Reformation, although Anglican priests in religious orders normally are celibate. In a growing number of provinces of the Communion both men and women can be ordained priests.

Related Topics:
Anglican Communion - Bishop - Deacon - Reformation - Religious order - Provinces

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Quaker

Quakerism does not grant a special priestly role to any individual, partly because Quakers do not practice any special sacraments that require priestly mediation, and partly because they believe that the priesthood of all believers grants the potential of a spiritual and ministerial role to all individuals within the denomination, regardless of sex or status within the faith.

Related Topics:
Quakerism - Priesthood of all believers

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