priest; the Armenians and corcepisco; the Romanians and tropapa, etc. The dignity is sometimes conferred with a proper ritual blessing (thus among the Copts and Maronites) but sometimes also with simple appointment.
The attributions of the p. are not the same in all rites, because in addition to visiting the parishes for disciplinary, moral, liturgical and administrative life, which constitutes his principal office, he is ordinarily also a parish priest or exercises some other function. The p. are examiners of the clergy (Chaldeans), constitute the first instance in judgments (Romanians), consecrate baptisteries, dedicate churches and altars (Maronites), have announcements read in the churches to the people. The honors of the p. vary according to the rite.