Ministerial Priesthood
The ordained who offer the Eucharist and minister the sacraments — a contested office
The ministerial priesthood is the ordained office that offers the Eucharist and administers the sacraments. Early witnesses such as Ignatius of Antioch and Cyprian attest to a structured ministry. The traditions differ: Catholic and Orthodox churches affirm a distinct, sacramental priesthood set apart by ordination, while many Protestant communions reject a separate sacerdotal order and emphasize instead the priesthood shared by all believers.
How it traveled
- HebrewsRome · 67explains
- Book VIII. Concerning Gifts, and Ordinations, and the Ecclesiastical Canons— · 220explains
- Book II. Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons— · 220explains
- The Epistles of Cyprian.Carthage · 258explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · 360explains
- Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene HymnsEdessa · 373explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Selections from the Letters of St. AmbroseMilan · 397explains
- On the Duties of the ClergyMilan · 397explains
- Treatise Concerning the Christian PriesthoodConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407redefines
- The Homilies on the Statues to the People of AntiochConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates ScholasticusConstantinople (Istanbul) · 439applies
- The Ecclesiastical History of SozomenConstantinople (Istanbul) · 450explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
Key passages(20)
An Invitation to Holy Communion · Thomas à Kempis
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns · Ephrem the Syrian
Ephraim Syrus: Three Homilies · Ephrem the Syrian
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose · Ambrose of Milan
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Gregory the Great