| holy orders | |
| —pl n | |
| 1. | the sacrament or rite whereby a person is admitted to the Christian ministry |
| 2. | the grades of the Christian ministry |
| 3. | the rank or status of an ordained Christian minister |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
holy orders
in Christian churches, a rite for the dedication and commissioning of ministers. The essential ceremony consists of the laying of hands of the ordaining minister upon the head of the one being ordained, with prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and of grace required for the carrying out of the ministry. The service also usually includes a public examination of the candidate and a sermon or charge concerning the responsibilities of the ministry
Learn more about holy orders with a free trial on Britannica.com.