Below is a summary to help learn the meaning and hierarchy of Orthodox ecclesiastical titles, including Patriarch, Metropolitan, Archbishop, Archimandrite, and more, across the various Orthodox jurisdictions worldwide.
Patriarch
This is the title borne by the heads of certain autocephalous (independent) Churches. The heads of the Churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Georgia, Jerusalem, Moscow, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania all bear this title. The Church of the OCA bears the title of Metropolitan.
Because of its historical location as the capital of the former Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and its role as the mother church of most modern Orthodox churches, Constantinople holds a special place of honor within Orthodoxy and serves as the seat for the Ecumenical Patriarch, who enjoys the status of primus inter pares (first among equals) among the world’s Eastern Orthodox prelates and is regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Ecumenical Patriarch also oversees the Greek Orthodox Church in America, the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Church the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in USA and the Albanian Orthodox Church.
In North America, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is represented primarily through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and several other jurisdictions under its omophorion. The Ecumenical Patriarch is served by an Archbishop, Metropolitans, and Bishops who oversee the faithful throughout their respective dioceses and metropolises.
The Patriarchate of Moscow, the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) likewise govern their North American dioceses through a hierarchy of Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops. The number of hierarchs within each jurisdiction varies over time as dioceses are established, merged, or reorganized and as bishops are elected, retired, or reassigned.
Other autocephalous Churches, including the Patriarchates of Serbia, Romania, Georgia, and Bulgaria, also maintain dioceses and bishops in North America, though their jurisdictions are generally smaller in size.
The heads of other Churches are entitled Archbishop, (Greece, Albania, Antioch, Cyprus) or Metropolitan (Poland, Czechoslovakia and the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
Metropolitan, Archbishop
Originally a Metropolitan was the bishop of the capital or province, while Archbishop was a more general title of honor given to Bishops of long tenure. The Church of Russia still uses these titles, but the Greek Churches gives the title Metropolitan to every Diocesan Bishop and the title Archbishop to those who would have been Metropolitan. In Greek churches, (Greece, Albania, Jerusalem, Antioch, Cyprus) the Archbishop ranks above a Metropolitan, whereas in the Slavic Churches, (Moscow ROCOR, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, OCA) the Metropolitan outranks the Archbishop.
Archimandrite
Originally this title was given to a Monk who was supervising several monasteries or was the superior of an especially important monastery. Now it is usually given as a title of honor for distinguished Priestmonks.
Abbot – Igumen
An Abbot/Igumen was the Superior person of a monastery. This is still true within the Greek Church, but in the Russian Church this is more often a title of honor given to Priestmonks. In the Russian Church an Igumen ranks below an Archimandrite.
Archpriest – Protopresbyter
These are titles of honor given to non-monastic Priests, and are generally equivalent to that of Archimandrite.
Hieromonk & Hierodeacon
A Hieromonk is a Monk (monastic) who happens to be a priest and a Hierodeacon is a monastic Deacon.
Archdeacon
This is a title of honor given to monastic Deacons – usually those who are attached to a Bishop.
Protodeacon
This is a title of honor given to Deacons – usually those who are attached to cathedrals or to Bishops.
Ordination is seen as an eternal appointment, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom, 11:29). Through the sacrament of Ordination, Christ entrusts to the “shepherd” the salvation of his peoples’ souls.
