 Roughly, the titles archpriest (in Greek "archipresbyteros"), protoiereus ( "protoiereus", "protopresbyteros"), protopope may be taken as meaning the same thing, though they have occasionally been distinguished.The general idea is that the archpriest has the highest rank in his order; he comes immediately after the bishop.In the fifth century he appears as head of the college of priests, as the bishop's delegate for certain duties of visitation and canonical judgment, as his representative in case of absence or death ("sede vacante").