How Do You Spell METROPOLITE?

1. Metropolite is a noun referring to a high-ranking bishop or archbishop who oversees a metropolitan diocese or province. The term is derived from the Greek word "metropolis," meaning mother city or chief city, and is commonly used in the context of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

   In ecclesiastical terms, a metropolite is the primate of an ecclesiastical province, which comprises a group of dioceses or bishoprics. The metropolite has authority over the dioceses within the province, serving as their overseer and spiritual leader. They may have additional responsibilities such as consecrating bishops, administering sacraments, and adjudicating disputes within the province.

   The metropolite holds a position of honor and influence within the church hierarchy, often serving as an intermediary between the local clergy and the higher ecclesiastical authorities. They play a pivotal role in maintaining church discipline, preserving the religious traditions of the region, and fostering unity among the dioceses under their jurisdiction.

   In some cases, the title of metropolite may be granted as an honorary designation to bishops who are not necessarily in charge of an ecclesiastical province. This is seen, for example, in the Russian Orthodox Church, where certain bishops are referred to as metropolites despite not having provincial authority.

   Overall, a metropolite is an important figure in the Eastern Orthodox Church, tasked with the spiritual and administrative oversight of a particular province or region within the church's structure.

2. Archbishop; bishop of the mother church.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for METROPOLITE

The word "Metropolite" is derived from the Greek term "metropolitēs" (μητροπολίτης), which is a combination of two words: "mētēr" (μήτηρ) meaning "mother" and "polis" (πόλις) meaning "city". In ancient Greece, the term referred to the governor or ruler of a mother city or a capital city.

Over time, the term was adopted in Christian contexts, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church, to refer to the bishop of a metropolitan or an important city. The Metropolitan bishop typically exercises authority over multiple dioceses within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Thus, the word "Metropolite" has its roots in ancient Greek and has evolved through different cultural and religious contexts to its current usage in the ecclesiastical hierarchy.