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Priestess (religious honorific)

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See also: Ordination of women

A priestess is a woman authorized to perform the sacred rites and or duties of a religious organization, often used for non-Christian, pagan, and or witch-related titles, or positions. However, whilst very rare, some Christian-based women also use the title. Within the Christian framework, the vast majority of ordained women either use "Priest", "Pastor", "Minister", "Deacon", "Deaconess", or "Elder". It is most commonly used to describe ancient traditions, though many Wiccan, Pagan, Druidic, and even Some Christian, women use this title as a religious title once ordained, even in the current present.

Etymology

The etymology of priestess refers to a "woman who officiates in sacred rites, a female minister of religion". Its origin dates back to the 1690s, from the combination of priest and the suffix -ess. An earlier form, priestress (mid-15c. prēsteresse), is noted, according to an etymological description via an online Etymology Dictionary, Etymonline.

Examples of use

A certificate of marriage from a Religious institution that uses the Title "Priestess"
  • The online ordination religious organization "The Universal Life Church Monastery" offers its registered clergy, which is non denominational, the Honorary title of Priestess as an option to take, once ordained.
  • In the Pagan and Wiccan witchcraft cult and coven societies, the term Priestess or High Priestess, is taken extremely seriously as a title of, a woman who is a teacher or leader, of a coven or cult.
  • A declared religious organization with the IRS, "The Church of Christian Spiritualism & Lifestyle", is a Non-denominational Christian ministry that is head shipped by a Christian Priestess.

References

  1. Dictionary, Miriam Webster. "Priestess Dictionary definition".
  2. Lewis (republish), C.S. ""Priestesses in the church?" By Episcopalnet.org". www.episcopalnet.org (Tracts of our times) – via Episcopalnet.org.
  3. "How to become Pagan clergy".
  4. "Priestess definition".
  5. "Process of Ordination | ChurchofChristianspiritualismandLifestyle". free-3829119.webador.com.
  6. "priestess | Etymology of priestess by etymonline". www.etymonline.com.
  7. ULC Monastery. "Honorary Religious Title/Degree".
  8. Lady Serpent. "The Keeper's path".
  9. "Church of Christian Spiritualism & Lifestyle, Lynnwood, Washington". www.unitedstateschurches.com.
  10. Spiritualism & Lifestyle, Church of Christian. "CCSL Process of Ordination page".
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