a church wherein is a bishop's see or seat: See Church, and Bishop. The word comes from the Greek καθέδρα, "chair," of καθίσκω, sedeo, "I sit." The denomination cathedral seems to have taken its rise from the manner of sitting in the ancient churches, or assemblies of primitive Christians; in these, the council, i.e. the elders and priests, was called Presbyterium; at their head was the bishop, who held the place of chairman, Cathedralis, or Cathedra-

tivus; and the presbyters, who sat on either side, were also called by the ancient fathers, Afflatores Episcoporum. The episcopal authority did not reside in the bishop alone; but in all the presbyters, whereof the bishop was president. A cathedral therefore, originally, was different from what it is now; the Christians, till the time of Constantine, having no liberty to build any temple; by their churches they only meant their assemblies; and by cathedrals, nothing more than consultories.

CATHERINE PARR. See PARR.