religious leaders
Heads of faith
Religious leaders are people who hold authority within a faith tradition—priests, rabbis, imams, ministers, monks, gurus, shamans.
The term is broad enough to cover both institutional positions (The religious leaders of the diocese met quarterly) and informal spiritual authority (She consulted various religious leaders before her conversion).
In news contexts, religious leaders often appear as a collective voice on moral or political issues.
Diocesan clergy head
- imamMuslim religious guide
- rabbiJewish spiritual leader
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- pastorChristian congregation leader
reverend · vicar · cardinal · archbishop · pope · lama · guru · ayatollah
Divinely inspired messenger
- messiahProphesied liberator figure
- preacherReligious sermon deliverer
- evangelistZealous advocate or preacher
- monkCloistered religious devotee
nun · shaman · saint · apostle · missionary · healer · teacher · sage
Sacred worship structure
- churchPlace of Christian worship
- mosqueIslamic house of worship
- synagogueJewish house of worship
- shrineSacred devotional place
monastery · convent · ashram · cathedral · chapel · parish · diocese · seminary
Clergy appointment ceremony
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- communionProfound shared closeness
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
matrimony · anointing · exorcism · consecration · absolution · sermon · homily · invocation
bishop
Diocesan clergy head
pastor · reverend · vicar · cardinal · archbishop · pope · lama · guru · ayatollah · mullah
prophet
Divinely inspired messenger
- messiahProphesied liberator figure
- preacherReligious sermon deliverer
- evangelistZealous advocate or preacher
monk · nun · shaman · saint · apostle · missionary · healer · teacher · sage · mystic
temple
Sacred worship structure
shrine · monastery · convent · ashram · cathedral · chapel · parish · diocese · seminary · rectory
ordination
Clergy appointment ceremony
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- communionProfound shared closeness
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
confirmation · matrimony · anointing · exorcism · consecration · absolution · sermon · homily · invocation · benediction
theology
Study of the divine
tenet · orthodoxy · heresy · exegesis · catechism · scripture · revelation · prophecy · teaching · tradition
- Namboothiri rolestemple priests
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- men portraitsheadshots, studio portraits, close-ups, profile shots, posed portraits
- notable peoplepoliticians, artists, writers, scientists, musicians
- portrait subjectsself, self-portraits, families, children, infants
- religious livesconversion stories, desert fathers, church fathers, patron saints, holy women
religious leaderscongregation
Assembled group of worshippers
laity · laypeople · parishioners · flock · followers
religious leaderspolitical leaders
Those holding governmental authority
government officials · heads of state · politicians · civic leaders · technocrats
lead, leader, religion, religious, leaders, religions, irreligious, religiosity, religious leader