Aleqa
Encyclopedia
The title Aleqa is used in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
. It is used as the title of a chief priest
, the head of a monastery
, as well as being an honorific
for a highly educated member of the church, especially in the case of dabtaras.
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the predominant Oriental Orthodox Christian church in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Church was administratively part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All...
. It is used as the title of a chief priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, the head of a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, as well as being an honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
for a highly educated member of the church, especially in the case of dabtaras.
Sources
- "The Resilient Nature of Common Property Resource Management Systems: a case study from the Guassa area of Menz, Ethiopia" by Zelealem Tefera Ashenafi and N. Leader-Williams (Presented at "Survival of the Commons: Mounting Challenges and New Realities," the Eleventh Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, Bali, Indonesia, 19 June–23 June 2006) [PDF]