The title given, in some denominations, to the chief bishop or archibishop of a province who resides in its capital city. The practice began in the 4th Cent when the Church had won official recognition and starting planting centres of missionary interests in major cities. The word is derived from the Greek word metropolis (from matre 'mother,' and polis 'city').
Ordinarily the word is also an adjective signifying 'belonging to a major city.'
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