Editing Eparchy (section)

==Terminology==
The [[English language|English]] word ''eparchy'' is an [[anglicize]]d term that comes from the original [[Greek language|Greek]] word ({{langx|grc-x-koine|{{Wikt-lang|grc|ἐπαρχία}}|eparchía|overlordship}}, {{IPA|grc-x-byzant|e.parˈçi.a|link=yes}}).{{sfn|Stevenson|2010|p=588}} It is an [[abstract noun]], formed with an [[intensive word form|intensive]] [[prefix]] ({{Wikt-lang|grc|ἐπι-}}, {{transliteration|grc|epi-}}, {{lit.|over-}} + {{Wikt-lang|grc|ἄρχω|ἄρχειν}}, {{transliteration|grc|árchein}}, {{lit.|to be ruler}}). It is commonly [[Latinization (literature)|Latinized]] as ''eparchia''. The term can be loosely translated as the rule over something (literally: an overlordship). The term had various meanings and multiple uses throughout history, mainly in politics and administration, starting from the [[Hellenistic period]], and continuing throughout the [[Roman era]].{{sfn|Vitale|2012|p=}}{{sfn|Vitale|2016|p=82-111}}

In the [[Greco-Roman world]], it was used as a Greek equivalent for the [[Latin language|Latin]] term ''provincia'', denoting [[Eparchy (Roman province)|province]], the main administrative unit of the [[Roman Empire]]. The [[Eparchy (Byzantine province)|same use]] was employed in the early [[Byzantine Empire]] until major administrative reforms that were undertaken between the 7th and 9th centuries, abolishing the old provincial system. In modern times, the term was also employed within administrative systems of some countries, like [[Eparchy (modern Greece)|Greece]] and [[Eparchy (modern Cyprus)|Cyprus]].{{sfn|Mason|1974|p=81, 84–86, 138–139}}

Since it was commonly used as the main Greek designation for an administrative province of the Roman Empire, the term ''eparchy'' consequently gained an additional use among Greek-speaking [[Christians]], denoting [[Ecclesiology|ecclesiastical]] structures on the provincial level of Church administration, within [[Eastern Christianity]]. Such terminological borrowing resulted from the final consolidation of the provincial (metropolitan) system in the 4th century. The [[First Ecumenical Council]] (325) confirmed (Canon IV)<ref>[https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.vii.vi.v.html First Ecumenical Council (325): Canon IV]</ref> that all bishops of each civil province should be grouped in one [[ecclesiastical province]], headed by a [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] (bishop of the provincial capital). Since civil provinces were called eparchies in Greek, the same term was used to define ecclesiastical provinces. Such use became customary, and metropolitan provinces came to be known as ''eparchies''.{{sfn|Meyendorff|1989|p=55}}{{fv|date=May 2025}}{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=552}}{{sfn|Ohme|2012|p=37}}