Eparchies

An eparchy is an ecclesiastical territory in some Eastern Christian churches, particularly those in communion with Rome (like the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It is roughly equivalent to a diocese in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. The head of an eparchy is an eparch, who is a bishop. The term "eparchy" itself is derived from the Greek word ἐπαρχία (eparchía), meaning province or district, and was originally used in the Roman Empire to denote a civil administrative unit. In the context of the Church, it signifies the jurisdiction of a bishop over a specific geographical area and its faithful. The eparchy is the fundamental territorial unit within these Eastern Churches, and its administration follows the traditions and canon law of the particular church to which it belongs. The eparch is responsible for the spiritual guidance, pastoral care, and administrative oversight of their eparchy, including the ordination of priests and deacons, the administration of sacraments, and the management of church property.