Facts about Holy Orders

The responsibilities and roles held by members of holy orders vary according to the faith, location, size, and history of the religious community to whom they serve.

The term Holy Orders comes from the Latin Ordo (order) and the word holy referring to the church.

Members of holy orders in the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches are divided into three levels, the order of Bishop, the order of Priest and the order of Deacon.

Catholic: Pope Benedict XVI, currently holding the highest rank in the holy orders of the Roman Catholic church, during a visit to Sгo Paulo, Brazil.

Members of holy orders, as leaders of their religious communities, hold the power to make their respective communities thrive or founder.

In all denominations and religions, holy orders are considered more of a vocation than occupation as they involve complete commitment to their practice.

Episcopal: Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination that permits women to hold any of the holy orders.