noun
- Plural of catholicos; high-ranking bishops or patriarchs in certain Eastern Christian churches, particularly the Nestorian and Armenian churches.
Usage: historical; ecclesiastical; primarily used in reference to Eastern Christian church hierarchy
Examples
- The catholicoi of the Eastern churches held significant spiritual authority in their respective communities.
- Historical records document the roles of various catholicoi in medieval Christian theology.
- The catholicoi served as leaders of their dioceses and representatives to ecumenical councils.