== Holy orders==
It is the belief of Orthodoxy that [[Christ]] is the only priest, pastor and teacher of the 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 his [[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'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.
The primate of the [[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 Catholicos-Patriarch.
<!--- == Bishop's Vestments == ''Main Article: [[Vestments]]'' The bishop wears a monastic garment, call 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, usually red or blue, 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's mouth. A bishop is liturgically vested in the center of the church. Liturgically, except for the [[phelonion]] and the [[nabedrennik]], a bishop wears all the vestments of a priest. The phelonion was at first part of the bishop's vestments but was replaced by a garment, similar to the deacon's [[sticharion]], called a [[saccos]] a garment of humility. As Christ's robe was without seam, the bishop as an icon of Christ, wears the saccos either sewn or buttoned at the sides. Over the saccos, the bishop wears a wide shoulder covering called the [[omophorion]]. It hangs down in front and back, and symbolizes the wandering sheep which Christ took upon his shoulders as the Good Shepherd. In ancient times, was made of sheepskin. At other times at services, the Bishop may wear a shorter omophorion that has both ends hanging down the front called the small omophorion The Bishop wears a richly embroidered crown, called a [[mitre]]. This is to represent the power conferred upon a minister of the Church. Together with his [[Pectoral cross]], the bishop also wears a small, circular Icon of the Savior or of the Mother of God, called the [[Panagia]] (All--->Holy), or [[Engolpion]], over his heart. This is to remind him that he must always bear in his heart our Lord and his Holy Mother, and thus his own heart must be pure. An episcopal staff called a [[crozier]] is carried by the bishop, as a shepherd's 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 serpent's heads, symbolizing the serpent lifted up by [[Moses]] in the wilderness. (Now Christ lifted up on the Cross.) ==Liturgical items==At services, 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. At times, during the services, the bishop blesses the faithful with two candlesticks one with two candles called [[dikiri]] and the other with three called [[trikiri]], the first symbolizing the two natures of Christ, the other symbolizing the three persons of the [[Holy Trinity]].
==See also==