A bishop is the successor to the Apostles in the service and
government of the Church. The bishop thus serves in place and as a type of
Christ in the Church. No bishop in Orthodoxy is considered infallible. None has
any authority over or apart from his priests, deacons, and people or the other
bishops. They have the responsibility of maintaining the unity of the Church
throughout the world by insuring the truth and unity of the faith and practice
of their diocese. The bishop represents his diocese to the other churches or
dioceses, and represents the Universal Church to his own priests, deacons, and
people.