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a term sometimes applied in the ancient Church
(1) to the whole body of baptized Christians, who were called ἄãéïé , ἐêëåêôïß , saints, elect;
(2) to the highest class of catechumens elected to baptism;
(3) at other times to the newly baptized, as especially admitted to the full privileges of their profession, and sometimes called the perfect.
Ascetics, who at one time were considered the most eminent of Christian professors, were called the elect of the elect. — Bingham, Orig. Ecclesiastes book 10, chapter 2, § 5. SEE CATECHUMENS.