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Oiconomists

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(Greek, Οἰκονόμοι ) was the name in the early Church of persons appointed by the bishop and archdeacon to assist in managing the possessions of the Church. This became in the Middle Ages an office of great influence, and was in a good degree independent of the bishop. The office was originally created to check the insatiable cupidity of the bishops, and to restrain their independent control of the revenues of the Church. But they soon found means to defeat this salutary expedient by taking the appointment of such officers into their own hands, and thus securing men who were in their interests. See Coleman Anc Christianity, p. 188. (See OECONOMOS).