Lexicon index Lexicon
Bishop
Overseer — the fullness of the priesthood, successor of the Apostles, center of unity for the local Church.
The bishop (episkopos, overseer) holds the fullness of the apostolic priesthood and is the center of unity for his local church. In Orthodox ecclesiology, each local church gathered around its bishop is the full presence of the Catholic Church in that place. Bishops alone ordain; they preside over councils; they sign the antimension authorizing the celebration of the Eucharist.