Hierarkh

A high officer of state, usually a former holder of an important [[[magistracy]], now in the Life of the Priest. The hierarkh regulates the priesthood, and is responsible for seeing that the proper observances to daimons are duly made. He appoints many priests (but some are appointed by dynastai exercising feudal privileges, and others are elected), and therefore has considerable patronage to dispense.

In the Archaic Period each state, be it monarchy, oligarchy, or democracy, has its own hierarkh.

In the Classical Period the hierarkh is a powerful minister of state and a member of the Boulē. There is also an hierarkh for each episkopy, who is appointed by the episkopos, and is often a retired episkopos/.

In the Decadent Period the post of hierarkh/ is often held by a retired polemarkh, and may be the real ruler of Gehennum. Mostly, however, ex-polemarkhs are content to act only as advisors after their retirement to the hierarkhy. The hierarkhs of the episkopies are officers of the courts of the episkopos, sometimes retired episkopoi themselves.


Copyright © 1991 by Brett Evill. All rights reserved.