ecclesial

American  

[ih-klee-zee-uhl] / ɪˈkli zi əl /

adjective

1. pertaining to a church or its functions, teachings, or organization.

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Etymology

Origin of ecclesial

1640–50; < Latin ecclēsi ( a ) ecclesia + -al ¹; compare French ecclésial

Explanation

Anything ecclesial is related to a Christian church. You might go to Sunday services with your friend to find out what ecclesial offerings his church has. The adjective ecclesial derives from the Greek ekklesiastes, "speaker in a church" and its root ekkalein, "to call out." It's specifically used to talk about the Christian religion. If someone mentions ecclesial institutions, they mean churches, and a reference to an ecclesial service is the same as talking about a sermon in a Christian church. Catholics sometimes use the phrase "ecclesial community" to refer to non-Catholic churches.

Example Sentences

The Vatican statement said colonial powers had “manipulated” the content of the papal documents “to justify immoral acts against Indigenous peoples that were carried out, at times, without opposition from ecclesial authorities.”

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2023

The Church's most senior ecclesial figure on the island, Elder Inoke Kupu, said: "There is only one colour in Tonga right now, and that is a dark dust."

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2022

But reflecting her own experience, she says these women “chosen by the ecclesial hierarchy, competent but obedient, don’t have a real chance to interfere with the Church’s decisions.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2021

"It is an activity that supports the most needy and ecclesial communities in difficulty who approach the Apostolic See for help."

From Fox News • Dec. 13, 2019

The inevitable result of this was to create two classes of prelates—one of lay, the other of ecclesial investiture.

From The Truce of God A Tale of the Eleventh Century by Miles, George Henry