high priest

n.

1. Judaism. A chief priest, especially of the ancient Levitical priesthood. By tradition this office was restricted to men.
2. Mormon Church. A priest of the Melchizedek order. By tradition this office is restricted to men.
3. The head or chief proponent, as of a movement or doctrine.

high priesthood high priesthood n.

(Heb. kohen gadol). The chief among the Priests; the first was Aaron (Ex. 28:1), and all later High Priests (and other priests) were required to be descended from him. The High Priest was distinguished from the ordinary priest in several ways. In addition to the four garments worn by all priests (coat, girdle, turban, breeches), the High Priest also wore the apron (ephod) made of wool and linen, the breastplate (ḥoshen) which contained the 12 precious stones inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes, a robe made of blue wool, and a gold headplate on which were inscribed the words "Holy to the Lord" (see Priestly Garments). These garments were worn during the High Priest's service in the Temple. Although all priests were anointed with holy oil, only the High Priest had the oil poured over his head. In his garments of gold, blue, and purple, the gold plate worn on his head, and the anointing with oil, the High Priest resembled royalty, sharing these features with the Jewish monarch.

The outstanding garment worn by the High Priest was the breastplate, which contained the oracle, the Urim and Thummim (Divine Names which could not be erased). If a king or the head of the Sanhedrin wished to inquire of God about embarking on a war or other issues of community importance, he went to the High Priest while he wore the breastplate. The High Priest faced the Divine Presence (Shekhinah) as the question was asked, and when the letters inscribed on the stones lit up, he would read the answer (Yoma 73a).

The High Priest's service in the Temple was distinguished by the privilege he had of making sin-offerings at the inner altar and entering the Holy of Holies. The offerings were made to atone for his personal sins, for sins in judgment made by the Sanhedrin, and for communal sins. The High Priest's most solemn (Avodah) service was performed on the Day of Atonement. To prepare for this day, he separated himself from his family a week beforehand and lived in the Temple in order to purify himself and review the laws of his service. After staying up all night on the Day of Atonement itself, the High Priest offered up personal and communal sacrifices, changed his clothes, and immersed himself in a ritual bath (Mikveh) five different times, then entered the Holy of Holies and offered special incense before the Ark of the Covenant. This incense offering required both spiritual purity and physical dexterity, and if any part of this ritual was flawed, the High Priest, it was believed, would not return from the Holy of Holies alive. When carried out properly, the service atoned for the sins of the entire Jewish nation.

According to Jewish law, the High Priest was more restricted than an ordinary priest. Not only was he forbidden to defile himself by proximity to the dead, as were all priests, but he was not even allowed to mourn for his closest relatives. In addition to the restrictions placed on all priests regarding the choice of a spouse, the High Priest had to marry a virgin.

During the Second Temple period, the office of High Priest took on more administrative responsibilities. The High Priest was often the Nasi (President) of the Sanhedrin. The Hasmonean rulers, after Judah the Maccabee, took over the office of High Priest in defiance of the stipulations of Jewish law. After the Roman conque(63 BCE) and especially during Herod's rule (37-4 BCE), the position of High Priest degenerated and became a political tool in the hands of the Romans. During the war with Rome (66-70 CE), the office was filled by lot. High Priests were often chosen from among the Sadducees, who did not accept the Oral Law, and subsequently the title of High Priest was belittled by the sages. The office of the High Priest ended with the destruction of the Second Temple. Traditionally there were 18 High Priests in the First Temple period and about 60 in Second Temple times.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a senior clergyman
  Synonyms: archpriest, hierarch, prelate, primate

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