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Eparchy

January 09, 2023

For other uses, see Eparchy (disambiguation).

Eparchy (Greek: ἐπαρχία, Latin: eparchía / overlordship) is an ecclesiastical unit in Eastern Christianity, that is equivalent to a diocese in Western Christianity. Eparchy is governed by an eparch, who is a bishop. Depending on the administrative structure of a specific Eastern Church, eparchy can belong to an ecclesiastical province (usually a metropolis), but it can also be exempt. Each eparchy is divided into parishes, in the same manner as a diocese in Western Churches. Historical development of eparchies in various Eastern Churches was marked by local distinctions, that can be observed in modern ecclesiastical practices of Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches.[1]

Terminology

The English word eparchy is an anglicized term,[2] that comes from the original Greek word (Koinē Greek: ἐπαρχία, romanized: eparchía, lit. 'overlordship', Byzantine Greek pronunciation: [e.parˈçi.a]). It is an abstract noun, formed with an intensive prefix (ἐπι-, epi-, lit. 'over-' + ἄρχειν, árchein, lit. 'to be ruler'). It is commonly Latinized as eparchia. The term can be loosely translated as the rule over something (literally: an overlordship). The term had various meanings and multiple uses throughout history, mainly in politics and administration, starting from the Hellenistic period, and continuing throughout the Roman era.[3][4]

In the Greco-Roman world, it was used as a Greek equivalent for the Latin term provincia, denoting province, the main administrative unit of the Roman Empire. The same use was employed in the early Byzantine Empire, until major administrative reforms, that were undertaken between the 7th and 9th centuries, abolishing the old provincial system. In modern times, the term was also employed within administrative systems of some countries, like Greece and Cyprus.[5]

Since it was commonly used as the main Greek designation for an administrative province of the Roman Empire, the term eparchy consequently gained an additional use among Greek-speaking Christians, denoting ecclesiastical structures on the provincial level of Church administration, within Eastern Christianity. Such terminological borrowing resulted from the final consolidation of the provincial (metropolitan) system in the 4th century. The First Ecumenical Council (325) confirmed (Canon IV)[6] that all bishops of each civil province should be grouped in one ecclesiastical province, headed by a metropolitan (bishop of the provincial capital). Since civil provinces were called eparchies in Greek, the same term was used to define ecclesiastical provinces. Such use became customary, and metropolitan provinces came to be known as eparchies.[7][8][9]

Eastern Orthodox Churches

 
Eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church
 
Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church

Throughout the late antiquity and the early medieval period, within Eastern Orthodox terminology, the term eparchy remained a common designation for a metropolitan province i.e. metropolis (Greek: μητρόπολις, Latin: metropolis).

During the later medieval period, terminology started to shift, particularly within the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The process of title-inflation, that was affecting Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy, also gained momentum in ecclesiastical circles. In order to promote centralization, patriarchal authorities started to multiply the numbers of metropolitans by elevating local bishops to honorary metropolitan ranks without giving them any real metropolitan powers, and making them directly appointed and thus more dependent on Constantinople. As a consequence, the use of the word eparchy was expanded to include not only proper metropolitan provinces, but also the newly created honorary metropolitan sees, that were no real provinces, and thus no different then simple bishoprics except in honorary titles and ranks. In spite of that, such honorary metropolitan sees also came to be called eparchies. This process was systematically promoted, thus resulting in a major terminological shift.[10]

 
Eparchies of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
 
Eparchies of the Georgian Orthodox Church

Since the fragmentation of the original metropolitan provinces into several titular metropolises, that were also referred to as eparchies, the Patriarchate of Constantinople became more centralized, and such was structure remains up to the present day.[11] Similar ecclesiastical terminology is also employed by other autocephalous and autonomous Churches within Eastern Orthodox community. In those who are non-Greek, term eparchy is used in local variants, and also has various equivalents in local languages.

Eparchies of the main Eastern Orthodox Churches:

Eastern Catholic Churches

In the Eastern Catholic Churches, eparchy is equivalent to a diocese of the Roman Rite, and its bishop is called an eparch (equivalent to a diocesan of the Roman Rite). At the same time, archeparchy is equivalent to an archdiocese of the Roman Rite, and its bishop is called an archeparch (equivalent to an archbishop of the Roman Rite).[1]

Individual eparchies of some Eastern Catholic Churches may be suffragan to Latin-rite metropolitans. For example, the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Križevci is suffragan to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zagreb.[12] Also, some minor Eastern Catholic churches have Latin prelates. For example, the Macedonian Greek Catholic Church is organized as a single Eparchy of Strumica-Skopje, whose present ordinary is the Roman Catholic bishop of Skopje.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Nedungatt 2002, p. 228.
  2. ^ Stevenson 2010, p. 588.
  3. ^ Vitale 2012.
  4. ^ Vitale 2016, p. 82-111.
  5. ^ Mason 1974, p. 81, 84-86, 138-139.
  6. ^ First Ecumenical Council (325): Canon IV
  7. ^ Meyendorff 1989, p. 55.
  8. ^ Cross & Livingstone 2005, p. 552.
  9. ^ Ohme 2012, p. 37.
  10. ^ Meyendorff 1989.
  11. ^ Eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Επαρχίες Οικουμενικού Θρόνου)
  12. ^ David M. Cheney. "Diocese of Križevci". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  13. ^ David M. Cheney. "Eparchy of Beata Maria Vergine Assunta in Strumica-Skopje". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 2019-04-24.

Sources

  • Cross, Frank L.; Livingstone, Elizabeth A., eds. (2005) [1957]. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd rev. ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Kiminas, Demetrius (2009). The Ecumenical Patriarchate: A History of Its Metropolitanates with Annotated Hierarch Catalogs. Wildside Press LLC.
  • Mason, Hugh J. (1974). Greek Terms for Roman Institutions: A Lexicon and Analysis. Toronto: Hakkert.
  • Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.
  • Nedungatt, George, ed. (2002). A Guide to the Eastern Code: A Commentary on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. Rome: Oriental Institute Press.
  • Ohme, Heinz (2012). "Sources of the Greek Canon Law to the Quinisext Council (691/2): Councils and Church Fathers". The History of Byzantine and Eastern Canon Law to 1500. Washington: CUA Press. pp. 24–114.
  • Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
  • Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010) [1998]. Oxford Dictionary of English (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Vitale, Marco (2012). Eparchie und Koinon in Kleinasien von der ausgehenden Republik bis ins 3. Jh. n. Chr. Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt Verlag.
  • Vitale, Marco (2016). "Priest—Eparchy-arch—Speaker of the Ethnos: The Areas of Responsibility of the Highest Officials of the Eastern Provincial Imperial Cult". Mnemosyne. 69 (1): 82–111.

External links

 
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Eparch".
  •   The dictionary definition of eparchy at Wiktionary
  • Catholic Encyclopedia (1909): Adrian Fortescue: Eparchy
  • Map with all Dioceses of the Eastern Churches

January 09, 2023
eparchy, other, uses, disambiguation, greek, ἐπαρχία, latin, eparchía, overlordship, ecclesiastical, unit, eastern, christianity, that, equivalent, diocese, western, christianity, governed, eparch, bishop, depending, administrative, structure, specific, easter. For other uses see Eparchy disambiguation Eparchy Greek ἐparxia Latin eparchia overlordship is an ecclesiastical unit in Eastern Christianity that is equivalent to a diocese in Western Christianity Eparchy is governed by an eparch who is a bishop Depending on the administrative structure of a specific Eastern Church eparchy can belong to an ecclesiastical province usually a metropolis but it can also be exempt Each eparchy is divided into parishes in the same manner as a diocese in Western Churches Historical development of eparchies in various Eastern Churches was marked by local distinctions that can be observed in modern ecclesiastical practices of Eastern Orthodox Churches Oriental Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches 1 Contents 1 Terminology 2 Eastern Orthodox Churches 3 Eastern Catholic Churches 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksTerminology EditThe English word eparchy is an anglicized term 2 that comes from the original Greek word Koine Greek ἐparxia romanized eparchia lit overlordship Byzantine Greek pronunciation e parˈci a It is an abstract noun formed with an intensive prefix ἐpi epi lit over ἄrxein archein lit to be ruler It is commonly Latinized as eparchia The term can be loosely translated as the rule over something literally an overlordship The term had various meanings and multiple uses throughout history mainly in politics and administration starting from the Hellenistic period and continuing throughout the Roman era 3 4 In the Greco Roman world it was used as a Greek equivalent for the Latin term provincia denoting province the main administrative unit of the Roman Empire The same use was employed in the early Byzantine Empire until major administrative reforms that were undertaken between the 7th and 9th centuries abolishing the old provincial system In modern times the term was also employed within administrative systems of some countries like Greece and Cyprus 5 Since it was commonly used as the main Greek designation for an administrative province of the Roman Empire the term eparchy consequently gained an additional use among Greek speaking Christians denoting ecclesiastical structures on the provincial level of Church administration within Eastern Christianity Such terminological borrowing resulted from the final consolidation of the provincial metropolitan system in the 4th century The First Ecumenical Council 325 confirmed Canon IV 6 that all bishops of each civil province should be grouped in one ecclesiastical province headed by a metropolitan bishop of the provincial capital Since civil provinces were called eparchies in Greek the same term was used to define ecclesiastical provinces Such use became customary and metropolitan provinces came to be known as eparchies 7 8 9 Eastern Orthodox Churches Edit Eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church Throughout the late antiquity and the early medieval period within Eastern Orthodox terminology the term eparchy remained a common designation for a metropolitan province i e metropolis Greek mhtropolis Latin metropolis During the later medieval period terminology started to shift particularly within the Patriarchate of Constantinople The process of title inflation that was affecting Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy also gained momentum in ecclesiastical circles In order to promote centralization patriarchal authorities started to multiply the numbers of metropolitans by elevating local bishops to honorary metropolitan ranks without giving them any real metropolitan powers and making them directly appointed and thus more dependent on Constantinople As a consequence the use of the word eparchy was expanded to include not only proper metropolitan provinces but also the newly created honorary metropolitan sees that were no real provinces and thus no different then simple bishoprics except in honorary titles and ranks In spite of that such honorary metropolitan sees also came to be called eparchies This process was systematically promoted thus resulting in a major terminological shift 10 Eparchies of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Georgian Orthodox Church Since the fragmentation of the original metropolitan provinces into several titular metropolises that were also referred to as eparchies the Patriarchate of Constantinople became more centralized and such was structure remains up to the present day 11 Similar ecclesiastical terminology is also employed by other autocephalous and autonomous Churches within Eastern Orthodox community In those who are non Greek term eparchy is used in local variants and also has various equivalents in local languages Eparchies of the main Eastern Orthodox Churches Eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Eparchies of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria Eparchies of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antiochia Eparchies of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Serbian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Romanian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Georgian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Cypriot Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Orthodox Church of Greece Eparchies of the Polish Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Albanian Orthodox Church Eparchies of the Czech and Slovak Orthodox ChurchEastern Catholic Churches EditIn the Eastern Catholic Churches eparchy is equivalent to a diocese of the Roman Rite and its bishop is called an eparch equivalent to a diocesan of the Roman Rite At the same time archeparchy is equivalent to an archdiocese of the Roman Rite and its bishop is called an archeparch equivalent to an archbishop of the Roman Rite 1 Individual eparchies of some Eastern Catholic Churches may be suffragan to Latin rite metropolitans For example the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Krizevci is suffragan to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zagreb 12 Also some minor Eastern Catholic churches have Latin prelates For example the Macedonian Greek Catholic Church is organized as a single Eparchy of Strumica Skopje whose present ordinary is the Roman Catholic bishop of Skopje 13 See also EditEparchy Roman province Eparchy Byzantine province Eparchy modern Greece Eparchy modern Cyprus References Edit a b Nedungatt 2002 p 228 Stevenson 2010 p 588 Vitale 2012 Vitale 2016 p 82 111 Mason 1974 p 81 84 86 138 139 First Ecumenical Council 325 Canon IV Meyendorff 1989 p 55 Cross amp Livingstone 2005 p 552 Ohme 2012 p 37 Meyendorff 1989 Eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Eparxies Oikoymenikoy 8ronoy David M Cheney Diocese of Krizevci Catholic Hierarchy Retrieved 2018 04 16 David M Cheney Eparchy of Beata Maria Vergine Assunta in Strumica Skopje Catholic Hierarchy Retrieved 2019 04 24 Sources EditCross Frank L Livingstone Elizabeth A eds 2005 1957 The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 3rd rev ed Oxford Oxford University Press Kiminas Demetrius 2009 The Ecumenical Patriarchate A History of Its Metropolitanates with Annotated Hierarch Catalogs Wildside Press LLC Mason Hugh J 1974 Greek Terms for Roman Institutions A Lexicon and Analysis Toronto Hakkert Meyendorff John 1989 Imperial unity and Christian divisions The Church 450 680 A D Crestwood NY St Vladimir s Seminary Press Nedungatt George ed 2002 A Guide to the Eastern Code A Commentary on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches Rome Oriental Institute Press Ohme Heinz 2012 Sources of the Greek Canon Law to the Quinisext Council 691 2 Councils and Church Fathers The History of Byzantine and Eastern Canon Law to 1500 Washington CUA Press pp 24 114 Ostrogorsky George 1956 History of the Byzantine State Oxford Basil Blackwell Stevenson Angus ed 2010 1998 Oxford Dictionary of English 3rd ed Oxford Oxford University Press Vitale Marco 2012 Eparchie und Koinon in Kleinasien von der ausgehenden Republik bis ins 3 Jh n Chr Bonn Dr Rudolf Habelt Verlag Vitale Marco 2016 Priest Eparchy arch Speaker of the Ethnos The Areas of Responsibility of the Highest Officials of the Eastern Provincial Imperial Cult Mnemosyne 69 1 82 111 External links Edit Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Eparch The dictionary definition of eparchy at Wiktionary Catholic Encyclopedia 1909 Adrian Fortescue Eparchy Map with all Dioceses of the Eastern Churches Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eparchy amp oldid 1116820544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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