Hierurgy
/ˈhaɪəˌrɜːdʒi/noun
A religious rite or sacred ritual, especially in a liturgical or ceremonial context.
Did you know?Hierurgy comes from Greek hierourgia, built from hieros (“sacred”) + ergon (“work”), and it shares that ancient ergon root with words like energy and surgery.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
ἱερουργία (hierourgia)
“sacred work; the performance of holy rites”
Late Greek
GRK
ἱερουργός (hierourgos)
“one who performs sacred rites; priestly officiant”
Medieval Latin
LAT
hierurgia
“sacred office or ritual action”
17th Century
ENG
hierurgy
“sacred work; liturgical ceremony”
Modern English
ENG
hierurgy
“a religious rite or sacred ceremony”