major sacramental order

religion

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July 17, 2026

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In Christianity, holy orders is a sacrament that dedicates and commissions ministers. This rite, derived from Jewish customs, involves the laying on of hands by an ordaining minister, accompanied by prayer for the Holy Spirit and grace needed for ministry.1

In the Roman Catholic Church, holy orders is one of seven sacraments. It is believed to confer an indelible character on bishops, priests, and deacons, who derive their authority from Christ through the Apostles. Protestant churches interpret ministry as a function rather than a status, with ordination being the formal accession to the ministry of preaching and administering sacraments. Eastern Orthodox churches also accept the seven sacraments, including holy orders, with similar requirements for candidates.234

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history of Europe
Ecclesiastical organization
Ordination to the major orders—subdeacon (elevated to a major order by Pope Innocent III in 1215), deacon, and priest—entailed vows of chastity and conferred sacramental powers on the recipient.
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Ordination to the major orders—subdeacon (elevated to a major order by Pope Innocent III in 1215), deacon, and priest—entailed vows of chastity and conferred sacramental powers on the recipient.
Read More