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== The Roman Catholic Church ==

== The Roman Catholic Church ==

During the reign of the [[Emperor]] [[Constantine]], the [[Christian]] Church established itself legally. It had a hierarchy of clergy in some ways similar to that of the old polytheistic [[Rome|Roman]] state religion. All of the levels of ordained ministers that the various Christian churches of the time depended upon are, however, identified in the [[New Testament]] and were functioning long before the time of Constantine.

During the reign of the [[Emperor]] [[Constantine]], the [[Christian]] Church established itself legally. It had a hierarchy of clergy in some ways similar to that of the old polytheistic [[Rome|Roman]] state religion. All of the levels of ordained ministers that the various Christian churches of the time depended upon are, however, identified in the [[New Testament]] and were functioning long before the time of Constantine.

In the Western section of the Roman Empire, the Church developed a multitiered order of ministers, with the [[Pope]] (essentially a renamed [[Pontifex Maximus]], hence the nickname "pontiff" often applied to the papal office), at its head. The Eastern Churches, now called [[Eastern Orthodox]], did not accept the claims to universal jurisdiction made by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. In 1054, the polarized views of East and West finally resulted in the a formal break between the two, a separation that exists until the present.

In the Western section of the Roman Empire, the Church developed a multitiered order of ministers, with the [[Pope]] (essentially a renamed [[Pontifex Maximus]], hence the nickname "pontiff" often applied to the papal office), at its head. The Eastern Churches, now called [[Eastern Orthodox]], did not accept the claims to universal jurisdiction made by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. In 1054, the polarized views of East and West finally resulted in the a formal break between the two, a separation that exists until the present.

There were [[Archbishop]]s (literally, "lead overseers"), who led the Church in the most important cities of the Empire, then ordinary [[bishop]]s, then [[priest]]s, and finally the lowest order, the deacons. From that day to now, in the Roman Catholic and certain other churches, a deacon is usually a [[seminary]]-trained individual and a type of apprentice to the pastor (called ''[[vicar]]'' or ''rector'' in the [[Church of England]] and other Anglican churches).  

There were [[Archbishop]]s (literally, "lead overseers"), who led the Church in the most important cities of the Empire, then ordinary [[bishop]]s, then [[priest]]s, and finally the lowest order, the deacons. From that day to now, in the Roman Catholic and certain other churches, a deacon is usually a [[seminary]]-trained individual and a type of apprentice to the pastor (called ''[[vicar]]'' or ''rector'' in the [[Church of England]] and other Anglican churches).

== The Protestant churches==

== The Protestant churches==