Stanley, Ap. Age, 63-77; Neander, Planting, etc., i, 168; Cunningham, Hist. Theol. ch.viii. Seealso Episcopacy. II. Ecclesiastical Usages respecting J 'lishops. — 1. Names and Titles. — In the early centuries the following titles were employed with reference to the bishops: The scriptural appellations Trpdiarafxtvoi, TtpotaTwrtg (see 1 Thess. v, 12; 1 Tim. v, 17) were translated into Latin by praqjositi (whence our word provost), and were retained by the Greek fathers. We have also antistites and jmesules, used in the same signification. In nearly the same sense was the term irpotdpoi, praz- sidentes, presidents, used ; t(popoi, inspectors ; angeli ec- clesia, angels of the churches. Summi sacerdotes and pontifices maximi owe their origin to the practice of de- ducing the ecclesiastical constitution from the priest of the Hebrew temple. They are also called patrcs, patres ecclesia', patres clericorum, and patres patrum, fathers, fathers of the Church, fathers of the clergy, and fathers of the fathers. In early times they were called patriarchs, as being the superiors of the presby- ters; afterward the title became equivalent to arch- bishop. In allusion to their appointment by Christ, they were called vicars of Christ. This title was as- sumed by many bishops before its exclusive appropri- ation by the bishop of Rome. In some early writers we meet with the term dpxovreg ii;icXi](Tuov, governors or rulers of the churches. Various other epithets are applied to them, such as blessed, most blessed, holy, most holy. In the Roman Church, the English Church, and the Protestant Episcopal Church of America, bishops are now styled right reverend. In England they belong to the House of Lords, and are styled lord. In the Methodist Episcopal Church they are simply styled rev- erend, like other ordained ministers.
2. Classes. — The episcopal order in some churches is divided into four degrees, the same as to order, but differing in jurisdiction, viz. : (1.) Patriarchs of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, etc. ; (2.) Primates, as the Archbishop of Canterbury, etc. ; (3.) Metropolitans, bishops of capital cities ; and (4.) Simple bishops. The Roman Church recognises in the pope & fifth order, that of sovereign pontiff, or head of the whole Church. We meet also with classes of inferior bishops. Among these may be mentioned vacui, vacantes, bishops without cures. Some of these had vacated their office in times of persecution or re- ligious commotion. Titular bishops, episcopi in parti- bus, or in partibas infidelium, are invested with office, but with no stated charge or diocese. Suffragans are such as are appointed to act as the assistants or sub- stitutes of the metropolitans. They derive their name either from the fact that they cannot be consecrated without the suffrage of the metropolitan, or because they possess the right of suffrage in the synods (see Dufresne, s. v. Suffragid). Diocesan bishops who are impeded by sickness or old age from discharging their duties receive a coadjutor, who, as long as he has not received the episcopal consecration, is called episcopus designatus. The term country bishops, Ywp£7T<Wo7rot, rural bishops, occurs in the older writers. They ap- pear to have been subject to a city bishop, and to have acted as his colleagues. The derivation of the word is disputed ; some derive it from chorus, xopoc, a choir of singers ; others from the appellation cor episcopi, heart of the bishop, as the archdeacon was sometimes called. The true etymon seems to be \o>pa or ywpiov, a coun- try. Their peculiar duties were to give letters of peace or testimonials; to superintend the affairs of the Church in their district ; to appoint ecclesiastical officers, read- ers, exorcists, etc. ; and to ordain presbyters and dea- cons, but not without the permission of the city bishop. The name ceases to be found in history about the twelfth century, and their place was supplied by arch- deacons and rural deans.
3. Insignia. — The insignia of the episcopal office were a ring, emblematical of the bishop's espousals to the Church — it was called annulus sponsalitius ; the pastor-
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ul staff, bent or crooked at the top; the mitre or fillet, j vacant see, in the early ages, was with the clergy and sometimes called crown, diadem,iiara; gl> r, s, chirothccce, j people of the diocese (Balsamon, ad Can. 13 Cone. always worn daring the performance of any religious . Laod. p. 834), who, having made their choice, referred
office : sandals — no one could celebrate the Eucharist without these ; caliga, or boots— in ancient warfare they were a part of the soldier's equipments, and, when worn by a bishop, pointed out the spiritual warfare on which he bad entered ; pallium, the pall; pectorals, the breastplate. The pallium was so peculiar and distinc- tive that its name was often used to denote the person or office of a bishop. It was first worn by bishops, but afterward by archbishops, metropolitans, and pa- triarchs only. The form of the pallium in the earli- est times is not known; subsequently it was made of wliite linen, without seam, and was worn hanging down over the shoulders. In the twelfth century it was made of wool. Previous to the eighth century it bad four purple crosses on it, and was fastened by three gold pins. The cross, like the Hebrew pectoral, was worn on the neck or breast, and was also carried