المعنى الاصطلاحي

A title in Christianity for the clergyman above the priest and below the archbishop.

الشرح المختصر

"Usquf" (bishop) is clerical rank in the Christian church that is above the priest and below the archbishop. The "usquf" is responsible for a number of churches within a certain region, and he presides over the priests and archpriests in charge of those churches in the village or small town. He usually takes the largest church in the region as his seat. A special chair is placed for him in every church in recognition of his religious rank. He is chosen from among the monks. Above the rank of "usquf" is the "mitrān" (archbishop). He presides over the "usqufs" and supervises them. Above all of them is the "Baba" (pope) or "Batriyark" (patriarch). He is the head of all archbishops and "usqufs" and holds the highest clerical rank in the church.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Usquf": bishop; the chief clergyman in the Christian faith. It was also said that he is above the priest and below the archbishop. Derived from "saqaf", which means height with curvature. A bishop is called thus because he bows down to display humility in worship. It is also said to be a Greek word meaning "the overseer".

التعريف

A learned Christian person of religion holding a rank lower than that of pope and cardinal, and above that of vicar and curate.