hierocracy
Priests hold power
Hierocracy is government by priests or religious authorities—rule by a priestly class.
The term describes political systems where clergy hold supreme power, as in certain theocracies where religious leaders directly govern rather than merely advising secular rulers.
Medieval Europe saw tension between hierocracy and royal authority.
Led by divine authority
- papal authorityPope's ruling capacity
- church-stateReligion-government relationship
- VaticanPapal city-state
- caliphateIslamic successor-led government
Ordained religious officials collectively
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- cardinalOf foremost importance
pope · patriarch · prelate · pontiff · high priest · ayatollah · imam · rabbi
Formal worship structure
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- massQuantity of matter
consecration · communion · investiture · enthronement · coronation · blessing · absolution · incense
God-granted ruling authority
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- divine mandateGodly approval to rule
- apostolic authorityLeadership descending from disciples
- anointedBlessed with sacred oil
blessed · veneration · piety · devotion · holiness · sacredness
theocratic
Led by divine authority
- papal authorityPope's ruling capacity
- church-stateReligion-government relationship
- VaticanPapal city-state
caliphate · pontificate · divine mandate · hierarch · clericalism
clergy
Ordained religious officials collectively
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
cardinal · pope · patriarch · prelate · pontiff · high priest · ayatollah · imam · rabbi · ordained
liturgy
Formal worship structure
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- ritesFormal ceremonial acts
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
mass · consecration · communion · investiture · enthronement · coronation · blessing · absolution · incense · procession
divine right
God-granted ruling authority
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- divine mandateGodly approval to rule
- apostolic authorityLeadership descending from disciples
anointed · blessed · veneration · piety · devotion · holiness · sacredness
hierocracydemocracy
Rule by the people
plutocracy · meritocracy · aristocracy · technocracy · autocracy
hierocracysecular state
Government separate from religion
secularism · civil government · separation of church and state · civil authority · republican government
hierarchy, theocracy, hieroglyph, hierarchical, hieratic, hierarchies, hierarchize, hierarchized, hierarchizing