eclesiásticas

Eclesiásticas is the feminine plural form of the adjective eclesiástico, used in Spanish and Portuguese to describe things related to the church or to ecclesiastical matters. The term derives from Latin ecclesiasticus and ultimately from Greek ekklesiastikos, reflecting its historical association with church institutions, law, and governance.

In legal and administrative language, eclesiásticas appears in phrases such as derecho eclesiástico or autoridades eclesiásticas, referring to church law, canon law, church authorities, and church-administered affairs. It is commonly found in historical and contemporary documents dealing with church-state relations, property, liturgy, education, and other activities carried out by religious institutions. The word is used across Christian contexts to denote matters under ecclesiastical authority.

A distinction is often made between its use as an adjective and as a noun related to people. While eclesiástico can denote a member of the clergy, its adjectival form eclesiásticas usually modifies nouns that describe church-related things, not individuals. Examples include tierras eclesiásticas (church lands), tribunales eclesiásticos (ecclesiastical courts), and actividades eclesiásticas (ecclesiastical activities). In canon law contexts, the topic is frequently paired with terms like cánon o derecho canónico to specify the legal framework governing church affairs.

Overall, eclesiásticas functions as a specialized term in religious studies, law, and administration to indicate the domain, structures, and activities tied to religious institutions.