![[bishop]](ncd01296.jpg "detail from a 14th century painting of a bishop administering Confirmation; Rogier van der Weyden; please do not write to ask about the image")
(Greek: episkopos, overseer)
Divinely instituted member of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and successor of the Apostles. The Sacrament of Orders, i.e., consecration, confers on bishops spiritual power in the Church, and imprints on their souls an indelible spiritual character. In the hierarchy of orders they are superior to priests; in the hierarchy of jurisdiction by Christ's will, they rule a diocese, in due dependence and submission to the Roman pontiff.
Notable occurences of bishops in art include
Saint Ambrose of Milan- bishop holding a church in his hand
- Saint Juvenal of Narni
- bishop holding a chalice
- bishop with a sword in his teeth
patrons of bishops
New Catholic Dictionary