Protopope

The ecclesiastical title of archpriest, traditionally archpresbyter or protopresbyter, belongs to certain priests with supervisory duties over one or several parishes in the Eastern Orthodox Church (and some Eastern Catholic). The archpriest is somewhat analogous to the dean (vicar forane) in the Latin Church. The Orthodox archpriest is conferred the title via liturgical ceremony and wears a specific vestment and typically a pectoral cross. In early Christianity, the archdeacon (Greek: αρχιδιάκονος/archidiákonos) was the head of the deacons of an eparchy/diocese, as is still the case in the Eastern Orthodox Church, while the archpriest (protopresbyter) was the chief of the priesthood in the eparchy ("presbyterium" in Latin usage). The latter's duties included assisting the bishop in spiri...