Also 7 eparck. [a. Gr. ἔπαρχ-ος, f. ἐπ(ί) over + ἀρχός ruler.]
1. a. Hist. Used as equivalent to the L. præfectus prefect. b. In mod. usage: The governor of an eparchy or administrative division in the kingdom of Greece.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Eparch, the President of a Province.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F. (1846), V. liii. 245. The eparch or præfect of the city.
1827. Sir H. Taylor, Isaac Comnenus, II. iii. 83. The Eparchs will resort To the Bucoleon.
1884. J. T. Bent, in Macm. Mag., Oct., 431/2. These eparchs again look after the demarchs or mayors of the various towns.
2. Eccl. a. Hist. The metropolitan (bishop) of a province. b. In the Greek (Russian) Church: The metropolitan (bishop) of an eparchy.
1691. Grascome, Reply to Vind. Disc. Unreasonableness New Separ., 21. The African Fathers were such Enemies to the Titles of Eparck or Patriarck.
18823. Schaff, Encycl. Relig. Knowl., III. 1927. Under him [the patriarch] the eparchs in the provinces.
Hence Eparchate [see -ATE1] = next.
18823. Schaff, Encycl. Relig. Knowl., III. 1763. The three eparchates of Palestine.