holy orders

American  

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) the rite or sacrament of ordination.

2. (used with a singular verb) the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister.

3. (used with a plural verb) the major degrees or grades of the Christian ministry.

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holy orders British  

plural noun

1. the sacrament or rite whereby a person is admitted to the Christian ministry

2. the grades of the Christian ministry

3. the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister

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Etymology

Origin of holy orders

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

For Roman, who was once himself a soldier before taking holy orders, it was harder than most.

From BBC

In the Middle East, churches in Lebanon and Syria have already conferred holy orders on women, while at least one Palestinian woman is known to serve in the US.

From BBC

“His vocation is the holy orders in which he promised obedience, he vowed obedience to his bishop and his bishop’s successors,” she said.

From Washington Times

They said he would be "subject to the disciplinary processes of the church, which will remove him from his office as vicar and prohibit him from exercising his holy orders".

From BBC

It would be reductionist, he wrote, “to believe that women would be granted a greater status and participation in the church only if they were admitted to holy orders.”

From New York Times