high priest
Chief religious official
A high priest is the chief religious leader in certain traditions, especially ancient Judaism, where he alone could enter the Holy of Holies.
The term extends to any principal figure in a movement or field: the high priest of minimalist architecture, regarded as the high priest of free-market economics.
The figurative use often carries a note of irony or skepticism about the authority claimed.
High priest during crucifixion
- AaronOld Testament priest
- MelchizedekBiblical priest-king of Salem
- templeSacred worship structure
- JerusalemTriply sacred ancient capital
Sanhedrin · Yom Kippur · Holy of Holies · breastplate · Aztec · Mayan · Egyptian · Delphic
Formal event marking occasions
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- offeringSomething presented or given
- altarSacred ritual table
vestments · mitre · incense · tabernacle · consecration · anointment · blessing · invocation
Sacred spiritual purity
- purityUncontaminated quality
- pietySincere religious devotion
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
godliness · consecration · righteousness · sanctification · blessedness · sacredness · divinity · spirituality
Neutral conflict resolver
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- go-betweenAgent connecting separate parties
- representativeOne who acts for another
liaison · ambassador · spokesman · channel · conduit · petitioner · supplicant · proxy
Legal authority's scope
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- dominionAuthority to rule
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- chiefTop-ranking leader
headship · oversight · arbiter · decision-maker · leadership · governance · command · administration
Caiaphas
High priest during crucifixion
- AaronOld Testament priest
- MelchizedekBiblical priest-king of Salem
- templeSacred worship structure
Jerusalem · Sanhedrin · Yom Kippur · Holy of Holies · breastplate · Aztec · Mayan · Egyptian · Delphic · vestal
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- offeringSomething presented or given
altar · vestments · mitre · incense · tabernacle · consecration · anointment · blessing · invocation · procession
holiness
Sacred spiritual purity
reverence · godliness · consecration · righteousness · sanctification · blessedness · sacredness · divinity · spirituality · saintliness
mediator
Neutral conflict resolver
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- intermediaryAgent linking two parties
- go-betweenAgent connecting separate parties
representative · liaison · ambassador · spokesman · channel · conduit · petitioner · supplicant · proxy · delegate
jurisdiction
Legal authority's scope
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- dominionAuthority to rule
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
chief · headship · oversight · arbiter · decision-maker · leadership · governance · command · administration · prestige
- religious leadersabbot, abbess, archbishop, bishop, pope
- ancient priestspontifex, pontifex maximus, flamen, vestal, augur
- Egyptian priests
- Hebrew PriestsAaron, Eli, Ezra, Caiaphas, Annas
- Jewish AuthoritySanhedrin, beit din, rabbinate, dayan, rosh yeshiva
- Jewish Rolescantor, rebbe, shamash, shammes, rosh yeshiva
high priestheretic
Challenger of official doctrine
apostate · infidel · blasphemer · unbeliever · excommunicate
high, priest, hierarchy, priests, priesthood, priestly, hierarchical, priestess, priestesses