www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Saint Pontius Pilate

Dear Friends,

As many of us know, Pontius Pilate is venerated as a saint in Ethiopia, together with his wife, Claudia-Procla, on June 25th.

(The Byzantine Churches celebrate St Claudia-Procla alone . . .).

When the Latin Church formed the Ethiopian Catholic Church, this cult was suppressed immediately.

Should the Latin Church have done this? Why do you think it did it? Should Ethiopian Catholics insist on returning this saint to their calendar?

Alex

Is the Ethiopian Catholic Church sui juris? And if truly so, how is it that Rome is telling them whom to venerate?

In Christ,
Andrew

Dear Reader Andrew,

Ah, now that really is an interesting issue!

The principle Rome has followed with respect to Eastern Churches coming into communion with it is to accept any Saints glorified during the period of separation - except in the case of those Saints who were very much against Rome.

One of our priests, who is a canon lawyer, recently told me that even those Saints who were against Rome could be left in the calendar - but there would be no question of a public liturgical cult in their honour.

In the case of St Pontius Pilate, this wouldn't apply, since Pilate would have been very much in favour of Rome .

It seems to be a case of Rome considering this matter to be a local oddity, and an unacceptable one at that, which is probably why Pilate was expunged from the Ethiopian Catholic calendar.

I once contacted an Ethiopian priest who works at the Vatican - he basically told me that he accepts Rome's ruling on the matter.

In addition, he said that there is not one single church in Pilate's honour throughout Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Orthodox method of canonization has historically been one of building a church or chapel in honour of a saintly candidate - although today the Patriarchate will proclaim saints directly.

But I know from our Ethiopian Orthodox friends that the veneration of Sts. Pontius Pilate and Procla is strong.

Alex

Andrew,

The Church is sui iuris, but I believe that suppression of the feast occurred in the 1500s, during the Portuguese colonization and its accompanying forced conversion to Catholicism, long before the concept of self-governance.

Many years,

Neil

Dear Neil,

But "sui iuris" has never shielded EC Churches from Roman intrusion and intervention in their affairs.

And when the Ruthenian Kyivan Metropolia came into union with Rome, there was no question that the saints it had always venerated were to remain in the calendar.

The rights of "sui iuris" Churches are still ultimately what ROME says they are.

Alex

So, if I understand the issue correctly, St. Pontius Pilate is perhaps still sometimes venerated in the Ethiopian Catholic Church, but not permitted on the calendar. An important question is, "are icons of him strictly prohibited?" How strange, indeed, if they are not.

I have never seen a problem with diverse or even conflicting venerations and calendars. No one is ever required to venerate a saint, even though their community does. Also, for example, the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox have names which are saints on one party's calendar but heretics on the other's calendar.

This should not be an impediment to union. We do not BELIEVE IN the saints, we only venerate them. None of them are sinless and some of them even spouted what were then, and even now, considered to be doctrinal errors (I'm sure that they'll one day say that about me ). We still can venerate them because of those aspects of their lives that were Christ-centered and exemplary.

And in the east, we don't wait for canonization from above. If a local community wants to venerate a holy person known to them, preferably with the approval of their bishop, they may do so without a Patriarchal declaration of that person's holiness.

That's why I keep picture's of my wife around .

In Christ,
Andrew

Dear Andrew,

Well, your assessment is both pastorally and ecumenically sound, and historically insightful!

No one could tell an Ethiopian Catholic NOT to venerate this or that saint of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and not today.

And owing to Western incredulity at some of Ethiopia's practices, there is misinformation out there about that Church.

For example, some sources give that Alexander the Great was canonized a prophet in Ethiopia - not true. Others that Balaam of the OT is venerated a saint in Ethiopia - not true. But a lot of other things are true . . .

It was the Austro-Hungarian Empire that required the Greek Catholic Church to remove a number of "too Orthodox" icons and saints from its calendar in the 19th century - and these were later restored, especially under Pat. Josef Slipyj.

But in this case, it was a matter of "What do you mean you consider Pilate was a saint?"

But the Ethiopians have their deuterocanonical NT books that describe Pilate's martyrdom in Rome and his acceptance by Christ.

We, of course, honour St Claudia Procla, his wife. But all ancient hagiographies of her link her to her husband - after Christ's crucifixion as well.

In addition, Fr. Florovsky, somewhere in his writings, critiques the placement of Pilate among the Saints in Ethiopia as being not that Eastern Church's finest day . . .

Alex

Does the Coptic (Egyptian) Church regard Pilate a saint as well?

Wikipedia states that the Coptic Church has a feast day for Pilate and Procula on June 25.

Is this accurate?

Dear Alex,

And who is to say that Pontius Pilate is not a saint? For all we know, after the crucifixion he did become a Christian and was martyred. Let's face it, after the earthquake and resurrection, he must have had quite a few guilt feelings for his actions. Well I guess we'll have to wait until we die to know for sure.

It would be a bum rap for him though, to have become a saint and yet be known throughout history as the greatest villain. :rolleyes:

Zenovia

griego,

I reviewed the Wiki piece to which you refer and can't decide if the author had picked up on the Ethiopian styling of Pilate as a saint and just extended the thought into the Coptic Church - ("Coptic once included Ethiopia, therefore Ethiopians are Copts" - sound familiar? There are so many variations on similar themes :rolleyes: )

I think my brother, Marduk, can best answer this for us.

Many years,

Neil

I wasnt aware that Pontius Pilate became a Christian. I know that Claudia was so impressed with Christ and His message that she became enamoured with this new faith.