The spelling of the word "Episcopalian" is not intuitive. It is pronounced /ɪˌpɪskəˈpeɪliən/, with stress on the second syllable. The first two letters "Epis-" come from the Greek word for "bishop" and refers to the church's hierarchical structure. The "-copal" part means "relating to a bishop" and "-ian" indicates membership in a group or belief system. So, an Episcopalian is a member of the Episcopal Church, which is based on the system of governance by bishops.
Episcopalian is an adjective or noun that refers to the beliefs, practices, or members of the Episcopal Church in Christianity. The Episcopal Church is one of the main branches of the Anglican Communion, which traces its roots back to the Church of England.
As an adjective, Episcopalian describes anything related to the Episcopal Church, its doctrines, rituals, or institutions. For example, one might refer to an Episcopalian bishop, priest, or parishioner.
As a noun, an Episcopalian is an individual who identifies with or is a member of the Episcopal Church. Episcopalianism emphasizes a hierarchical structure where authority is vested in bishops, who are seen as successors of the apostles and hold spiritual and administrative leadership within the church. The Episcopal Church upholds the sacraments and liturgical practices similar to other traditional forms of Christianity, such as baptism, Holy Communion, and other religious ceremonies.
Episcopalians believe in the Holy Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They also place significance on the Bible, tradition, and reason in matters of faith and practice. The Episcopal Church is known for its inclusive and progressive stance, promoting social justice issues and welcoming diverse perspectives. Episcopalians often engage in worship that involves the use of a Book of Common Prayer, containing liturgical texts and prayers.
Overall, Episcopalian pertains to the Episcopal Church and its members, reflecting their beliefs, practices, and connection to the Anglican Communion.
• Pert. to.
• An adherent or member of the Ch. of Eng., or of a church governed by bishops.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Episcopalian" is derived from "episcopal", which originated from the Greek word "episkopos" (ἐπίσκοπος). "Episkopos" is a compound word, combining "epi" (meaning "over" or "upon") and "skopos" (meaning "watcher" or "overseer"). In ancient Greek, it referred to someone who oversaw or supervised others.
When Christianity spread and developed into organized churches, the term "episcopal" was used to describe the governance structure where bishops exercise authority over a particular territory or diocese. Eventually, in the English language, the word "Episcopalian" was coined to refer to those who belong to the branch of Christianity that follows an episcopal form of church government. It specifically relates to members of the Episcopal Church or those who share similar beliefs and practices.