Index of religious honorifics and titles

This is an index of religious honorifics, including titles from religious traditions around the world.

Buddhism

Buddhist honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Dalai Lama
Gaden Tripa
Panchen Lama
Ani
Dob-dob
Dorje Lopön
Gyalwang Drukpa
Gelongma
Geshe
Je Khenpo
Karmapa
Khenpo
Lama	The teachers of Dharma in Tibet.
Panchen Lama
Pandita
Rinpoche
Third Bardor Tulku Rinpoche
Shabdrung
Shamarpa
Tai Situpa
Tulku	In Tibetan Buddhism, a Lama who has through phowa and siddhi consciously determined to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue their Bodhisattva vow.
Acharya
Agga Maha Pandita
Ajahn
Ajari
Anāgāmi
Anagarika
Arhat
Ayya
Bhikkhu
Bhikkhuni
Bodhisattva
Chakravartin
Dhammacari
Jisha
Kaisan
Maha Kapphina
Mae ji
Mahasiddha
Oshō
Pratyekabuddha
Rōshi
Sakadagami
Samanera
Samaneri
Sāvakabuddha
Sayadaw
Sensei
Sikkhamānā
Singhai
Sotāpanna
Śrāvaka
Sunim
Temple boy
Tenzo
Thero
Thilashin
Unsui
Upajjhaya
Upāsaka and Upāsikā
Vajracharya

Christianity

Eastern Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople	Ecumenical Patriarch [insert name], His All-Holiness, Your All-Holiness.
Patriarch	Patriarch [insert name] of [place], Patriarch, His Beatitude, Your Beatitude.
Archbishop of an independent Church	The Most Reverend Archbishop [insert name] of [place], Archbishop John, His Beatitude, Your Beatitude.
Archbishop of a sub-national Church	The Most Reverend Archbishop [insert name] of [place], Archbishop John, His Eminence, Your Eminence.
Metropolitan	The Most Reverend Metropolitan [insert name] of [place], Metropolitan John, His Eminence, Your Eminence.
Titular Metropolitan	The Most Reverend Metropolitan [insert name] of [place], His Excellency, Your Excellency. Some Metropolitans use the style "The Very Most Reverend", and a Metropolitan who is the head of an independent Church is addressed as "Beatitude" rather than "Excellency".
Bishop	The Most Reverend Bishop [insert name] of [place], Bishop [insert name].
Titular/Auxiliary Bishop	Same as for Bishops, above, and in other languages Sayedna (Arabic), Despota (Greek), Vladika (Russian).
Priest (Presbyter)	The Reverend Father or Father.
Protopriest	The Very Reverend Protopriest or Father.
Archpriest	The Very Reverend Archpriest [insert name] or Father.
Archimandrite	The Very Reverend Archimandrite [insert name], or The Right Reverend Archimandrite, or Father.
Hieromonk (Priest-monk)	The Reverend Hieromonk or Father. In other languages Abouna (Arabic), Pappas (Greek), Batushka (Russian)
Priest's Wife	Presbytera Mary (Greek), Khouria Mary (Arabic), Matushka Mary (Russian), Papadiya Mary (Serbian), Panimatushka (Ukrainian)
Deacon	The Reverend Father [insert name], Deacon [insert name], Father [insert name], Deacon Father [insert name], Deacon [insert name]
Protodeacon	The Reverend Protodeacon [insert name], Father [insert name], Deacon Father [insert name], Deacon [insert name]
Archdeacon	The Reverend Archdeacon [insert name], Father [insert name], Deacon Father [insert name], Deacon [insert name].
Hierodeacon (Deacon-monk)	The Reverend Hierodeacon [insert name], Father [insert name]
Deacon's Wife	Diakonissa Mary (Greek), or the same titles as a priest's wife
Abbot	The Right Reverend Abbot [insert name], Abbot [insert name], Father [insert name]
Abbess	The Reverend Mother Superior [insert name], The Very Reverend Abbess [insert name], Reverend Mother [insert name], Mother [insert name]
Monk	Monk [insert name], Father [insert name]
Rassophore Monk	Rassophore Monk [insert name], Father [insert name]
Stavrophore Monk	Stavrophore Monk [insert name], Father [insert name]
Schemamonk	Schemamonk [insert name], Father [insert name]
Novice	Novice [insert name]; or Brother [insert name]. The title "Brother" is a result of Latin influence; the title is only given to some novices with a special blessing.
Nun	Nun [insert name], Mother [insert name]
Rassophore Nun	Rassophore Nun [insert name], Sister [insert name]
Novice	Sister [insert name]

Latter Day Saints

Latter Day Saints honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Apostle	"Elder [surname]"
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (or Acting President)	"President [surname]"
Bishop	"Bishop [surname]" (the title is often retained as a courtesy after the individual is released from the calling)
Counselors in a Bishopric	"Brother [surname]"
Presiding Bishop and counselors in the Presiding Bishopric	"Bishop [surname]" (the title is often retained as a courtesy after the individual is released from the calling)
Branch president	"President [surname]"
Counselors in a branch presidency	"Brother [surname]"
Deacon	"Brother [surname]"
District President and counselors in a district presidency	"President [surname]"
Elder	"Brother [surname]" (except for full-time missionaries, in which case it is "Elder [surname]")
High priest	"Brother [surname]" (except for full-time missionaries, in which case it is "Elder [surname]")
Full-time missionaries (female)	"Sister [surname]"
Full-time missionaries (male)	"Elder [surname]"
Mission president	"President [surname]"
Counselors in a mission presidency	"President [surname]"
Mission president's wife	"Sister [surname]"
Patriarch	"Brother [surname]" or "Patriarch [surname]"
Presiding Patriarch	"Elder [surname]" or "Patriarch [surname]"
Priest	"Brother [surname]"
President of the Church and counselors in the First Presidency	"President [surname]"
Presidents of the Seventy	"Elder [surname]"
Seventy	"Elder [surname]"
Local and general Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidents and their counselors	"Sister [surname]"
Local and general Sunday School presidents and counselors in Sunday School presidencies	"Brother [surname]"
Stake President and counselors in a stake presidency	"President [surname]"
Teacher	"Brother [surname]"
Temple president	"President [surname]"
Counselors in a temple presidency	"President [surname]"
Matron (temple president's wife)	"Sister [surname]"
Assistant to the Matron (wife of a temple presidency counselor)	"Sister [surname]"
Local and general Young Men presidents and counselors in Young Men presidencies	"Brother [surname]"
President (LDS Church honorific)	"President [surname]" is used for most positions that use the word "President" in the title (including all quorum presidents), with the following exceptions: "Elder [surname]" is used for members of the Presidency of the Seventy "Brother [surname]" (the common courtesy title for all adult male members) is used for general or local presidencies of the Young Men or the Sunday School presidents "Sister [surname]" (the common courtesy title for all adult female members) is used for general or local presidents of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidents People in positions that use the word "Presiding" in the formal name are never called "President [surname]"

Protestantism

Protestant Christian honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Preacher	Some churches in the United States
Pastor
Reverend
Elder	Some Presbyterian denominations distinguish between Teaching Elder (aka Minister of Word and Sacrament or Pastor) and Ruling Elder. Teaching Elders are ordained by the Presbytery and fill the role of pastor. Ruling Elders are ordained by the local church and serve on a board that leads the church.
Deacon
Bishop	See also Bishop (Catholic Church)
Archbishop
Resident Bishop	This title is exclusive to the United Methodist Church.
Doctor	Most common in non-mainline churches (Doctor of Metaphysics (D.o.M.) and Doctor of Divinity (D.o.D.). These are clerical titels, not academic.

Roman Catholicism

Roman Catholicism honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Presbyter
Chaplain
Chancellor
Prince bishop
Abbot
Patriarch
Primate	A primate is a bishop to whom the title has been officially granted, usually the bishop of the oldest church of a nation. In the past the title carried jurisdiction over metropolitan bishops, but today usually it is purely honorific.
Major archbishop	Major archbishops are the heads of some of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Their authority within their sui juris church is equal to that of a patriarch, but they receive fewer ceremonial honors.
Metropolitan bishop	A metropolitan bishop is an archbishop in charge of an ecclesiastical province, or group of dioceses, and in addition to having immediate jurisdiction over his own archdiocese, also exercises some oversight over the other dioceses within that province. Sometimes a metropolitan may also be the head of an autocephalous, sui iuris, or autonomous church when the number of adherents of that tradition are small. In the Latin Rite, metropolitans are always archbishops; in many Eastern churches, the title is "metropolitan," with some of these churches using "archbishop" as a separate office.
Archbishop	An archbishop is the bishop of an archdiocese. This is usually a prestigious diocese with an important place in local church history. In the Roman Catholic Church, the title is purely honorific and carries no extra jurisdiction, though most archbishops are also metropolitan bishops, as above.
Suffragan bishop	A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a Metropolitan.
Titular bishop	A titular bishop is a bishop appointed to an episcopal see that is no governed by a residential (a titular see). He may serve as an auxiliary bishop of a diocese or as an official of the Roman Curia.
Auxiliary bishop	An auxiliary bishop is a titular bishop who is an assistant to a diocesan bishop. He is to be appointed as a vicar general or at least as an episcopal vicar of the diocese in which he serves.[1]
Coadjutor bishop	A coadjutor bishop is an assistant bishop who has the automatic right to succeed the incumbent diocesan bishop. The appointment of coadjutors is often seen as a means of providing for continuity of church leadership.
Chorbishop	A chorbishop is an official of a diocese in some Eastern Christian churches. Chorbishops are not generally ordained bishops – they are not given the sacrament of Holy Orders in that degree – but function as assistants to the diocesan bishop with certain honorary privileges.
Cardinal

Roman Catholicism in the United States

Roman Catholics in the United States honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Cardinal	Referred to as His Eminence; Your Eminence
Cardinal who is also an archbishop	His Eminence; Your Eminence
Archbishop	Referred to as The Most Reverend; His Excellency; Your Excellency.
Bishop	Referred to as The Most Reverend; His Excellency; Your Excellency.
Abbot	Referred to as The Right Reverend; Father Abbot, others depending on personal and abbey custom.
Protonotary Apostolic, Honorary Prelate, Chaplain of His Holiness	Referred to as The Reverend Monsignor. Postnominals are rarely used for Honorary Prelates or Chaplains of His Holiness.
Vicar General	Referred to as The Very Reverend or The Reverend.
Judicial Vicar, Ecclesiastical Judge, Episcopal Vicar, Vicar Forane, Dean, Provincial Superior, Rector	Referred to as The Very Reverend or Father.
Canon	Referred to as The Very Reverend Canon[2]
Prior	Referred to as The Very Reverend or Father.
Pastor of a Catholic parish, Parochial Vicar, Chaplain, Priest	Referred to as The Reverend or Father.
Transitional Deacon	Referred to as Reverend Mister or Deacon.
Permanent Deacon	Referred to as Mister or Deacon.
Seminarian	Referred to as Mister.
Religious Brother	Referred to as Brother.
Abbess, Prioress, superior of a religious order of women or a province	Referred to as Reverend Mother or Sister
Nun or Religious Sister	Referred to as Sister.

Hinduism

Hinduism honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Abhyasi
Acharya
Bhagat
Chakravartin
Shankaracharya
Devadasi
Dvija
Firekeeper
Godman	The Godman is a Hindu ascetic
Goswami
Guru	Originally referring in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu divine figure, today the term is commonly used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, as well as in many new religious movements.
Gymnosophists
Jagad guru
Mahamandaleshwar
Mahant
Maharshi
Mantrik
Melshanthi
Pandit
Paramahamsa
Paramguru
Rajarshi
Rishi
Rishi Muni
Sadhaka
Sadhu
Saint
Sannyasa
Sant
Satguru
Shaunaka
Shishya
Swami	An ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into the religious monastic order founded by Adi Sankara,[3] or to a religious teacher.[4] When used as a prefix with a monastic name, "Swami" usually refers to men who have taken the oath of renunciation and abandoned their social status. The monastic name is usually a single word without a first and last name.
Yogi

Islam

Islamic honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Alayhi 'l-salat wa'l-Salam	Means "Upon him prayer and peace"; used for all earlier Prophets and Angels.
Alayhi wa 'ala Alihi al-salat wa 'l-Salam	Means "Upon him and his family be prayer and peace"
Salawat Allahi 'alayhi wa Alihi	Means "The exaltations of God shall be upon him and his family"
Salawat Allah wa Salamuhu 'Alayhi wa Alihi	Means "The exaltations and peace of God be upon him and his family"
Salla 'llah 'Alayhi wa Alihi wa Sahbihi wa sallam	Means, "May God exalt and bring peace upon him, his family, and his companions"
Salla 'llah 'alayhi wa Alihi wa sallam	Means, "May God exalt and bring peace upon him and his progeny"
Radiya Allaho 'anho	Means "May God be pleased with him"; Used for companions of prophet as well as scholars
Akhoond
Allamah	A Sunni Islam term meaning the most respected of the Marjas; it is a Persian name for teacher that is also used by some to denote a teacher of extraordinary respect.
Amir al-Mu'minin	Leader of the faithfull ( only used for four Rashidun Caliphate )
Ash Shakur
Ayatollah	In Shi'a Islam, a high ranking title given to clerics.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Dervish	One who never disappoint beggars
Emir
Hadrat	Honorific title for all Muslims
Hajji	One who performed the Hajj Pilgrimage
Imam	In Shi'a Islam, the Imam is appointed by God, and Muhammed was informed that the number of Imams after him will be 12.
Karram-Allah-u Wajhahu
Khwaja	Teacher of All Saints at that time
Khoja	A Turkestani word
Mahdi	The 12th Imam will come either as a first time appearance or as a reappearance after a long occultation. The Mahdi is the greatest teacher, the Messiah of the Islamic World, and the Maitreya of Buddhism.
Makhdoom
Marabout	A spiritual teacher of Islam as it is taught in the West Africa and Maghreb, The word comes from the Berber concept of Saint. The "marabout" is known as "Sayyed" (سيد) to the Arabic speaking Maghribians.
Marja	In Shi'a Islam, The name means source to follow.
Mawlawi	A Persian word for teacher meaning Master.
Mawlānā	Learned one of Qur'an And Hadhith
Moinuddin	Helper of Religion (used only for Gharib Nawaz, Most famous sufi of India
Mu'min	Highest Rank For followers of Qur'Aan and Hadhith
Mufti	A guide on the Path to the Source of living Water (the divine sharia law) is called Mufti.
Muhaddith	Someone who has profound knowledge of the Haddith, and teaches by Narration, or storytelling.
Mullah	The title of the teachers at the Madrasahs, Islamic schools. Mullah is a teacher in regard of being respected as a vicar and guardian of Qur'an and the Islamic traditions.
Mujaddid	Someone sent by God to aid the Umma and revive Islam at the beginning of every century .
Murshid	Spritual Teacher
Otin
Peace be upon him	Used for Friends of Allah
Sufism	Spiritual Leader [Male]
Pirani	Spiritual Leader [Female]
Qalandar	Mystic
Radhiallahu 'anhu	Used for Friends of Allah with Highest Rank
Rahimatullah	Used for Friends of Allah
Rais
Sayyid	Descendant of Prophet Muhammad's Daughter Named Fatima Al Zahra
Sharif	To Give Respect
Sheikh	An Arabic honorific term that literally means Elder. It is a long historic debate in many cultures whether the elder in itself denotes the role and status of a teacher.
Sheikh ul-Islam
Subhanahu wa ta'ala
Sultan	King
Sultana	King [Female] Used only for Razia Sultan of Delhi Sultanat
Thangal
Ulema/Ulama	The title that indicates that the teacher has come to awareness of the consensus, the ijma, of the Umma. Umma is the universal community of all the children of God.

Judaism

Jewish honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Rabbi	Literally means ‘great one’. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word רַב, rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ or ‘distinguished (in knowledge)’.
Av Beit Din
Chief Rabbi
Choizer
Fellow Student
Gadol
Gaon
Hakham
Hakham Bashi
Illui
Kohen Gadol
Lamdan
Maggid
Maran
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashpia
Meiniach
Nagid
Posek
Rav
Rebbe
Rishon LeZion
Rosh yeshiva
Savoraim
Segan
Talmid Chacham
Tzadik
Archipheracite
Badchen
Cantor	This title has a different meaning in Reform Judaism.
Gabbai
Kohen
Mashgiach
Mashgiach ruchani
Mashpia
Melamed
Meshulach
The Mitzvah of sanctifying the Kohen
Mohel
Cantorate	This position had a different meaning to the Reform Jewish in the 19th Century.
Rosh yeshiva
Sandek
Schulklopfer
Shaliah
Shechita
Sofer
The status quo Kohen
Tzadikim Nistarim
Yeshiva
Admo"r	"Admor" is an acronym for "Adonainu, Morainu, VeRabbeinu," a phrase meaning "Our Master, Our Teacher, and Our Rebbe." This is an honorific title given to scholarly leaders of a Jewish community. In writing, this title is placed before the name, as in "Admor of Pinsk" or "R' (stands for Rabbi, Rav,or Reb) Ploni Almoni, Admor of Redomsk."
Shlit"a	'Shlit"a' is an acronym for "Sheyikhye Lirot Yamim Tovim Arukim/Amen," "May he live a good long life" or "May he live a good life, Amen," given to a revered rabbi or to someone's child's Rebbe (teacher). This title is usually placed before the name.
K'vod K'dushat	"K'vod K'dushat," meaning "The honor of [his] holiness". This title is usually placed before the name. It is found as early as in the 1531 edition of The Aruk.[5]
Shy'	"Shy'" is an acronym for "Sheyikhye," meaning "May he live". This title is usually placed after the name.

New Thought

New Thought honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Doctor	Most common: Doctor of Divinity (D.o.D.) or Doctor of Metaphysics (D.o.M.)
Counselor
Life coach
Healing practitioner
Religious Science Practitioner	"A trained counselor who listens to concerns and offers loving prayers in accordance to the principles of Science of Mind. Practitioners honor each person from a holistic viewpoint and acknowledge their basic loving nature."[6]

Neopaganism

Pagan honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Volkhvy	Heathen priests among the pre-Christian Rus' people.
Gothi	A title sometimes used by adherents of Heathenism, referring to a priest or ceremonial leader.
Witch	A title used by someone who practices Witchcraft. The term is gender neutral. Many Wiccans are Witches because of the inclusion of witchcraft in many Wiccan traditions. Some Witches are not Wiccans and practice Traditional Craft or folk magic.
Priest/Priestess	A title that may be used within various forms of Paganism. In Wicca, it denotes a male or female who has been initiated into the priesthood in the 1st or 2nd degree depending on the tradition.
High Priest/High Priestess	A Wiccan role. A male or female becomes a High Priest/ess once they attain the second or third degree, depending upon which tradition of Wicca they belong to.
Bard	1st degree (after candidacy/initiation) title used by the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids that is primarily centered around song, spoken word, memory, tradition, and poetry.[7]
Ovate	2nd degree used by the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. It is the centered around healing, divination, and herbalism.[8]
Druid	A masculine term for someone who practices druidry, the indigenous spirituality of the Celts. People who belong to a grove or are members of a druid order will use this term generically regardless of gender to indicate they practice the overall faith instead of a holding the rank of a specific degree title. In the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, druid is the gender neutral 3rd degree, the priest title, centered around teaching, philosophy, mysticism, and other leadership roles.[9]
Druidess	The female form of the word druid. A woman who practices the druid spirituality. Mainly found in Irish mythology.
Archdruid	A title that is held by the chief or head of a druid order. Sometimes independent groves (druid form of circle/coven) may have an archdruid, but generally this is reserved for the head of an entire organization such as the Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA),[10] The Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA),[11] Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (our own druidism in Irish),[12] and the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids in England.[13]
Solitary practitioner	A person who practices Neopaganism alone and does not belong to a group, circle, grove or organization. Sometimes they may belong to a group or organization, but may live too far from other members to attend and chose to do a solitary practice.This is often the case with druid orders are national and international organizations and have members spread out across the globe. Members of groups and organizations who attend functions will often have a solitary practice but this is not a "solitary practitioner".
Santero/Santera	a person who is the priest or priestess clergy in Santeria.
Babalawo/Iyalawo	a person who is a priest or priestess of Ifa and knows the mysteries in which they can divine through Orisha Orunmila who is the Orisha of divination in the Santerian tradition of Ifa.
Houngan/Mambo	a person who is the priest of priestess in Haitian Voodoo.

Serer

Serer honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Lamane	"Master of the land". Ancient lamanic class of the Serer people. Guardians of Serer religion, laws and ethics. Extinct (see States headed by ancient Serer Lamanes).
Saltigue	"Ministers of the religious cult". The Serer priestly class.

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism honorifics and titles
Role	Description
Mobad, Mobedyar
Herbad
Dastur

Various

Teachers

In Hinduism the spiritual teacher is known as a guru. Traditionally, a spiritual seeker would revere his or her guru highly, and demonstrate utmost submission and humility through menial service in order to prove worthy to be a recipient of the knowledge the guru has attained by initiation practices. There are many sayings on the teacher like "Guru devo bhava" (Guru is God), which reflects of the esteem associated with a guru's role.

In Tibetan Buddhism the teachers of Dharma in Tibet are most commonly called a Lama. A Lama who has through phowa and siddhi consciously determined to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue their Bodhisattva vow is called a Tulku.

Clergy is the generic term for formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman, or cleric is a member of the clergy. They may be called priest, preacher, pastor, minister, reverend, or father. In Christianity there is a wide range of formal and informal clergy positions, including deacons, priests, bishops, and ministers. In Shiaa Islam, religious leaders are usually known as imams or ayatollahs.

There are many concepts of teachers in Islam, ranging from mullahs (the teachers at madrassas) to ulemas.

Magicians

There are many kinds of people who deal with magic. They include paranormal magicians, fantasy magicians, shamans, kalku, and the magi. In Shamanic magic, the Seid plays a role, as does the Warlock and Witch in Paganism. In history, magic in the Greco-Roman world was common. There are also the Onmyou Mystic and the Bomoh.

See also

• List of religious topics
• List of education topics

References

1. "Canon 406". Code of Canon Law. The Holy See. 1983. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
2. "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Ecclesiastical Addresses". Newadvent.org. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
3. Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Religion, page 958.
4. Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (2009). Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Chambers Harrap Publishers. ISBN 978-0-550-10411-3.
5. http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=42537&st=&pgnum=2 (Hebrew)
6. Vorensky, J. and Carr, K. (2001) I Dare to Heal: With Compassionate Love. Life's Breath Publications and Xlibris. p 155.
7. "What is a Bard?". The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
8. "What is an Ovate?". The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
9. "What is a Druid?". The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
10. "Reformed Druids of North America". Reformed Druids of North America. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
11. "AODA". Ancient Order of Druids in America. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
12. "Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship". Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
13. "OBOD". The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. Retrieved 21 September 2015.