Hierarch

hī′ėr-ärk, n. a ruler in sacred matters.— adjs. Hi′erarchal , Hierarch′ical .— adv. Hierarch′ically .— ns. Hī′erarchism ; Hī′erarchy , rule in sacred matters: persons that so rule: the body of the clergy: a government by priests: a series of succe ive terms of different rank; Hieroc′racy , government by priests.— Celestial hierarchy , the collective body of angels, grouped in three divisions and nine orders of different power and glory: (1) seraphim, cherubim, thrones; (2) dominations or dominions, virtues, powers; (3) principalities, archangels, angels. [Gr. hierarchēs — hieros , sacred, archein , to rule.]