In the early development of Christianity, the bishops called the head of the small community of believers who served as officers in any of the cities and provinces.Such a definition of the word meant the Apostle Paul says in his letters on common activities for the bishops and the apostles, but the difference of the first sedentary and itinerant life of the past.Over time, the word "bishop" has acquired an excellent value among the other powers of the priesthood, rising to diaconal and prosviterskoy degree.
value determination
Bishop - is "nadsmatrivayuschy" in Greek, a priest belonging to the third - highest - degree of the priesthood.However, over time, a large number of honorary titles, equal to the bishop - the pope, patriarch, metropolitan bishop.Often speech Bishop - Bishop is from the Greek "chief priest."In the Greek Orthodox general term for all these definitions is the word hierarchy (svyaschennonachalnik).
According to the speeches of the Apostle Paul, the bishop - is Jesus Christ, whom he literally calls the bishop to "Hebrews".
Episcopal consecration
Features episcopal ordination as the ordination is to recognize the Christian Orthodox and Catholic churches of apostolic succession of the bishopric.The rite of ordination is carried out at least two bishops (cathedral), the necessity of this condition indicates the first Apostolic Canon;in the Russian Orthodox Church to the role of the bishop is traditionally selected applicants of Friars Minor schema, and Eastern Christian churches - out of widowers-priests or bezbrachnikov.
custom Mandatory celibacy of the bishops to the 7th century and was perceived rate was fixed at 12 and 48 rules Trullan sobo.However, if future bishop already had a wife, a couple of good will disperse, and after ordination ex-wife was sent to a remote convent took monastic vows - and the monastery moved under the direct patronage of the new bishop.
Duties Bishop
Together with the acquisition of a new - higher - rank, the bishop, there are many other duties.
Firstly, only he had the right to exercise ordained elders, deacons, sub-deacons, the lower clergy and cover corporals.In the diocese of everything a priest perform their service with the blessing of the bishop - his name is raised in all churches of the dioceses during worship.By tradition, the Byzantine Empire in the Orthodox Church the only sign of the blessing of the bishop of the service is outstanding priest antimis - quadrangular handkerchief of cloth fabric with sewn into it relics of a saint.
second duty of the bishop was the protection and equitable management of all monasteries, situated on the territory of his diocese.The only exceptions are stavropegic, reporting directly to the patriarch of the local church.
Episcopate in Orthodoxy
history of the episcopate in the Russian Orthodox Church has its roots in the 3rd century AD, when the Scythians Christians who lived in present-day Russia, led by St. Andrew the whole community created Scythian eparchy of the Ecumenical Church with the department inDobrogea.
Russian history is replete with conflicts existing between the Russian princes and representatives of Christian dioceses.Thus, it is known fruitless visit Adalbert - Envoy of the Pope, the future Archbishop of Magdenburgskogo - in Kiev, which was held in 961.
In 988, the Patriarch of Constantinople Nicholas II Hrisovergom to Russia to Kiev was sent to the first Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, Michael, who was invited to St. Prince Vladimir of faith for making Greek Russian people.
Orthodox priest are normally appointed for bishop Patriarch of Constantinople church.But several cases of local elections.So, the first Russian Metropolitan Hilarion of Kiev nationality was.
history also tells us about the future course of avtokefalizatsii and separation from the Russian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
So, for their political support and loyalty to the Bishop Niphon Byzantine tradition in the process of division of the Kiev Patriarch of Constantinople granted atonomiyu Novogorodskoy diocese.Thus, the bishop became directly elected during the national Chamber novogorodtsami.The first bishop appointed to the episcopate in this way, became the archbishop Arkady Novogorodsky in 1156.From the 13th century on the basis of the autonomy of the first conflicts start novogorodskih bishops and grand princes of Moscow.
final schism of the Orthodox Church in the eastern and western branches occurred in 1448 after the election of Bishop Iona of Ryazan for the post of Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, which also completely isolate the northeastern Russian Church (Moscow bishops) of Constantinople.But West Russian bishops, preserving autonomy from Moscow, continued to be composed under the jurisdiction of Constantinople.
is interesting to know that in the Orthodox canonical tradition exists regarding the age limit of candidates for the post of bishop, the bottom bracket that does not fall below 35 - the land 25 years - old.The exception here is Nicholas, built in the rank of bishop boys.
In the Orthodox tradition, adopted a rule how to handle the bishop - used treatment "Lord", "His Grace" or "Your Grace."
Episcopate in Catholicism
central place in the management of the Roman Catholic Church belongs to the college of bishops, the existence and responsibilities of which were registered in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Second Vatican Council 21 November 1964.President of the board is a Pope who has full authority over the Church and serves as Vicar of Christ on earth.However, only funding the college of bishops with the Pope makes it lawful activity and godly.The pope is also the sole owner of the sovereign territory of the Vatican and the supreme ruler of the Holy See.
special place in the system of governance of the Roman Catholic Church belongs to the bishop of Rome, whose status has evolved over the centuries in line with total control of the Church in all spheres of society.
Model Catholic bishop, who is represented by a photo on the right, and has the exclusive right to perform the rite of Confirmation - Confirmation.
Bishop Protestantism
In connection with the denial of the Protestant doctrine of apostolic succession, the Bishop is elected and is perceived as the only teams prostestanskimi figure organizational activities, not related to the praise of his existence and not having any material privileges.This is due to the lack of difference in the New Testament between the bishops and presbyters of the Christian community.
Protestant Orthodox priest, even occupying the post of administrative and organizational, should be as close as a layman, and to the higher powers.
Protestanstky Bishop - is the presiding pastor ordained to the rank of deacons and elders, presiding at conferences, monitors the order in the Church, and to visit all the parishes of his diocese.
in Anglican churches protestanstkih bishops are considered the successors of the apostles, and therefore in their dioceses, they are full of sacred power.
Bishop Vladimir and his service to the community
bishops of the Orthodox Church are known for their active participation in public life.
For example, the Metropolitan of Kiev and Galicia, a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir (Epiphany in the world) during a cholera epidemic in the Volga region fearlessly visited the barracks with cholera patients, conducted at the funeral service of cholera cemeteries, city squares served as prayers for deliverance from the scourge.Women also actively open church schools.
Life of Bishop Longin
Bishop Longin - Mikhail Zhar in the world - not only supervised the construction of many monasteries in Ukraine, but also actively engaged in the construction and expansion of the orphanage.He started the construction in 1992 after being adopted by a girl with AIDS.Bishop Longin has a large number of civilian awards for his services to the Fatherland.
activities of Bishop Ignatius
can not ignore the figure of the Lord Ignatius (in the world Punina), chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs.Bishop Ignatius directs the Orthodox spiritual center in the structure of which there are Sunday school for adults and children, children with disabilities, on the basis of the parish church in honor of the New Martyrs and Confessors Russian possessing a computer lab, a library and a gym.
