archpriest

American  

[ahrch-preest] / ˈɑrtʃˈprist /

noun

1. a priest holding first rank, as among the members of a cathedral chapter or among the clergy of a district outside the episcopal city.

2. Roman Catholic Church. a priest acting as superior of the Roman Catholic secular clergy in England, first appointed in 1598 and superseded by a vicar apostolic in 1623.

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archpriest British  

/ ˈɑːtʃˈpriːst /

noun

1. (formerly) a chief assistant to a bishop, performing many of his sacerdotal functions during his absence

2. a senior priest

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Other Word Forms

• archpriesthood
  noun
• archpriestship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of archpriest

1350–1400; Middle English archeprest (modeled on Late Latin archipresbyter < Greek archipresbýteros ). See arch- ¹, priest

Example Sentences

Asked about those who threatened the cathedral’s artworks, Roman Kravchyk, the archpriest, fingered the jeweled crucifix around his neck and muttered, “May God have mercy on their souls.”

From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2022

A series of bishops, including Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, said they investigated the allegations, but no one ever interviewed Jarzembowski’s roommate.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 12, 2020

A series of bishops — including Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Francis' vicar for Rome and the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica — said they investigated, but no one ever interviewed the alleged victim.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2019

Sodano listed the stages of Law’s clerical life and said the late Pope John Paul had “called him to Rome” to be archpriest of a Rome basilica.

From Reuters • Dec. 21, 2017

For instance, that jolly rogue, the archpriest of Hita, by way of relaxation from the tenseness of church discipline, takes to composing dansas and baladas for the rich Jewish bankers of his town.

From Jewish Literature and Other Essays by Karpeles, Gustav