Often, when we visit a temple or find out news about events taking place in the religious world, we come across the term “diocese”. This word, or rather its meaning, often baffles many people. What is meant by the word "diocese"? Let us examine this problem in more detail.
The meaning of the word "diocese"
Before turning to dictionaries and church acts, let us clarify where the term that interests us comes from. "Diocese" is a word of Greek origin. Part “epi” is translated as “above, above,” and “arche” means “power.” We can say that the literal translation of this term is some kind of domain.
The dictionaries say that the diocese is one of the main units of the administrative-territorial division of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was created for local government. It is headed by a bishop who is always elected by the Synod after receiving the corresponding decree of the Patriarch. The Russian Orthodox Church is divided into these separate units according to the territorial principle. As a rule, each city has its own diocese. In total, the structure of the Russian Orthodox Church includes more than 200 such units.
The composition of the diocese
This part of the RIC includes many other religious institutions. The charter of the Russian Orthodox Church includes the following units in this category:
- churches;
- diocesan institutions;
- parishes;
- deanery;
- monasteries;
- farmsteads, theological educational institutions;
- brotherhood and sisterhood;
- mission
- monastery monasteries.
The composition of the diocese and its borders shall be established by the Holy Synod, and then by the Council of Bishops. There are also special controls within this unit. The ROC is subordinate to many dioceses that are located not only in Russia and neighboring countries, but also exist around the world, including the European, American and Asian continents.
The composition of the Russian Orthodox Church
The entire Russian Orthodox Church is divided into separate parts. It consists of numerous dioceses, metropolises, exarchates, metropolitan districts, autonomous and self-governing churches, brotherhoods and sisterhoods, missions, vicariates, synodal institutions, monasteries, parishes and deaneries. The Orthodox Church also includes theological educational institutions, representative offices and courtyards. Thus, we can say that the diocese is one of the main parts of the Russian Orthodox Church, which includes many religious institutions, created for the convenience of organizing local government.