1910–1911
Britannica 11th
Encyclopaedia Britannica · 11th edition
ARCHPRIEST (Lat. archipresbyter, Gr. apx«rpe<r|3iiTepos), in the Christian Church, originally the title of the chief of the priests in a diocese. The office appears as early as the 4th century as that of the priest who presided over the presbyters of the diocese and assisted the bishop in matters of public worship, much as the archdeacon helped him in administrative affairs. Where, as in Germany, the dioceses were of vast extent, these were divided into several archpresbyterates. Out of these developed the rural de…
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- Vol. 2, pp. 446-446