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{{incomplete}} {{Template:Clergy}}The '''Bishopbishop''' is the first and highest degree of the [[clergy]] in the [[Orthodox Church]] (επίσκοπος or ''episkopos'' in Greek, which means overseer). He is the successor to the Apostles in the service and government of the Church. A '''ruling bishop''', is responsible for and the head of all the parishes located in his diocese. All authority of the lower orders of clergy is derived from the bishop. No divine services may be served in any Orthodox temple without the authorization of a bishop.

== Episcopal Ministry ministry==A bishop is the [[Apostolic succession|successor]] to the [[Apostles]] in the service and government of the Church. The bishop thus serves εις τόπον και τύπον Χριστού (in place and as a type of Christ) in the Church. No bishop in Orthodoxy is considered infallible. None has any authority over or apart from his priests, deacons, and people or the other bishops. They have the responsibility of maintaining the unity of the Church throughout the world by insuring the truth and unity of the faith and practice of their diocese. The bishop represent his particular diocese to the other churches or dioceses, and represents the Universal Church to his own particular [[priest]]s, [[deacon]]s, and people.

== Rankings According to [[Canon law|Church Law]], bishops of Bishops ==an area must meet in [[council]]s. When doing so, the metropolitan or patriarchate presides administratively.

SacramentallyIn the Orthodox Church, all from about the sixth century, it has been the rule that bishops are equalsingle men or widowers. Bishops are also usually in at least the first degree of [[monastic]] orders. Nevertheless ==Holy orders==It is the belief of Orthodoxy that [[Christ]] is the only priest, there are distinctions pastor, and teacher of administrative rank among bishopsthe Christian Church. He alone forgives sins and offers communion with [[God]], his [[God the Father|Father]]. Christ alone guides and rules his people. Christ remains with his Church as its living and unique head. Christ remains present and active in the Church through the [[Holy Spirit]].

=== Through the [[sacrament]] of [[Ordination|holy orders]] bishops give order to the Church. Bishops guarantee the continuity and unity of the Church from age to age and from place to place, that is, from the time of Christ and the apostles until the establishment of God''Diocesan s Kingdom in eternity. Bishops receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to manifest Christ in the Spirit to men. Bishops'' ===are neither vicars, substitutes, nor representatives of Christ. It is Christ, through his chosen ministers, who acts as teacher, good shepherd, forgiver, and healer. It is Christ remitting sins, and curing the physical, mental, and spiritual ills of mankind. This is a mystery of the Church.

==Ruling bishop==A '''ruling bishop who governs ''' or '''diocesan bishop''' is responsible for and the head of all the [[parish]]es located in his own a particular geographical territory, called a [[diocese ]] or [[archdiocese ]]. All authority of the lower orders of clergy is a diocesan derived from the bishop. He No divine services may be called served in any Orthodox temple without the authorization of a bishop. Saint [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch]] went so far as to state that "he who acts without the bishop'Bishop' or 'Archbishop' or 'Metropolitan' or 'Metropolitan Archbishop' or 'Patriarchs knowledge is in the devil's service."

The title [[patriarch]] is reserved for the [[primate]] ==Rankings of certain of the [[autocephalous]] Orthodox churchesbishops==Sacramentally, all bishops are equal. The first hierarch Nevertheless, there are distinctions of the other autocephalous churches are styled metropolitan or archbishop or metropolitan archbishopadministrative rank among bishops.

Much later The title patriarch is reserved for the term was granted to [[primate]] of certain of the heads [[autocephalous]] Orthodox churches. The first [[hierarch]] of the other most significant Churches. Significance for some Churches now, may be more historical than actualautocephalous churches are styled metropolitan or archbishop.

=== Archbishops The title patriarch was first applied to the original three major [[see]]s of [[Church of Rome|Rome]], [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]], and Metropolitans ===[[Church of Antioch|Antioch]], and shortly after extended to include [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] and [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] (cf. [[Pentarchy]]).

The title of archbishop or metropolitan may be Much later the term was granted to a senior bishop, usually one who is in charge the heads of a large ecclesiastical jurisdictionother most significant churches. He Significance for some churches now may or may not have provincial oversight of suffragan bishops. He may or may not have auxilliary bishops assisting himbe more historical than actual.

In the Slavonic ===Archbishops and Antiochian traditionsMetropolitans===The title of archbishop or metropolitan may be granted to a senior bishop, a metropolitan outranks an archbishop. The reverse usually one who is the situation in the Greek traditioncharge of a large ecclesiastical [[jurisdiction]]. The Antiochian tradition also uses the style metropolitan archbishop to differentiate from metropolitan He may or may not have provincial oversight of suffragan bishops in the Greek tradition. He may or may not have [[auxiliary bishop]]s assisting him.

In the Slavonic and Antiochian traditions, a [[metropolitan]] outranks an archbishop. The change reverse is the situation in the Greek tradition came about in later Greek history, because . The Antiochian tradition also uses the [[diocese|diocesan]] style metropolitan archbishop to differentiate from metropolitan bishops of ancient sees (which in the Greek world are pretty much all of them) came to be styled metropolitanstradition.

The Slavonic and Antiochian Churches continue to follow change in the older Greek tradition, where an archbishop is a senior bishop came about in charge of a major seelater Greek history, and a metropolitan is a bishop in charge because the diocesan bishops of a province ancient sees (which may in the Greek [[diaspora]] include a number of minor and/or major seesmost) came to be styled metropolitans, short for "metropolitan bishops."

In The Slavonic and Antiochian churches continue to follow the Greek older tradition, all diocesan bishops (with where an archbishop is a few exceptions) are now metropolitanssenior bishop in charge of a major see, and an archbishop holds his title as an indication a metropolitan is a bishop in charge of a province which may include a number of greater importance for whatever reasonminor and/or major sees.

===Non-ruling bishops===A bishop who does not rule his own diocese is either a Patriarchal Vicar or an Auxilliary Auxiliary Bishop.

=== Patriarchal Vicars vicars===''Main Article: [[Vicar]]''

In the [[Church of Antioch]], a bishop who is in charge of a newly-created diocese on behalf of, and under the supervision of, the Patriarch of Antioch is called a Patriarchal Vicar. The diocese is usually kept under the direct control of the patriarch until it becomes self-supporting. Patriarchal Vicars are not members of the [[Holy Synod]], and do not answer to the Holy Synod.

The equivalent title in the Roman Catholic Church is "Vicar Apostolic." ===Auxiliary bishops===''Main Article: [[Auxiliary bishop]]'' Most Orthodox Churches allow themselves the capacity to appoint auxiliary bishops to assist ruling bishops within their own dioceses or archdioceses. Auxiliary bishops do not govern in their own right but only act as directed by their diocesan bishop.

=== Auxilliary Bishops Titular bishops===''Main Article: [[Titular bishop]]''

Auxilliary Bishops who are significantly different from Patriarchal Vicarsassigned a title of ancient dioceses that no longer function are called titular bishops. The [[Diocese of Sourozh]], the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Great Britain and Ireland, is an example. However, generally, titular bishops are auxiliary bishops.

Most Orthodox Churches allow themselves ===Special forms===The primate of the capacity to appoint Auxilliary Bishops [[Church of Constantinople]] assumed the title Ecumenical Patriarch. The [[primate]] of the [[Church of Alexandria]] was granted the title Pope and Patriarch. The primate of the [[Church of Georgia]] recently amended his title from [[Catholicos]] to assist ruling bishops within their own dioceses or archdiocesesCatholicos-Patriarch.

=== The bishop wears a monastic garment called a [[mantiya]] when he arrives at a divine service. Unlike the typical monastic mantiya, which is black, that of the bishop is some other color, purple for bishops and Greek metropolitans, blue for archbishops and non-Greek metropolitans, and green for a patriarch, and upon it are sewn the Tables of the Law, square patches at the neck and feet, characterizing the Old and New Covenants. In addition, strips of cloth, called fountains, are sewn horizontally around the mantiya, representing the streams of teachings which flow from the bishop''Special Forms'' ===s mouth.

The primate of In the slavonic traditions, a ruling bishop is usually liturgically vested in the [[Church center of Constantinople]] assumed the title Ecumenical Patriarchhis church. The primate of In the [[Church of Alexandria]] was granted Greek traditions, bishops are often vested at the title Pope and Patriarchaltar. The primate of In the Antiochian tradition, the bishop usually vests in the [[Church of Georgia]] recently amended his title from Catholicos to Catholicos-Patriarchsanctuary.

In generalThe bishop wears a richly embroidered crown, when referring to called a hierarch, His [[miter|mitre]]. This is often used (e.g. His All Holiness, BARTHOLOMEW, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch visited Tarpon Springs, Florida in January of 2006). When speaking to represent the power conferred upon a hierarch Your is often used (Your Eminence, I'm so glad to see you!)minister of the Church.

Bishop Together with his [[Tikhon pectoral cross]], the bishop also wears a small, circular icon of the Savior or of the Mother of God, called the [[Panagia (Fitzgeraldvestment) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and the WestPanagia]] (All-Holy), or [[OCAEngolpion]]) wrote a short memo on the [http://www.holy-trinity.org/general/conventions, over his heart.html ''Conventions of writing This is to a hierarch'']remind him that he must always bear in his heart our Lord and his Holy Mother, and thus his own heart must be pure.

== BishopAn episcopal staff called a [[crosier|crozier]] is carried by the bishop, as a shepherd's Vestments ==crook, to be reminiscent that he is a shepherd of Christ's flock. It has a cross at the top, just above a double crook. This double crook is sometimes in the shape of serpents' heads, symbolizing the serpent lifted up by [[Moses]] in the wilderness. (Now Christ lifted up on the Cross.)

==See alsoLiturgical items==At services in the Slavic traditions, the bishop stands on a small round or oval rug, called [[orlets]], upon which is represented an eagle hovering over a city. This symbolizes his rule over a city and the eagle reminds the bishop that by his teaching and life he must rise above his flock and be an example of one hopeful to the things of heaven. In the Greek traditions, the bishop sits or stands at the [[cathedra|bishop's throne]] on the south side of the church, on the [[solea]]. The back of the chair of this throne has an icon depicting Christ the King, and the bishop will first venerate this icon before occupying the throne.

* At times during the services, the bishop blesses the faithful with two candlesticks, one with two candles called [[:Category:Images dikiri]] and the other with three called [[trikiri]], the first symbolizing the two natures of Christ, the other symbolizing the three persons of Hierarchsthe [[Holy Trinity]].