Pronunciation: [ˈɛpɑːki] (IPA) 
Eparchy is a word that refers to a jurisdictional territory in the Christian church. It is pronounced as 'e-puh-kee' with a primary stress on the second syllable 'puh'. The first syllable 'e' is pronounced as in the word 'end', while the second syllable 'puh' is pronounced as in the word 'put'. The final syllable 'kee' is pronounced as in the word 'key'. The IPA phonetic transcription for the word 'eparchy' would be /ˈɛpəki/.
An eparchy is a term primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christian traditions to define a geographic area that is managed by a bishop or metropolitan. It is essentially equivalent to a diocese or archdiocese in the Western Christian tradition.
In the Eastern Christian context, an eparchy is typically comprised of multiple parishes or local congregations that are under the spiritual and administrative authority of a bishop. The term originated from the Greek word "eparchia," which means "rule over" or "administration."
Eparchies are responsible for overseeing the religious and administrative affairs of their respective regions. This includes appointing and supervising priests, ensuring the spiritual well-being of the faithful, managing the allocation of resources, and approving the establishment of new parishes or monastic communities. The bishop or metropolitan of an eparchy also serves as the primary teacher and shepherd of the local Christian community, offering guidance, sacramental services, and pastoral care to the faithful.
Eparchies exist within larger ecclesiastical structures known as patriarchates or autocephalous churches, which typically encompass multiple eparchies. This hierarchical organization allows for the efficient governance and coordination of the Church's activities across different regions and jurisdictions.
The word "eparchy" originates from the Greek term "eparkhia", which can be broken down into two components: "epi" meaning "on", and "arkhein" meaning "to govern" or "to rule". In the context of the Eastern Orthodox Church, an "eparchy" refers to a diocese or administrative division governed by a bishop.
