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Glossary of Essential Terms

Presbyter

(Priest)

The second order of ordained ministry. Originally the presbyters formed a college (collegium) surrounding the bishop in the eucharistic assembly, as the Apostles surrounding Christ. The historical shift toward individual parish priests presiding independently over eucharistic communities introduced an ecclesiological distortion that Zizioulas analyzes at length.

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John Zizioulas Foundation
John Zizioulas Foundation