take+holy+orders

take holy orders — become an ordained member of the clergy …   Useful english dictionary

(be) take (holy) orders — be in/take (holy) ˈorders idiom to be/become a priest Main entry: ↑orderidiom …   Useful english dictionary

holy orders — n. 1. a) the sacrament or rite of Christian ordination b) the state of having received Christian ordination 2. the ranks or grades of Christian ordination; specif., in the Roman Catholic Church, those of bishop, priest, or deacon take holy orders …   English World dictionary

Holy orders — Order Or der, n. [OE. ordre, F. ordre, fr. L. ordo, ordinis. Cf. {Ordain}, {Ordinal}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Regular arrangement; any methodical or established succession or harmonious relation; method; system; as: (a) Of material things, like the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

holy orders — 1. the rite or sacrament of ordination. 2. the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister. 3. the major degrees or grades of the Christian ministry. [1350 1400; ME] * * * noun [plural] : the position of a Christian priest, bishop, etc. He… …   Useful english dictionary

Holy Orders — • The sacrament by which grace and spiritual power for the discharge of ecclesiastical offices are conferred. Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Holy Orders     Holy Orders      …   Catholic encyclopedia

Holy Orders — The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry. In the Roman Catholic (Latin: sacri ordines), Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox (ιερωσύνη [hierōsynē] …   Wikipedia

(be) in (holy) orders — be in/take (holy) ˈorders idiom to be/become a priest Main entry: ↑orderidiom …   Useful english dictionary

holy — adjective 1 connected with God and religion; sacred: the holy city of Benares | anointed with holy water 2 very religious: a holy man 3 holy cow/cats/shit/mackerel etc spoken especially AmE used to express surprise, admiration, or fear 4 a holy… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

holy — ho|ly W3 [ˈhəuli US ˈhou ] adj comparative holier superlative holiest [: Old English; Origin: halig] 1.) connected with God and religion →↑sacred ▪ the holy city of Benares 2.) very religious ▪ a holy man …   Dictionary of contemporary English

holy order — ▪ Christianity       any of several grades in the ordained ministry of some of the Christian churches, comprising at various times the major orders of bishop, priest, deacon, and subdeacon and the minor orders of porter (doorkeeper), lector,… …   Universalium