head priest
Temple's top minister
The head priest is the senior or chief cleric in a religious institution, temple, or community—the one with primary authority over worship, rituals, and often administration.
The term applies across traditions: The head priest conducted the ceremony.
In some contexts, more specific titles exist (high priest, chief rabbi, senior pastor), but head priest serves as a general designation for whoever leads.
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- pontiffSupreme Catholic leader
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- cardinalOf foremost importance
- pastorChristian congregation leader
vicar · rector · clergy · temple · house of worship · altar · vestments · ceremony · last rites · sacred · ordination · holy orders · religious order · diocese · parish · cassock · mitre · sermon
- Shinto shrinestorii, torii gate, jinja, haiden, main hall
- ritual officialsofficiant, celebrant, hierophant, abbot, abbess
- Hindu templesmandir, temple, shikhara, temple complex, water temple
- Japanese MonksGenshin, bonze, abbot, novice monk, novice
- Zen Buddhismzazen, Zen masters, Zen monks, koans, zendo
- Hindu ritesdiksha, puja, sacred ceremony, fire ritual, aarti
head priestdeacon
Junior clergy member
acolyte · novice · curate · altar boy · seminarian
head priestlayperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
layman · congregant · parishioner · laywoman · civil authority
head, priest, heads, headed, heading, header, headless, headship, overhead