ecclesiastics

Ecclesiastics is a noun that refers to people who hold positions within a church hierarchy, often described as the clergy or church officials. The term is used to denote individuals who perform liturgical duties, governance, or administrative functions within Christian denominations and, more broadly, within organized religious structures. In common usage, it can include bishops, priests, deacons, abbots, abbesses, and other ordained leaders, as well as monastic superiors and similar authorities.

The word derives from the Greek ekklesiastikos, through Latin ecclesiasticus, and entered English in the early modern period. The root ekklesia means assembly or church, underscoring the role of ecclesiastics in church life and governance.

Ecclesiastics are distinguished from laypeople, who participate in worship and mission without holding clerical office. The term is most often found in formal, historical, or legal contexts, such as discussions of canon law, church courts, or ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses. In practice, the exact offices included under the label vary by denomination.

In different Christian traditions, the composition of the ecclesiastical hierarchy varies. In Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican contexts, the typical hierarchy includes bishops, priests, and deacons, along with monastic leaders. Some Protestant churches use different organizational terms, and may refer to such figures as clergy or ministers rather than ecclesiastics. The term remains a formal, comparatively neutral descriptor within scholarly and ecclesiastical discourse.