oeconomus

Meaning

1. A married priest (chiefly Orthodox Christian and Uniate usage), as opposed to a hieromonk.
2. A priest or other person who serves as the bursar or finance officer of a diocese or religious institution (chiefly Roman Catholic usage), an episcopal oeconomus temporarily takes charge of church property in the event of an episcopal vacancy.
3. A Byzantine title given to the chief steward or treasurer of a household or institution.

Synonyms

housekeeper

steward

Pronounced as (IPA)

/iːˈkɒnəməs/

Etymology

From Latin oeconomus, from Ancient Greek οἰκονόμος (oikonómos), from οἶκος (oîkos, “house”) + νόμος (nómos, “law, rule”).