Defrocking, unfrocking, or laicization of clergy is the removal of their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. It may be grounded on criminal convictions, disciplinary problems, or disagreements over doctrine or dogma, but may also be done at their request for personal reasons, such as running for civil office, taking over a family business, declining health or old age, desire to marry against the rules for clergy in a particular church, or an unresolved dispute. The form of the procedure varies according to the Christian denomination concerned. The term defrocking implies forced laicization for misconduct, while laicization is a neutral term, applicable also when clergy have requested to be released from their ordination vows.
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place. There are more bishops than there are functioning dioceses. Therefore, a priest appointed not to head a diocese as its diocesan bishop but to be an auxiliary bishop, a papal diplomat, or an official of the Roman Curia is appointed to a titular see.
The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons. In the ecclesiological sense of the term, "hierarchy" strictly means the "holy ordering" of the Church, the Body of Christ, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity.
Saint Abram was a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint. He was the Bishop of Faiyum and Giza, and was also known as the Friend of the Poor.
Abla is a municipality, former bishopric and Latin Catholic titular see in Almería province, in Andalusia, southeast Spain.
In the 2007–08 season Panathinaikos played for 49th consecutive time in Greece's top division, Super League. They also competed in UEFA CUP and Greek Cup. Season started with José Peseiro as team manager. In summer of 2007 many players left the club including Igor Bišćan and Víctor Sánchez who hadn't fulfilled the expectations of Panathinaikos' fans with their performance. On the other end the return of Giorgos Karagounis after four years pulled the spotlight and considered one of the most important signings of the 2007 summer transfer window. Panathinaikos also signed Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Mattos from Corinthians, Dame N'Doye from Academica, Josu Sarriegi from Athletic Bilbao and some other players to help the team win its first championship in four years and celebrate the club's centesimal anniversary in the most appropriate way.
Mountain Paiko or Pajak in Bulgarian and Macedonian is a small mountain range that lies on the border of Pella and Kilkis regional units in Central Macedonia, Greece.
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Canonical (UAOC-C) is an independent Orthodox Church, that declares its canonical origin from the Polish Orthodox Church.
The ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) clergy who are open about their sexuality, are sexually active if lesbian, gay, or bisexual, or are in committed same-sex relationships is a debated practice within some contemporary Christian Church communities.
Nikiforos was the metropolitan bishop of Didymoteicho, Orestiada and Soufli from 1988 until his death. A graduate of the Halki Seminary School and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Nikiforos was ordained a deacon in 1956 and a senior priest in 1961.
Apostolos Vellios is a Greek football striker who plays for Belgium club Waasland-Beveren on loan from Nottingham Forest and the Greece national team.
Dionysios Mantalos is the current Metropolitan bishop of Corinth. Mantalos was ordained as bishop of Corinth in 2006. He is a graduate of the Theological School of Athens.
Apostolos or Apostolis (Αποστόλης) is a common male Greek given name, which means "apostle". The diminutive form Tolis (Τόλης) is also common. Bearers of the name include:
Apostolos G. Tzitzikostas is a Greek politician of the Nea Dimokratia party and governor of the region of Central Macedonia since 2013.
Apostolos Angelis is a Greek composer, engineer and producer of Εlectronic, Classical and Orchestral music.
Academy Alexandros Football Club is a Greek football club, based in Kilkis, Kilkis, Greece.
Metropolitan Sergius of Singapore and South-East Asia is bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, primate of the Patriarchal Exarchate in South-East Asia, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchy, and member of the Inter-Council presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.
