Bishop facts for kids
Bishop is a type of clergy in some Christian churches. The bishop is the leader of the Christians and the Christian priests in each diocese. The diocese which a bishop governs is called a bishopric. Episcopal is the adjective for bishops. A cathedral is the church building where the bishop has an episcopal throne. The cathedral is the main church of the diocese and the bishop's see. A bishop may be given the rank of archbishop in an archdiocese.
Christian priests in some denominations must be made priests by bishops. In these denominations, bishops are above parish priests in the hierarchy of the church's organization. However, some Protestant denominations have no bishops or archbishops. The Presbyterianism is an example. The leader of the Church of Scotland is the Moderator. The General Assembly elects the Moderator of the Church of Scotland each year. Other Christian movements have neither bishops nor priests: Quakers are one example.
In the Catholic church, the Pope is chosen by all the cardinals from amongst their number. According to church law, this does not have to be the case: any male, unmarried, baptized Christian who is judged fit for the office can become pope. However, the last pope who was not a bishop was Urban VI (elected in 1378).
The pope is also 'the Bishop of Rome'. In fact he rules an independent state within Rome, called the Vatican. All Roman Catholic bishops answer to the pope (or to patriarchs in some orthodox churches). In the Anglican church, bishops are governed by Archbishops.
Usually a bishop can be identified by a special hat, called a mitre.
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Terminology
The English term bishop derives from the Greek word ἐπίσκοπος, epískopos, meaning "overseer"; Greek was the language of the early Christian church. However, the term epískopos did not originate in Christianity. In Greek literature, the term had been used for several centuries before the advent of Christianity. It later transformed into the Latin episcopus, Old English biscop, Middle English bisshop and lastly bishop.
In the early Christian era the term was not always clearly distinguished from presbýteros (literally: "elder" or "senior", origin of the modern English word priest).
Related pages
Images for kids
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A 6th-century image of Saint Augustine, bishop of Hippo Regius.
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Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, student of John the Apostle
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A bishop administering Confirmation. Rogier van der Weyden, The Seven Sacraments, 15th century. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church the administration of Confirmation is normally reserved to the local bishop.
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Danish Lutheran bishops wearing a cope over cassock, surplice, ruff and pectoral cross.
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The consecrated bishop is the only minister of Holy Orders. Photo of pre-Vatican II ceremony.
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Katharine Jefferts Schori, The 26th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church (United States)
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Mikael Agricola (1510–1557), a Finnish Lutheran clergyman and the Bishop of Turku
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United Methodist Episcopal Shield
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Francis Asbury's ordination as bishop by Thomas Coke at the 1784 Christmas Conference.
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Eastern Rite Catholic bishops celebrating Divine Liturgy in their proper pontifical vestments
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An Anglican bishop with a crosier, wearing a rochet under a red chimere and cuffs, a black tippet, and a pectoral cross
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An Episcopal bishop immediately before presiding at the Great Vigil of Easter in the narthex of St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral in Boise, Idaho.
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Catholic bishop dressed for the Sacrifice of the Mass. No Pontifical gloves.
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See also
In Spanish: Obispo para niños
