Are Bishops styled as "High-Priests"?

[Alveus Lacuna]

In the Old World, in all of the flowery Byzantine titles bestowed upon our hierarchs, are they frequently referred to as "high-priests"? I just thought that since we call presbyters "priests", and they are seen as representatives of the bishop, then it might make some kind of convoluted sense to call them high priests. I suspect this is the case, and if so it honestly seems theologically problematic on several levels.

[Iconodule]

I think this is more an issue of English translation. The English word "priest" comes ultimately from "presbyter" but we apply the term "priest" to certain kinds of people that are not presbyters, such as the Levitical priests. This is why some sticklers insist on referring to Orthodox priests as "presbyters" even in English.

Have you seen any place where our bishops are called "high priest"?

[pensateomnia]

In the liturgical services, the bishop is referred to as ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, which is indeed the Greek word that many translate as "high priest" in the NT. This is true in rubrics, commemorations, and in hymns about famous, saintly bishops, e.g. St Nicholas. They are also called "archpastors" in the same sources and others.

[Benjamin the Red]

In the liturgical services, the bishop is referred to as ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, which is indeed the Greek word that many translate as "high priest" in the NT. This is true in rubrics, commemorations, and in hymns about famous, saintly bishops, e.g. St Nicholas. They are also called "archpastors" in the same sources and others.

Yes!

Actually, you have all just called them high priest. The word "heirarch" is an Anglization (and distortion) of the Greek ἀρχιερεύς. "heir-" coming from the word ιερεύς (iereus) meaning "priest" and "-arch" coming from the word "ἀρχῇ" (arche) meaning "first, leading."

I love Greek!

[akimori makoto]

In the liturgical services, the bishop is referred to as ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, which is indeed the Greek word that many translate as "high priest" in the NT. This is true in rubrics, commemorations, and in hymns about famous, saintly bishops, e.g. St Nicholas. They are also called "archpastors" in the same sources and others.

Yes!

Actually, you have all just called them high priest. The word "heirarch" is an Anglization (and distortion) of the Greek ἀρχιερεύς. "heir-" coming from the word ιερεύς (iereus) meaning "priest" and "-arch" coming from the word "ἀρχῇ" (arche) meaning "first, leading."

I love Greek!

*Double thumbs up.*

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