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==Bishops in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches==
Bishops are especially prominent among the leadership of the [[Catholic Communion]], the [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]], the [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]], and the [[Anglican Communion]]. Bishops are generally responsible for leading a large or heavily-populated area (a [[diocese]], sometimes also called a ''bishopric'' or [[eparchy]]) and all the churches contained therein. Bishoprics in areas that were christianized early, especially around the [[Mediterranean Sea]], are usually much smaller than those in areas christianized later, such as Northen and Central Europe and most colonial areas.
However, certain bishops have other responsibilities or honorifics: * An [[archbishop]] is a bishop in charge of an [[archdiocese]], which is a prestigious diocese. The title is purely honorific and carries no extra jurisdiction, though some archbishops are also metropolitan bishops.
* A [[metropolitan bishop]] is an archbishop in charge of an [[ecclesiastical province]], or group of dioceses, and exercises some oversight over the other dioceses. Sometimes a metropolitan bishop may also be the head of an [[autocephalous]], ''[[sui juris]]'', or [[autonomous]] church.
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