Easbuig

Easbuig is the Scottish Gaelic term for bishop, a clerical rank with episcopal authority in Christian churches. In Gaelic-speaking regions it is used to designate bishops who oversee dioceses, administer sacraments such as ordination and confirmation, and represent the church in liturgical and pastoral matters. The term appears in Gaelic translations of religious texts, church documents, and news reporting on bishops within Catholic and Anglican communities. In Scotland, Easbuig is most commonly encountered in discussions of the Catholic Church and the Scottish Episcopal Church; the Church of Scotland, being Presbyterian, does not use the term for its leadership.

Etymology and cognates: Easbuig derives from the Latin episcopus, adapted into Gaelic forms. Its Irish Gaelic cognate is often rendered as easpag, and related Goidelic languages show parallel development of the episcopal title. The Gaelic form Easbuig reflects historical processes of Latin liturgical influence and local phonological patterns in the Gaelic-speaking world.

Historical context: In medieval and early modern Gaelic-speaking realms, bishops were important religious, political, and cultural figures, participating in governance, education, and ecclesiastical scholarship. Gaelic annals and hagiographies reference Easbuig figures who led churches, advised rulers, or authored religious works. Over time, the term has remained in use where episcopal structures are present, particularly within Catholic and Anglican traditions.

Contemporary usage: Today, Easbuig is used in Gaelic-language media, liturgy, and ecclesiastical discourse to refer to bishops in the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church. In regions and communities where Gaelic is spoken, the term helps preserve linguistic and cultural ties to ecclesiastical life, even as church structures evolve.