Metropolitan bishop

A metropolitan bishop (or metropolitan) is a type o bishop in some Christian denominations wi an episcopal polity (a kirk ruled by bishops).

In the early Christian Church, a metropolitan wis the bishop o the main city in a Roman province. The First Council of Nicaea (in AD 325) gied him special authority ower ither bishops in that area. The ither bishops war later cried suffragan bishops.

In modern times, a metropolitan bishop is the heid bishop o a metropolitan see (the main diocese o a church province). He aften hauds the title o archbishop, sae is cried a metropolitan archbishop. In some kirks, sic as the Church of Greece, aw dioceses are cried metropolises, an aw thair bishops are cried metropolitans. The main heidyin o the kirk alane is cried an archbishop.