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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 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.

Sacramentally==Male monastics only==In the Orthodox Church, all from about the sixth century, it has been the rule that bishops are equalsingle men or widowers. Nevertheless, there Bishops are distinctions also usually in at least the first degree of administrative rank among bishops[[monastic]] orders.

=== ''Diocesan Bishops'' =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 the [[Holy Spirit]].

A bishop 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 governs his own diocese or archdiocese acts as teacher, good shepherd, forgiver, and healer. It is a diocesan bishopChrist remitting sins, and curing the physical, mental, and spiritual ills of mankind. He may be called 'Bishop' or 'Archbishop' or 'Metropolitan' or 'Metropolitan Archbishop' or 'Patriarch'This is a mystery of the Church.

=== Patriarchs =Ruling bishop==A '''ruling bishop''' or '''diocesan bishop''' is responsible for and the head of all the [[parish]]es located in his a particular geographical territory, called a [[diocese]] or [[archdiocese]]. 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. Saint [[Ignatius of Antioch|Ignatius the God-bearer of Antioch]] went so far as to state that "he who acts without the bishop's knowledge is in the devil's service."

The title [[patriarch]] is reserved for the [[primate]] of certain of the [[autocephalous]] Orthodox churches. The first hierarch of the other autocephalous churches are styled metropolitan He may be called ''Bishop'' or archbishop ''Archbishop'' or metropolitan archbishop''Metropolitan'' or ''Metropolitan Archbishop'' or ''Patriarch''.

The title patriarch was first applied to the original three major sees ==Rankings of Romebishops==Sacramentally, Alexandriaall bishops are equal. Nevertheless, and Antioch, and shortly after extended to include Constantinople and Jerusalemthere are distinctions of administrative rank among bishops.

The title patriarch was first applied to the original three major [[see]]s of archbishop or metropolitan may be granted [[Church of Rome|Rome]], [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]], and [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]], and shortly after extended to a senior bishop, usually one who is in charge include [[Church of a large ecclesiastical jurisdiction. He may or may not have provincial oversight Constantinople|Constantinople]] and [[Church of suffragan bishopsJerusalem|Jerusalem]] (cf. He may or may not have auxilliary bishops assisting him[[Pentarchy]]).

In Much later the Slavonic and Antiochian traditions, a metropolitan outranks an archbishop. The reverse is the situation in term was granted to the Greek traditionheads of other most significant churches. The Antiochian tradition also uses the style metropolitan archbishop to differentiate from metropolitan bishops in the Greek traditionSignificance for some churches now may be more historical than actual.

===Archbishops and Metropolitans===The change title of archbishop or metropolitan may be granted to a senior bishop, usually one who is in the Greek tradition came about in later Greek history, because the charge of a large ecclesiastical [[diocese|diocesanjurisdiction]] . He may or may not have provincial oversight of suffragan bishops of ancient sees (which in the Greek world are pretty much all of them) came to be styled metropolitans. He may or may not have [[auxiliary bishop]]s assisting him.

The In the Slavonic and Antiochian Churches continue to follow the older traditiontraditions, where a [[metropolitan]] outranks an archbishop . The reverse is a senior bishop the situation in charge of a major see, and a the Greek tradition. The Antiochian tradition also uses the style metropolitan archbishop to differentiate from metropolitan is a bishop bishops in charge of a province which may include a number of minor and/or major seesthe Greek tradition.

In The change in the Greek traditioncame about in later Greek history, all because the diocesan bishops of ancient sees (with a few exceptionswhich in the Greek [[diaspora]] include most) are now came to be styled metropolitans, and an archbishop holds his title as an indication of greater importance short for whatever reason"metropolitan bishops."

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

===Patriarchal Vicarsvicars===''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.

When a diocese becomes self-supporting, it is usually granted a ruling bishop who becomes a member of the Holy Synod.

The equivalent title in the Roman Catholic Church some Orthodox jurisdictions is Vicar Apostolic[[Exarch]].

Most Orthodox Churches allow themselves the capacity to appoint Auxilliary Bishops auxiliary bishops to assist ruling bishops within their own dioceses or archdioceses.

Auxilliary Bishops Auxiliary bishops do not govern in their own right but only act as directed by their diocesan bishop.

=== Titular bishops===''Special FormsMain Article: [[Titular bishop]]'' ===

Bishops who are assigned a title of ancient dioceses that no longer function are called titular bishops. The primate of the [[Church Diocese of ConstantinopleSourozh]] assumed , the title Ecumenical Patriarch. The primate diocese of the [[Russian Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] was granted the title Pope (Moscow Patriarchate) in Great Britain and PatriarchIreland, is an example. The primate of the [[Church of Georgia]] recently amended his title from Catholicos to Catholicos-PatriarchHowever, generally, titular bishops are auxiliary bishops.

== Etiquette =====CorrespondenceSpecial forms===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.

In general, when referring to a hierarch, His 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 a hierarch Your is often used (Your Eminence, I==Hierarchical vestments==''Main Article: [[Vestments]]''m so glad to see you!).

Bishop The bishop wears a monastic garment called a [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) mantiya]] when he arrives at a divine service. Unlike the typical monastic mantiya, which is black, that of San Francisco the bishop is some other color, purple for bishops and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald) Greek metropolitans, blue for archbishops and non-Greek metropolitans, and green for a patriarch, and upon it are sewn the Tables of San Francisco 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 West]] ([[OCA]]) wrote a short memo on mantiya, representing the [http://www.holy-trinity.org/general/conventions.html ''Conventions streams of writing to a hierarch'teachings which flow from the bishop']s mouth.

In the slavonic traditions, a ruling bishop is usually liturgically vested in the center of his church. In the Greek traditions, bishops are often vested at the altar. In the Antiochian tradition, the bishop usually vests in the sanctuary. 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 [[sakkos]] (also ''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 [[miter|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 (vestment)|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 [[crosier|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 serpents' heads, symbolizing the serpent lifted up by [[Moses]] in the wilderness. (Now Christ lifted up on the Cross.) == BishopLiturgical 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 Vestments ==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 [[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]].

* [[:Category:Images of Hierarchs]]

[[Categoryel:ClergyΕπίσκοπος]][[fr:Évêque]][[mk:Епископ]][[ro:Episcop]]