ecclesiastical province

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Word: Ecclesiastical Province

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: An ecclesiastical province is a specific area or district that is overseen by an archbishop or a metropolitan (a high-ranking church leader). It is a way to organize the church into different regions for better management and governance.

Explanation for New Learners:

Think of an ecclesiastical province as a big section of the church that includes several smaller churches. Just like a country can be divided into states or provinces for easier administration, the church divides its responsibilities too. An archbishop is like a governor for this area, helping to manage the local churches.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "ecclesiastical province" when talking about church organization, especially in contexts related to the Catholic Church or other Christian denominations that have a similar structure.

Examples:

1. "The archbishop is responsible for all the churches in his ecclesiastical province."
2. "In the ecclesiastical province of New York, there are many dioceses."

Advanced Usage:

In more complex discussions, you can refer to the role of ecclesiastical provinces in church governance, history, and their influence on local communities. For example: - "The formation of ecclesiastical provinces in the early church helped establish order and authority among Christian leaders."

Word Variants:

• Ecclesiastical (adjective): Related to the church or its clergy.
  • Example: "The ecclesiastical rules of the church are very important."
• Province (noun): A general term for a region or area, often used in various contexts beyond the church.

Different Meanings:

• In a secular context, "province" refers to a political or administrative division of a country (e.g., the provinces of Canada).
• "Ecclesiastical" can refer to anything related to the church, not just geographical areas.

Synonyms:

• Archdiocese (a district under the jurisdiction of an archbishop)
• Diocese (a district under the jurisdiction of a bishop, typically smaller than a province)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "ecclesiastical province," but you might encounter phrases like: - "In the province of" meaning 'in the area of' or 'related to,' which can be used in both religious and secular contexts.

Academic

Noun

1. the district within the jurisdiction of an archbishop or a metropolitan or one of the territorial divisions of an ecclesiastical order
   • the general of the Jesuits has several provinces under him