ordinationen

Ordinationen is the plural form of Ordination and is used in German-speaking contexts to refer to more than one instance of ordination, but the exact meaning depends on the context. The term can denote religious rites as well as medical practice settings, and in colloquial use it may refer to both kinds of institutions or ceremonies.

In a religious context, ordination is the rite by which a person is consecrated for ministry within a church. It typically involves prayers, a liturgical form, and the laying on of hands. In Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches, ordination confers a particular clerical status, such as deacon, priest, or bishop, and signifies a lifelong commitment to ministry. Practices and requirements vary by denomination; in some traditions women may be ordained, and in others they may not. The concept of ordination has ancient roots and is closely tied to questions of church governance, apostolic succession, and sacramental validity.

In Austria and some other German-speaking areas, Ordination also denotes a medical practice rather than a ceremonial rite. A physician’s private practice is commonly called an Ordination, and the term is widely used in signage and everyday language to describe the place where a doctor sees patients. The plural Ordinationen can refer to several such practices or, in a religious sense, to multiple ordinations altogether. This usage differs from the German term Praxis, which is more typical in Germany today, but both terms are understood in the broader region.

Etymologically, Ordination derives from Latin ordinatio, meaning an ordering or setting in order. The plural form Ordinationen reflects the two main domains in which the term is used: ecclesiastical ordination and medical practice.