Christian bishop
Ordained church overseer
A Christian bishop is a senior clergy member who oversees a diocese or region of churches, ranking above priests and deacons in hierarchical denominations.
Bishops typically have authority to ordain clergy, confirm members, and govern church affairs.
The role varies significantly across traditions—Catholic and Orthodox bishops claim apostolic succession, while some Protestant denominations use the title more loosely or reject it entirely.
The bishop visited our parish for confirmations.
- mitrePointed clerical headwear
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- early church fathersFoundational Christian theologians, antiquity
- crossPass from side to side
- robeLong loose outer garment
ordination · Holy See · cardinal · cope · holy orders · patriarch · crozier · confirmation · Nicene Creed · staff · canon law · presbyter · cathedral · seat of power · synod · consecration · Eucharist · vestment
Christian bishoplayperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
deacon · parish priest · parishioner · curate · congregant
Christian bishoprabbi
Jewish spiritual leader
imam · ayatollah · mullah · Buddhist monk · lama
Christian bishopgovernment official
State-employed administrator
mayor · governor · king · emperor · politician
Christian, Christianity, Christianize, Christendom, Christ, bishop, bishops, bishopric, bishoprics