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The '''bishop''' is the first and highest degree of the [[clergy]] in the [[Orthodox Church]] (Επίσκοπος επίσκοπος or ''episkopos'' in Greek, which means overseer).

== 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.

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

==Male Monastics 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.

== 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 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 , 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.

A '''ruling bishop''' or '''Diocesan Bishopdiocesan 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.".

== Rankings of Bishops bishops==

=== Patriarchs ===

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

Much later the term was granted to the heads of other most significant Churcheschurches. Significance for some Churches churches now, may be more historical than actual.

=== Archbishops and Metropolitans ===

The change in the Greek tradition came about in later Greek history, because the diocesan bishops of ancient sees (which in the Greek [[diaspora]] are pretty much all of theminclude most) came to be styled metropolitans, short for "metropolitan bishops."

The Slavonic and Antiochian Churches churches continue to follow the older tradition, where an archbishop is a senior bishop in charge of a major see, and a metropolitan is a bishop in charge of a province which may include a number of minor and/or major sees.

In the Greek tradition, all diocesan bishops of Autocephalous autocephalous churches such as the Church of Greece (the bishop of Patras being Metropolitan) are now metropolitans, and an archbishop holds his title as an indication of greater importance for whatever reason. The [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] is the notable exception in the Greek practice where diocesan bishops carry the title of Metropolitanmetropolitan. In other churches under the Jurisdiction jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] such as the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]] the ruling bishop is the Archbishop archbishop while the other bishops are auxiliary bishops with titles of the ancient sees. === Non Ruling Bishops ===

=== Patriarchal Vicars vicars===

The equivalent title in the Roman Catholic Church is "Vicar Apostolic."

=== Auxiliary Bishops bishops===

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

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

===Titular Bishopsbishops===

Bishops who are assigned a title of ancient dioceses that no longer function are called Titular Bishopstitular 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.  === Special Forms ===

== Bishop's Vestments Hierarchical vestments==

The bishop wears a monastic garment, call called a [[Mantiyamantiya]] when he arrives at a divine service. Unlike the typical monastic Mantiyamantiya, which is black, that of the Bishop bishop is some other color, usually red or purple for bishops and Greek metropolitans, bluefor 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 Mantiyamantiya, representing the streams of teachings which flow from the Bishopbishop's mouth.

A 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 churchbishop 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 [[saccossakkos]] (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 bishop may wear a shorter omophorion that has both ends hanging down the front called the small omophorion

The Bishop 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 pectoral cross]], the bishop also wears a small, circular Icon 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 cross at the top, just above a double crook. This double crook is sometimes in the shape of serpentserpents's heads, symbolizing the serpent lifted up by [[Moses]] in the wilderness. (Now Christ lifted up on the Cross.)

At servicesin the Slavic traditions, the bishop stands on a small round or oval rug, called [[Orletsorlets]], 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 [[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]].