exarch

ex·arch ¹  (ksärk)

n.

1. A bishop in the Eastern Orthodox Church ranking immediately below a patriarch.

2. The ruler of a province in the Byzantine Empire.

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[Late Latin exarchus, an overseer, from Greek exarkhos, from exarkhein, to lead : ex-, ex- + arkhein, to rule.]

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ex·archal adj.

exarchate (ksärkt), exarchy (-k) n.

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exarch

1. in the early church, the head of a major diocese or province.
2. a bishop inferior to a patriarch but superior to a metropolitan.
3. a deputy of a patriarch, either a priest or a bishop.
4. the head of an autonomous church. — exarchal, adj.

See also: Eastern Orthodoxy

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	exarch - a bishop in one of several Eastern Orthodox Churches in North America bishop - a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
	2.	exarch - a bishop in eastern Christendom who holds a place below a patriarch but above a metropolitan bishop - a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
	3.	exarch - a viceroy who governed a large province in the Roman Empire viceroy, vicereine - governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign