The archiepiscopal staff is a symbol of authority and power in the Catholic Church. It is also known as the crozier or pastoral staff. This staff is carried by bishops and archbishops during liturgical ceremonies and is a symbol of their pastoral role in the church. In this article, we will discuss the definition, origin, meaning, associations, synonyms, and antonyms of the archiepiscopal staff.
Definitions
The archiepiscopal staff is a staff with a curved top that is carried by bishops and archbishops. It is a symbol of their pastoral authority and is used during liturgical ceremonies.
Origin
The archiepiscopal staff has its origins in the shepherd’s crook, which was used by shepherds to guide and protect their flocks. The use of the crook as a symbol of pastoral authority was adopted by the early Christian Church and has been used by bishops and archbishops since the 4th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the archiepiscopal staff is “a staff with a crook or cross at the top, carried by an archbishop or bishop as a symbol of office.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “a staff with a crook or cross at the top carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office.”
Associations
The archiepiscopal staff is associated with the pastoral role of bishops and archbishops. It is also associated with the authority and power of the Catholic Church.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of the archiepiscopal staff include the crozier, pastoral staff, bishop’s staff, and bishop’s crook.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of the archiepiscopal staff, but it could be argued that the absence of the staff represents a lack of pastoral authority.
The same root words
The root word of archiepiscopal staff is “archiepiscopal,” which refers to the office of an archbishop. Other words with the same root include archbishop, archdiocese, and archiepiscopacy.
Example Sentences
- The archbishop carried his archiepiscopal staff during the procession.
- The bishop’s crook is another name for the archiepiscopal staff.
- The archiepiscopal staff is a symbol of the bishop’s pastoral role in the church.