ervad
Quick Summary
An ervad (or herbad) is a lower-ranking priest in Zoroastrianism. This title emerged during the Sasanian period in Persia, where Zoroastrianism underwent significant development and institutionalization. The ervad primarily assists in more important ceremonies, with a higher-ranking priest, the mobed, overseeing them.12
During the Sasanian era, there was a strong connection between the state and religion, leading to the establishment of an ecclesiastical hierarchy. High priests, like Kartēr, played a crucial role in enforcing religious orthodoxy and suppressing other faiths. While priesthood is hereditary, priests undergo specific investiture ceremonies.231
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