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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  ==Episcopal ministry== A bishop is the [[Apostolic succession|successor ]] to the [[Apostles ]] in the service and government of the Church. A '''ruling The bishop''', is responsible for thus serves εις τόπον και τύπον Χριστού (in place and the head as a type of all Christ) in the parishes located Church. No bishop in Orthodoxy is considered infallible. None has any authority over or apart from his diocesepriests, deacons, and people or the other bishops. All authority They have the responsibility of maintaining the lower orders unity of clergy is derived from the bishop. No divine services may be served in any Orthodox temple without Church throughout the world by insuring the truth and unity of the authorization faith and practice of a their diocese. The bishoprepresent 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 of Bishops Male monastics only==In the Orthodox Church, from about the sixth century, it has been the rule that bishops are single men or widowers. Bishops are also usually in at least the first degree of [[monastic]] orders.

Sacramentally==Holy orders==It is the belief of Orthodoxy that [[Christ]] is the only priest, pastor, all bishops are equaland teacher of the Christian Church. NeverthelessHe alone forgives sins and offers communion with [[God]], there are distinctions of administrative rank among bishopshis [[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 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."

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

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 =Special 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.

===Correspondence=Hierarchical vestments==''Main Article: [[Vestments]]''

In general, The bishop wears a monastic garment called a [[mantiya]] when referring to he arrives at a hierarchdivine service. Unlike the typical monastic mantiya, which is black, His that of the bishop is often used (e.g. His All Holinesssome other color, BARTHOLOMEWpurple for bishops and Greek metropolitans, Archbishop blue for archbishops and non-Greek metropolitans, and green for a patriarch, and upon it are sewn the Tables of Constantinoplethe Law, square patches at the neck and feet, characterizing the Old and New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch visited Tarpon SpringsCovenants. In addition, Florida in January strips of 2006). When speaking to a hierarch Your is often used (Your Eminencecloth, called fountains, are sewn horizontally around the mantiya, Irepresenting the streams of teachings which flow from the bishop'm so glad to see you!)s mouth.

Bishop [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and In the West]] ([[OCA]]) wrote slavonic traditions, a short memo on ruling bishop is usually liturgically vested in the [http://wwwcenter of his church.holy-trinity In the Greek traditions, bishops are often vested at the altar.org/general/conventions.html ''Conventions of writing to a hierarch'']In the Antiochian tradition, the bishop usually vests in the sanctuary.

== BishopLiturgically, 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 ==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.) ==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]].