View source for Titular bishop

A '''titular bishop''' is a [[bishop]] holding the title of a [[see]] which no longer politically exists or no longer has any Orthodox Christian flock.  Titular bishops usually serve as assistants to ruling bishops, similar to an [[auxiliary bishop]] but not holding a title which is within the territory of another bishop (which technically makes auxiliary bishops uncanonical).

The [[canon law|canonical]] origin of the titular episcopacy was in the recognition of the [[Ecumenical Councils]] of the legitimacy of bishops who could not reach their sees, due usually to the invasion of Muslims.