Presbytery

Presbytery: Presbytery: translation
Presbytery: • The part of the church reserved for the higher clergy
Presbytery:     Presbytery

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    The part of the church reserved for the higher clergy was known in antiquity by various names, among them presbyterium, because of its occupation during the liturgical functions by the priests attached to a church, arranged in a half-circle round the bishop. The presbytery was also known as apsis, exedra, concha, designations referring to its form; bema from the fact that it was elevated above the level of the nave and in consequence reached by a stairway of a few steps; tribuna because of its location and general resemblance to the tribunal in civil basilicas whence the magistrates administered justice. These various names were, in the Middle Ages, mostly superseded by the term choir, which in turn yielded to the modern term sanctuary. The presbytery was separated from the rest of the church by rails (cancelli). Eusebius, in his dedication oration at Tyre (H.E., X, iv), describes this feature of the church and its objects: "the Holy of Holies, the altar", he explains, was inclosed with wooden lattice-work, accurately wrought with artistic carving to render it "inaccessible to the multitude". In Constantinople, as appears from the episode related by Theodoret in which the actors were Theodosius the Great and St. Ambrose, the emperor was accustomed to remain within the precincts of the presbytery during the celebration of the liturgy, but in the West this was not permitted (Theodoret, H.E., V, 17). The Council in Trullo (canon lxix), following an ancient tradition, specifically excepts the emperor from the general rule reserving the presbytery to the clergy. From this strict prohibition relative to the laity the term adyta (inaccessible) came to be used of the presbytery. Presbyterium also denoted a body of priests taken collectively. In modern times the house of the clergy is frequently called the presbytery (presbytère).

    BINGHAM, Antiquities of the Christian Church, V. III, b. 8 (Oxford, 1855).

    MAURICE M. HASSETT

    Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Presbytery — may refer to:*Presbytery (church polity), a governing body of ordained elders and ministers *Presbyterium, a body of ordained, active priests in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches *Presbytery (architecture), the area of a church building… … Wikipedia
Presbytery — Pres by*ter*y, n.; pl. {Presbyteries}. [L. presbyterium, Gr. ?. See {Presbyter}, and cf. {Presbyterium}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A body of elders in the early Christian church. [1913 Webster] 2. (Presbyterian Ch.) A judicatory consisting of all the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
presbytery — ► NOUN (pl. presbyteries) 1) (treated as sing. or pl. ) a body of Church elders. 2) the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest. 3) chiefly Architecture the eastern part of a church chancel … English terms dictionary
presbytery — [prez′bə ter΄ē, pres′bə ter΄ē] n. pl. presbyteries [ME presbetory < OFr presbiterie < LL(Ec) presbyterium, council of elders < Gr(Ec) presbyterion < Gr presbyteros, elder: see PRIEST] 1. Presbyterian Ch. a) a body of presbyters;… … English World dictionary
presbytery — /prez bi ter ee, pres /, n., pl. presbyteries. 1. a body of presbyters or elders. 2. (in Presbyterian churches) an ecclesiastical court consisting of all the ministers and one or two presbyters from each congregation in a district. 3. the… … Universalium
presbytery — UK [ˈprezb(ə)terɪ] / US [ˈprezbəterɪ] noun [countable] Word forms presbytery : singular presbytery plural presbyteries 1) a council that controls the Presbyterian Church, or the churches that are controlled by this council 2) the house where a… … English dictionary
presbytery — noun (plural teries) Etymology: Middle English & Late Latin; Middle English presbytory part of church reserved for clergy, from Late Latin presbyterium group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy, from Greek presbyterion group of… … New Collegiate Dictionary
presbytery — [[t]pre̱zbɪtri, AM teri[/t]] presbyteries N COUNT A presbytery is the house in which a Roman Catholic priest lives … English dictionary
presbytery — pres•by•ter•y [[t]ˈprɛz bɪˌtɛr i, ˈprɛs [/t]] n. pl. ter•ies 1) rel a body of presbyters or elders 2) rel (in Presbyterian churches) an ecclesiastical assembly consisting of all the ministers and one or two presbyters from each congregation in a… … From formal English to slang
presbytery — /ˈprɛzbətri / (say prezbuhtree), /ˈprɛspə / (say prespuh ) noun (plural presbyteries) 1. a body of presbyters or elders. 2. (in the Uniting Church of Australia and Presbyterian churches) a judicatory consisting of all the ministers (teaching… … Australian English dictionary

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Presbytery

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