Plural of archbishop; the highest-ranking bishops in charge of large territories or provinces in the Christian Church.
From arch- (chief) + bishop (from Greek episkopos 'overseer'). An archbishop literally means 'chief bishop.' The term solidified in medieval Christianity to denote bishops who oversaw other bishops. Still used in modern Christian hierarchies.
The rank of archbishop is basically a 'bishop with people management responsibilities'—they don't just oversee a territory, they oversee other bishops. It's the middle management of the religious world, busy reporting to the Pope and managing complaints from below.
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