fallen priest
Disgraced holy man
A fallen priest is a member of the clergy who has abandoned their vows, been defrocked, or disgraced themselves through moral failure.
The phrase carries weight because priests are held to high standards of conduct, making their fall particularly dramatic.
In fantasy fiction and games, a fallen priest often serves dark powers after rejecting their original faith: The fallen priest now channels unholy magic.
- defrockedStripped of religious office
- excommunicatedOfficially cut from church
- hereticChallenger of official doctrine
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- lost faithCeased to trust
sinner · mortal sin · redemption · confession · collar · vestments · holy orders · altar · sanctuary · parish · diocese · scandal · shame · broken vows · exile · penance · absolution · damned
- fictional clergyFather Brown, Friar Tuck, Ned Flanders, abbess, abbot
- clergybishop, pope, nun, monk, pastor
fallen priestholy man
Pious religious devotee
man of God · saint · confessor · ordained minister · parish priest
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