protopapas
/ˌprəʊtə(ʊ)ˈpapəs/ /ˌprəʊtə(ʊ)pəˈpɑːs/noun
Especially in the Byzantine Empire: a senior cleric granted jurisdiction over members of the Greek Orthodox Church.
- Chiefly used as a title for an Orthodox or Uniate priest appointed by a Catholic ruler in place of a Greek Orthodox bishop..
Origin
Late 17th century; earliest use found in George Wheler (1651–1724), Church of England clergyman and scholar. From Byzantine Greek πρωτοπαπᾶς, πρωτοπαππᾶς senior priest from ancient Greek πρωτο- + Byzantine Greek παπᾶς priest. Compare post-classical Latin protopapa, Italian protopapa.