The term “bishop suffragan” is commonly used in the Christian religion, particularly in the Anglican Church. It refers to a bishop who assists the diocesan bishop in carrying out his or her duties. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of bishop suffragan, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
A bishop suffragan is a bishop who is appointed to assist the diocesan bishop in his or her duties. The term “suffragan” comes from the Latin word “suffragium,” which means “vote” or “support.” The bishop suffragan is not the same as an assistant bishop, who is also known as a bishop coadjutor. An assistant bishop is appointed to succeed the diocesan bishop when he or she retires or resigns.
Origin
The term “bishop suffragan” has its origins in the early Christian Church. In the early centuries of Christianity, the bishop of a diocese was assisted by a group of bishops known as suffragans. These suffragans were responsible for assisting the diocesan bishop in carrying out his or her duties, such as ordaining priests and deacons and administering the sacraments.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a bishop suffragan is “a bishop elected or appointed to assist a diocesan bishop and to succeed him or her in the event of a vacancy.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines a bishop suffragan as “a bishop who assists the diocesan bishop in the administration of a diocese.”
Associations
In the Anglican Church, a bishop suffragan is a member of the House of Bishops and is appointed by the diocesan bishop. The bishop suffragan is responsible for assisting the diocesan bishop in carrying out his or her duties, such as overseeing the spiritual life of the diocese, ordaining priests and deacons, and administering the sacraments.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of bishop suffragan include assistant bishop, coadjutor bishop, and auxiliary bishop.
Antonyms
The antonym of bishop suffragan is diocesan bishop, who is the bishop in charge of a diocese.
The same root words
The root words of bishop suffragan are “bishop” and “suffragan.” A bishop is a member of the Christian clergy who is responsible for overseeing the spiritual life of a diocese. Suffragan comes from the Latin word “suffragium,” which means “vote” or “support.”
Example Sentences
- The diocesan bishop appointed a bishop suffragan to assist him in carrying out his duties.
- The bishop suffragan was responsible for ordaining the new priests and deacons in the diocese.
- The bishop suffragan will succeed the diocesan bishop in the event of a vacancy.
In conclusion, a bishop suffragan is a bishop who is appointed to assist the diocesan bishop in carrying out his or her duties. The term has its origins in the early Christian Church and is commonly used in the Anglican Church today. The bishop suffragan is responsible for overseeing the spiritual life of the diocese, ordaining priests and deacons, and administering the sacraments.