Verb
take holy orders (third-person singular simple present takes holy orders, present participle taking holy orders, simple past took holy orders, past participle taken holy orders)
To become ordained within the Christian church.
Although James was pleased with Donne's work, he refused to reinstate him at court and instead urged him to take holy orders. Source: Internet
During that time, any Fellow of a college at Cambridge or Oxford was required to take holy orders and become an ordained Anglican priest. Source: Internet
Pope Clement VII sent a dispensation to James V dated 30 August 1534, allowing four of the children to take holy orders when they came of age. Source: Internet