Editing Eparchy (section)

{{Short description|Diocese in Eastern Christianity}}
{{other uses|Eparchy (disambiguation)}}

'''Eparchy''' ({{langx|el|ἐπαρχία}} ''eparchía'' "overlordship") is an [[Ecclesiology|ecclesiastical]] unit in [[Eastern Christianity]] that is equivalent to a [[diocese]] in [[Western Christianity]]. An eparchy is governed by an ''eparch'', who is a [[bishop]]. Depending on the administrative structure of a specific Eastern Church, an eparchy can belong to an [[ecclesiastical province]] (usually a [[Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolis]]), but it can also be exempt. Each eparchy is divided into [[parish]]es, in the same manner as a diocese in Western Churches. Historical development of eparchies in various Eastern Churches was marked by local distinctions that can be observed in modern ecclesiastical practices of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]].{{sfn|Nedungatt|2002|p=228}}