An exarchate is a concept with both historical, secular and contemporary, ecclesiastical significance.
Historically, an exarchate was a large administrative area or province within the Byzantine Empire.
It was governed by an exarch (from the Greek exarkhos, "leader"), who was a high-ranking civil and military governor, appointed by the emperor himself.
The affairs of the exarchate are managed by a board consisting of an exarch, chairman, and the exarchate's comturs and the ordinary members of the comturies, but at least four people. Exarchs are elected for three years, others who need to be elected for the board to be complete are elected for one year. The elections of the comtur, ordinary member and deputy to the exarchate's board and other comtury representatives take place in the respective comtury and are confirmed at the exarchate's annual meeting. The election of the exarch and comtur shall, after confirmation at the exarchate's annual meeting, also be approved by the Order's leadership.
The Exarchate's regular activities consist of annual meetings and Knights' Days. According to the statutes, the annual meeting must be held before the end of April and the Knights' Days are held annually on the last weekend in September. The different commanderies alternate as organizers, which is why the locations for the activities vary.