from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hierophant \Hi*er"o*phant\ (h[-i]*[e^]r"[-o]*fant or
h[imac]"[~e]r; 277), n. [L. hierophanta, hierophantes, Gr.
"ierofa`nths; "iero`s sacred + fai`nein to show, make known:
cf. F. hi['e]rophante.]
The presiding priest who initiated candidates at the
Eleusinian mysteries; hence, one who teaches the mysteries
and duties of a religion or an arcane discipline; an
expositor; as, In his television series "Cosmos", Carl Sagan
became the foremost hierophant of modern cosmology.. --Abp.
Potter.
Syn: mystagogue. [1913 Webster]
2. an advocate or spokesperson.
[PJC]