Eparch

/ˈɛpɑːrk/ noun

Definition

A bishop in certain Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Christian churches, especially one who oversees a diocese or eparchy.

Etymology

From Greek epi- (over) + arkhia (rule). The term comes from early Christian ecclesiastical structure, particularly in Byzantine and Eastern churches.

Kelly Says

In the Catholic and Orthodox worlds, an eparch is basically a regional religious leader—it's the Greek equivalent of calling someone a bishop, and it shows how language reflects the split between Eastern and Western Christianity.

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