Changes

{{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 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 unity of the lower orders Church throughout the world by insuring the truth and unity of clergy is derived from the faith and practice of 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.  According to [[Canon law|Church Law]], bishops of an area must meet in [[council]]s. When doing so, the metropolitan or patriarchate presides administratively. No divine services may be served  ==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 any Orthodox temple without at least the authorization first degree of a bishop[[monastic]] orders.

== Episcopal Ministry 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]].

== Rankings 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.

Sacramentally==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, all bishops are equalcalled a [[diocese]] or [[archdiocese]]. All authority of the lower orders of clergy is derived from the bishop. Nevertheless, there are distinctions No divine services may be served in any Orthodox temple without the authorization of administrative rank among bishopsa 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 Much later the term was granted to the [[primate]] heads of certain of the [[autocephalous]] Orthodox other most significant churches. The first hierarch of the other autocephalous Significance for some churches are styled metropolitan or archbishop or metropolitan archbishopnow may be more historical than actual.

===Archbishops and Metropolitans===The title patriarch was first applied of archbishop or metropolitan may be granted to the original three major sees a senior bishop, usually one who is in charge of a large ecclesiastical [[jurisdiction]]. He may or may not have provincial oversight of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch, and shortly after extended to include Constantinople and Jerusalemsuffragan bishops. He may or may not have [[auxiliary bishop]]s assisting him.

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

The title of Slavonic and Antiochian churches continue to follow the older tradition, where an archbishop or metropolitan may be granted to is a senior bishopin charge of a major see, usually one who and a metropolitan is a bishop in charge of a large ecclesiastical jurisdiction. He province which may or may not have provincial oversight include a number of suffragan bishops. He may minor and/or may not have auxilliary bishops assisting himmajor sees.

In the Slavonic Greek tradition, all diocesan bishops of autocephalous churches such as the Church of Greece (the bishop of Patras being Metropolitan) are now metropolitans, and Antiochian traditions, a metropolitan outranks an archbishopholds his title as an indication of greater importance for whatever reason. The reverse [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] is the situation notable exception in the Greek traditionpractice where diocesan bishops carry the title of metropolitan. The Antiochian tradition also uses In other churches under the jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] such as the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]] the ruling bishop is the style metropolitan archbishop to differentiate from metropolitan while the other bishops are auxiliary bishops in with titles of the Greek traditionancient sees.

The change in the Greek tradition came about in later Greek history, because the [[===Non-ruling bishops===A bishop who does not rule his own diocese|diocesan]] bishops of ancient sees (which in the Greek world are pretty much all of them) came to be styled metropolitansis either a Patriarchal Vicar or an Auxiliary Bishop.

In the Greek tradition[[Church of Antioch]], all diocesan bishops (with a few exceptions) 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 now metropolitansnot members of the [[Holy Synod]], and an archbishop holds his title as an indication of greater importance for whatever reasondo not answer to the Holy Synod.

A ===Auxiliary bishops===''Main Article: [[Auxiliary bishop who does not rule his own diocese is either a Patriarchal Vicar or an Auxilliary Bishop.]]''

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 Auxiliary bishops do not answer to the Holy Synodgovern in their own right but only act as directed by their diocesan bishop.

When a diocese becomes self-supporting, it is usually granted a ruling ===Titular bishops===''Main Article: [[Titular bishop who becomes a member of the Holy Synod. ]]''

Bishops who are assigned a title of ancient dioceses that no longer function are called titular bishops. The equivalent title in some Orthodox jurisdictions is [[ExarchDiocese 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===The equivalent primate of the [[Church of Constantinople]] assumed the title Ecumenical Patriarch. The [[primate]] of the [[Church of Alexandria]] was granted the title in Pope and Patriarch. The primate of the Roman Catholic [[Church is Vicar Apostolicof Georgia]] recently amended his title from [[Catholicos]] to Catholicos-Patriarch.

===Auxilliary Bishops=Hierarchical vestments==''Main Article: [[Vestments]]''

Auxilliary Bishops 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 significantly different 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 Patriarchal Vicarsthe bishop's mouth.

Most Orthodox Churches allow themselves In the capacity to appoint Auxilliary Bishops to assist slavonic traditions, a ruling bishop is usually liturgically vested in the center of his church. In the Greek traditions, bishops within their own dioceses or archdiocesesare often vested at the altar. In the Antiochian tradition, the bishop usually vests in the sanctuary.

Auxilliary Bishops do not govern in their own right 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 only act as directed was replaced by their diocesan 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.

The primate of the bishop wears a richly embroidered crown, called a [[Church of Constantinoplemiter|mitre]] assumed the title Ecumenical Patriarch. The primate of the [[Church of Alexandria]] was granted This is to represent the title Pope and Patriarch. power conferred The primate upon a minister of the [[Church of Georgia]] recently amended his title from Catholicos to Catholicos-Patriarch.

In generalAn episcopal staff called a [[crosier|crozier]] is carried by the bishop, when referring to as a hierarchshepherd's crook, His to be reminiscent that he is often used (ea shepherd of Christ's flock.gIt has a cross at the top, just above a double crook. His All Holiness, BARTHOLOMEW, Archbishop This double crook is sometimes in the shape of Constantinopleserpents' heads, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch visited Tarpon Springs, Florida symbolizing the serpent lifted up by [[Moses]] in January of 2006)the wilderness. When speaking to a hierarch Your is often used (Your Eminence, I'm so glad to see you!Now Christ lifted up on the Cross.).

Bishop [[Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and Los Angeles|Tikhon (Fitzgerald) of San Francisco and ==Liturgical items==At services in the Slavic traditions, the West]] (bishop stands on a small round or oval rug, called [[OCAorlets]]) wrote , upon which is represented an eagle hovering over a city. This symbolizes his rule over a short memo on city and the eagle reminds the [http://www.holy-trinity.org/general/conventions.html ''Conventions bishop that by his teaching and life he must rise above his flock and be an example of writing one hopeful to a hierarch'']the things of heaven.

== BishopIn 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.

==See also== * 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]].