Confessor of the Faith: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Title given by the Christian Church to a type of saint}} |
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'''Confessor of the Faith''' is a title given by some [[Christian denominations]]. In [[Catholicism]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], Christians who professed their faith in times of Christian persecution and therefore had to suffer persecution, expulsion, torture, mutilation and imprisonment, but not directly undergo [[martyrdom]], are called ''confessors'' ({{lang-la|confessores}}).<ref name="WW">{{cite encyclopedia |author=[[Johann Baptist Lüft]]|date=1903|volume=2|location=Freiburg im Breisgau|encyclopedia=Wetzer und Welte's Kirchenlexikon|publisher=Herder’sche Verlagshandlung|title=Bekenner|trans-title=Confessor}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Later, [[popes]], [[bishops]], [[abbots]], kings and [[hermits]] were also counted among the confessors. |
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{{Expand German|Bekenner|date=November 2016}} |
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The title '''Confessor''', the short form of '''Confessor of the Faith''', is a title given by the [[Christian Church]] to a type of [[saint]]. |
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With the spread of Christianity and the decrease in persecution of Christians in the 5th century, this designation was also given to those Christians who lived a holy life, such as the English King [[Edward the Confessor]].<ref name="WW" /> |
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==Etymology== |
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| ⚫ | The word confessor is derived from the Latin {{lang|la|confiteri}}, 'to confess; to profess'. In the early church, it was a title of honour, designating those individuals who had confessed Christ publicly in time of persecution and had been punished with imprisonment, [[torture]], exile, or labour in the mines, remaining faithful until the end of their lives. The title thus distinguished them from the martyrs, who were those that had undergone death for their faith. Among writers, St. [[Cyprian]] is the first in whose works it occurs.<ref name="ce beccari">{{cite Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Confessor |last1=Beccari |first1=Camillo|volume=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Beatification|volume =2 | series=Catholic Encyclopedia|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Catholic_Encyclopedia,_volume_2.djvu/421 |page=365}}</ref> |
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==Western Christianity== |
==Western Christianity== |
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| ⚫ | In the [[Catholic Church]], the title is given to [[saint]]s and the [[beatified]] who were not [[martyr]]ed. Historically, the title ''confessor'' was given to those who had suffered [[persecution]] and torture for the faith but not to the point of [[martyrdom]]. As [[Christianity]] emerged as the dominant religion in [[Europe]] by the fifth century, persecutions became rare, and the title was given to male saints who lived a holy life and died in peace. Perhaps the best-known individual associated with the title is the [[English king]] [[St. Edward the Confessor]]. It is possible for Confessors to have another title or even two other titles, for example, [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] and Confessor; [[Pope]] and Confessor; or Bishop, Confessor, and [[Doctor of the Church]], among others: St. [[Jerome]] is known as [[Priest]], Confessor, [[Theologian]], [[Church history|Historian]] and [[Doctor of the Church]].<ref name="ce beccari"/> |
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| ⚫ | The word confessor is derived from the Latin |
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The term ''confessor'' is also used for non-canonised Catholics who die under persecution, not being executed. For example: the Tudor bishop, [[Cuthbert Tunstall]] "became one of the eleven confessor-bishops who died prisoners for the Faith."<ref>{{cite Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Cuthbert Tunstall |last1= Burton |first1=Edwin Hubert|volume=12}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In the [[ |
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==Eastern Christianity== |
==Eastern Christianity== |
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In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the title |
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the title ''Confessor'' refers to a [[saint]] (male or female) who has witnessed to the faith and suffered for it (usually torture, but also other types of loss), but not to the point of death, and thus is distinguished from a martyr. [[Nikephoros I of Constantinople]], who was banished to the monastery of Saint Theodore for his support of [[iconodules]], is revered as a confessor. A confessor who is also a priest or bishop may be referred to as ''[[wikt:hiero-|hiero]]-confessor''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Martyrs and Confessors |url=https://dce.oca.org/assets/templates/bulletin.cfm?mode=html&id=85 |website=Department of Christian Education of the Orthodox Church in America |access-date=2023-07-25 |archive-date=2023-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725142237/https://dce.oca.org/assets/templates/bulletin.cfm?mode=html&id=85 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Portal|Christianity|History}} |
{{Portal|Christianity|History}} |
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* [[Christianity in late antiquity]] |
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*[[Confessor]] |
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*[[ |
* [[Early Christianity]] |
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*[[List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles]] |
* [[List of Confessors]] |
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* [[List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles]] |
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*[[Martyr of charity]], one who dies as a result of charitable acts but not from persecution. |
* [[Martyr of charity]], one who dies as a result of charitable acts but not from persecution. |
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*[[Passion-bearer]] |
* [[Passion-bearer]] |
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*[[Virgin (title)]] |
* [[Virgin (title)]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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[[Category:Christian saints]] |
[[Category:Christian saints]] |
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[[Category:Types of saints]] |
[[Category:Types of saints]] |
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[[Category:Groups of Roman Catholic saints]] |
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Revision as of 02:04, 25 May 2024
Confessor of the Faith is a title given by some Christian denominations. In Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, Christians who professed their faith in times of Christian persecution and therefore had to suffer persecution, expulsion, torture, mutilation and imprisonment, but not directly undergo martyrdom, are called confessors (Latin: confessores).[1] Later, popes, bishops, abbots, kings and hermits were also counted among the confessors.
With the spread of Christianity and the decrease in persecution of Christians in the 5th century, this designation was also given to those Christians who lived a holy life, such as the English King Edward the Confessor.[1]
Etymology
The word confessor is derived from the Latin confiteri, 'to confess; to profess'. In the early church, it was a title of honour, designating those individuals who had confessed Christ publicly in time of persecution and had been punished with imprisonment, torture, exile, or labour in the mines, remaining faithful until the end of their lives. The title thus distinguished them from the martyrs, who were those that had undergone death for their faith. Among writers, St. Cyprian is the first in whose works it occurs.[2][3]
Western Christianity
In the Catholic Church, the title is given to saints and the beatified who were not martyred. Historically, the title confessor was given to those who had suffered persecution and torture for the faith but not to the point of martyrdom. As Christianity emerged as the dominant religion in Europe by the fifth century, persecutions became rare, and the title was given to male saints who lived a holy life and died in peace. Perhaps the best-known individual associated with the title is the English king St. Edward the Confessor. It is possible for Confessors to have another title or even two other titles, for example, Bishop and Confessor; Pope and Confessor; or Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church, among others: St. Jerome is known as Priest, Confessor, Theologian, Historian and Doctor of the Church.[2]
The term confessor is also used for non-canonised Catholics who die under persecution, not being executed. For example: the Tudor bishop, Cuthbert Tunstall "became one of the eleven confessor-bishops who died prisoners for the Faith."[4]
Eastern Christianity
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the title Confessor refers to a saint (male or female) who has witnessed to the faith and suffered for it (usually torture, but also other types of loss), but not to the point of death, and thus is distinguished from a martyr. Nikephoros I of Constantinople, who was banished to the monastery of Saint Theodore for his support of iconodules, is revered as a confessor. A confessor who is also a priest or bishop may be referred to as hiero-confessor.[5]
See also
- Christianity in late antiquity
- Early Christianity
- List of Confessors
- List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles
- Martyr of charity, one who dies as a result of charitable acts but not from persecution.
- Passion-bearer
- Virgin (title)
References
Citations
- ^ a b Johann Baptist Lüft (1903). "Bekenner" [Confessor]. Wetzer und Welte's Kirchenlexikon. Vol. 2. Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder’sche Verlagshandlung.
- ^ a b Beccari, Camillo (1908). . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ "Beatification". Catholic Encyclopedia. p. 365.
- ^ Burton, Edwin Hubert (1911). . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ "Martyrs and Confessors". Department of Christian Education of the Orthodox Church in America. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
Sources
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Confessor". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
