Diocese vs. Eparchy — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 21, 2024
A diocese is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church, while an eparchy is its equivalent in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
Difference Between Diocese and Eparchy
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A diocese is a territorial division of the Roman Catholic Church overseen by a bishop. It includes a group of parishes and is the basic unit of administration in the church's hierarchical structure. An eparchy, on the other hand, is a similar territorial division but used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Like a diocese, it is headed by a bishop, who is referred to as an eparch.
While a diocese is commonly associated with the Western (Latin) Church, an eparchy pertains to the Eastern Christian traditions. Both serve the purpose of organizing and managing the church's activities and ensuring pastoral care, but they belong to different branches of Christianity.
A diocese operates within the structures of the Roman Catholic Church, whereas an eparchy functions within the framework of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. This distinction highlights the cultural and liturgical differences between Western and Eastern Christianity.
Comparison Chart
Church Tradition
Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches
Headed By
Bishop
Eparch (bishop)
ADVERTISEMENT
Territorial Division
Group of parishes
Group of parishes
Administrative Role
Spiritual guidance and governance
Spiritual guidance and governance
Cultural Context
Western (Latin) Christianity
Eastern Christianity
Compare with Definitions
Diocese
A unit of church administration.
The diocese has various programs for community outreach.
Eparchy
A district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
The Eparchy of Kyiv is a major center of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Diocese
A district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Diocese of New York is led by a cardinal.
Eparchy
An ecclesiastical territory in Eastern Christianity.
The eparch oversees the spiritual well-being of his eparchy.
Diocese
Area of a bishop’s jurisdiction.
Each diocese is divided into smaller parishes.
Eparchy
Church's regional division in Eastern rites.
The faithful in the eparchy gather for major feasts and celebrations.
Diocese
An ecclesiastical territory.
The bishop oversees all the parishes within the diocese.
Eparchy
Area of an eparch’s jurisdiction.
The eparchy provides support for various educational programs.
Diocese
Church's regional division.
The diocese organized a pilgrimage for its members.
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word (Koinē Greek: ἐπαρχία, romanized: eparchía, lit. 'overlordship', Byzantine Greek pronunciation: [e.parˈçi.a]; abstract noun formed from intensive prefix ἐπι-, epi-, lit. 'over-' + ἄρχειν, árchein, lit. 'to be ruler'), authentically Latinized as eparchia, which can be loosely translated as the rule or jurisdiction over something, such as a province, prefecture, or territory. It has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian churches.
Diocese
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
Eparchy
A diocese of an Eastern Orthodox Church.
Diocese
The district or churches under the jurisdiction of a bishop; a bishopric.
Eparchy
A district of the Roman Empire at the third echelon.
Diocese
Administrative division of the later Roman Empire, starting with the tetrarchy.
Eparchy
An administrative sub-provincial unit in post-Ottoman independent Greece.
Diocese
(religion) Region administered by a bishop.
Eparchy
In pre-schism Christian Church, a province under the supervision of the metropolitan.
Diocese
The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority.
Eparchy
In Eastern Christendom, a diocese of a bishop.
Diocese
The territorial jurisdiction of a bishop
Eparchy
A province, prefecture, or territory, under the jurisdiction of an eparch or governor; esp., in modern Greece, one of the larger subdivisions of a monarchy or province of the kingdom; in Russia, a diocese or archdiocese.
Eparchy
A province in ancient Greece
Eparchy
A diocese of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eparchy
A unit of church administration.
The eparchy includes several monasteries and parishes.
Common Curiosities
Which church uses the term diocese?
The term diocese is used in the Roman Catholic Church.
Which church uses the term eparchy?
The term eparchy is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
What is an eparchy?
An eparchy is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
How are diocese and eparchy similar?
Both are territorial divisions of the church headed by a bishop and serve as basic administrative units.
Who leads a diocese?
A bishop leads a diocese.
What is a diocese?
A diocese is a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.
What is the cultural context of a diocese?
A diocese operates within the context of Western (Latin) Christianity.
What is the cultural context of an eparchy?
An eparchy operates within the context of Eastern Christianity.
Who leads an eparchy?
An eparch, or bishop, leads an eparchy.
Is the role of a bishop in a diocese the same as an eparch in an eparchy?
Yes, both roles involve spiritual guidance and governance of their respective territories.
Are eparchies found in the Roman Catholic Church?
No, the Roman Catholic Church uses the term diocese for its territorial divisions.
Do both dioceses and eparchies include multiple parishes?
Yes, both are composed of multiple parishes.
Do dioceses and eparchies have different administrative structures?
The structures are similar but tailored to their respective church traditions.
Are dioceses found in Eastern Orthodox Churches?
No, Eastern Orthodox Churches use the term eparchy instead of diocese.
Can a bishop be referred to as an eparch in the Roman Catholic Church?
No, in the Roman Catholic Church, bishops are not referred to as eparchs.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Disappointment vs. Frustration
Next Comparison
Sewage vs. DrainageAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
