hiero-, hier-

In Christianity, a bishop or a priest who was a martyr in the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Church: In the Greek Calendar, a hieromartyr was an ordained clergyman who is a martyr, a priest in this case, who dies for his beliefs.

Historically, someone who was in charge of religious matters: The hieromnemon was a record-keeper or secretary sent to every state by the Amphictyonic Council and was accompanied by a minister or also a deputy.

A clergyman who also serves as a priest: Jane read in her book that a hieromonach was one who could perform various religious rites in the Eastern Church

A consecrated place: In his book about Greece, Tom read about hierons as being sacred places, like temples.

A former term for epilepsy: In her grandfather's old book on medicine, Alice came across the word hieronosus which referred to a disorder of the brain with psychic dysfunction.

1. Relating to Saint Jerome: For his class in religion, Jeff wanted to get the Hieronymian version of the Bible.

Saint Jerome was an early Christian priest and was important during the 4th-5th century A.
2. Etymology: from Latin Hieronymus, "Jerome".

A member of a congregation of hermits named after Saint Jerome: A hieronymite was a fellow member of a medieval religious order called Hermits of St. Jerome.

A common name for three or four congregations of hermits living according to the rule of St. Augustine: There were also supplementary regulations taken from St Jerome's writings included in the hermits' congregations, or Hieronymites:

Their habit, or clothing, of the hermits was white, with a black cloak.

In the Roman Catholic Church, one of the great fathers of the early Christian Church whose major work was his translation of the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin (which became the Vulgate); a saint and Doctor of the Church (347-420).

Pertaining to a love of, or strong feeling for the clergy: Wilber's elderly grandmother was very hieropathic, gave generous donations to the church, and never missed attending church services on Sundays.

The function of a hierophant; that is, expounding sacred mysteries.

1. Someone who shows or reveals sacred things.
2. The presiding priest who initiated candidates at the Eleusinian mysteries; hence, one who teaches the mysteries and duties of religion.
3. In ancient Greece, an official expounder of rites of worship and sacrifice.
4. Any interpreter of sacred mysteries or esoteric principles; a mystagogue.
5. Someone who interprets and explains obscure and mysterious matters; especially, sacred doctrines or mysteries.
6. An interpreter of events: someone who explains or comments about everyday matters.

1. Of or belonging to a hierophant or hierophants or their teachings; such as, someone who shows or reveals sacred things.
2. Resembling or characteristic of a presiding priest who initiated candidates at the Eleusinian mysteries; hence, one who teaches the mysteries and duties of religion.

Sexual arousal from sacred objects.

An intense dislike of holy people or of sacred objects: After Jane listened to sermons in church, explaining that everyone would go to hell if he or she didn't pray, she developed a strong aversion to anything having to do with such religious individuals or things, and her doctor said later that she had developed a hierophobia.