Geweihten

Geweihten is a German term used to describe persons who have undergone consecration or ordination within a religious tradition. The word derives from weihen, meaning to consecrate or dedicate, and geweiht means consecrated or ordained. The term is commonly applied in Christian contexts to refer to individuals who have undergone a sacred rite or taken vows, thereby committing to a life of service within a church or religious community.

In Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, geweiht can denote both ordained clergy—bishops, priests, and deacons who have received Holy Orders—and members of religious institutes who have professed a consecrated life through religious vows such as poverty, chastity, and obedience. The distinction is often between those ordained for ministerial roles and those living a consecrated life within a religious order. The category also includes specific forms of consecration, such as geweihte Jungfrauen (consecrated virgins), in which individuals commit to virginity and service to the church under a canonical provision.

In Protestant traditions, practice varies, but concepts of ordination and a formal consecrated life exist in some denominations through the ordination of ministers or pastors and, in certain movements, through commitments that resemble a consecrated state.

Geweihten can also refer to objects that have been sanctified for liturgical use, such as consecrated vessels or altars. The term thus encompasses both human recipients of sacred rites and, in a broader sense, items dedicated for religious worship. Overall, geweiht denotes a permanent dedication to spiritual service within a religious community.