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Dear Greg,

The East has bishops too, but "Metropolitan" is typically something that the Slavic Eastern Churches favour - the Greeks prefer "Archbishop."

Both "Metropolitan" and "Archbishop" are the same in terms of authority - they are set above the bishops of a "Metropolis."

In the other Eastern Churches, "Metropolitan" can also refer to a "Chief Archbishop" over Archbishops or a Primate.

Why the seeming urgency to know this? Do you want to be a Metropolitan?

Alex

Dear Ruthenian Catholic Friends,

I see that the Order of St Francis is prominent in your Church!

Could you discuss the Byzantine Franciscans and their role in your Church, especially with respect to the promotion of Eastern traditions etc?

Just curious . . .

Alex

Dear Mystical Greg:

There are two hierarchies in the Catholic Church (Latin Rite):

(a) Hierarchy of Order:

(1) Episcopate (Bishops, which includes
Archbishops, Patriarchs, Cardinal-
Bishops, and the Pope himself, who is
Bishop ofRome);

(2) Presbytery (Priests); and

(3) Diaconate. (The other orders, i.e.,
those of subdeacon, acolyte, exorcist,
lector, and porter, are of
ecclesiastical institution.)

(b) Hierarchy of Jurisdiction:

(1) The Pope;

(2) Cardinals (In actual discipline of the
Church, the Cardinals are the Pope's
advisers in the more important matters
concerning the universal Church and
exercise their jurisdiction in the
various congregations, tribunals, and
offices instituted by the Pope for the
government of the universal Church);

(3) Patriarchs (Minor Patriarchs, whose
titles are merely honorary, are: the
Patriarch of Venice, the Patriarch of
the West Indies who resides in Spain,
the Patriarch of the East Indies who
resides in, and is the Archbishop of,
Goa, and the Patriarch of Lisbon.);

(4) Archbishops:

(i) Metropolitan;
(ii) Titular.

(5) Bishops:

(i) Diocesan:

(aa) Exempt, not under any
Archbishop, and are directly
subject to the Holy See;

(bb) Suffragan, under the
Metropolitan Archbishop.

(ii) Titular: These receive episcopal
consecration but have no
jurisdiction over the dioceses of
which they bear the title. They
may be appointed by the Pope as
auxiliary bishops or coadjutors to
diocesan bishops.

(6) Pastors, the heads of parishes.

In the Eastern Catholic Churches the hierarchy,in general, resembles that of the West. I think the variations are few: a Major Archbishop would be higher than a Metropolitan Archbishop, the former exercising jurisdiction over an entire particular Church like Cardinal Husar, the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainians. While the patriarchic organization is preserved, all Patriarchs have no equal powers; some of them are even subject to Apostolic delegates.

A minor vriation under "Archbishops" in the West would be that of a "Primate," who roughly corresponds to that of "Exarch" in the East. With the exception of the Primate of Gran (Hungary), Primates have a mere pre-eminence of honour over Metropolitans. Metropolitans, on the other hand, have real rights over suffragan Bishops within their eccesiastical province and over the province itself.

In ecclesiastical language, Pittsburgh as the principal city (metropolitan), or see (eparchy), of the entire province of Ruthenians in the USA, thus becomes the seat of power and authority of Metropolitan Archbishop Basil M. Schott.

May God bless him!

AmdG

[ 05-08-2002: Message edited by: Amado Guerrero ]

"In the Eastern Catholic Churches the hierarchy,in general, resembles that of the West. I think the
variations are few: a Major Archbishop would be higher than a Metropolitan Archbishop, the former exercising jurisdiction over an entire particular Church like Cardinal Husar, the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainians. While the patriarchic organization is preserved, all Patriarchs have no equal powers; some of them are even subject to Apostolic delegates.A minor vriation under "Archbishops" in the West would be that of a "Primate," who roughly"
corresponds to that of "Exarch" in the East. With the exception of the Primate of Gran (Hungary),Primates have a mere pre-eminence of honour over Metropolitans. Metropolitans, on the other hand, have real rights over suffragan Bishops within their eccesiastical province and over the province itself."

Times like this make me wish I were a Baptist.

No, really, thank you for your thoughts.

[ 05-03-2002: Message edited by: durak ]

[ 05-03-2002: Message edited by: durak ]

Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic:

Both "Metropolitan" and "Archbishop" are the same in terms of authority - they are set above the bishops of a "Metropolis."

Ok. So, I'm assuming the United States as a whole is one Metropolis (Archdiocese)?

Why the seeming urgency to know this? Do you want to be a Metropolitan?

Just wanting to learn.

Peace,

Greg

Originally posted by Amado Guerrero:

In the Eastern Catholic Churches the hierarchy,in general, resembles that of the West. I think the variations are few

Hi, Amado. Thank you for your input.

Pardon my slow mind, but...Who are the "top dogs" then in the Eastern Churches under the Pope (in practical terms, generally speaking)? Is it the patriarchs, or someone else? There are no "cardinals" in the east are there?

Thanks again.

"Mystical" Greg

Greg,
The Patriarch of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Lubomyr, is a Cardinal, as was the 2 patriarchs before him. I think the Patriarch of the Melkites is a Cardinal also, but in his case, I am not too sure.
-ukrainiancatholic

Yes, Alex, 3 sons of the venerable Father, Francis of Assisi, are taking over the episcopate of the Metropolia. I don't know about other Eastern traditions, but I wouldn't be surprised if a market developed for brown riassas.

Dear Greg,

Let me see if I can explain a little. The new Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh, Basil Schott, will be the head of the "Sui Juris" (self-governing) Byzantine Catholic Church in the USA, which officially is subordinate only to the Pope.

Metropolitan Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Philadelphia also has archepiscopal authority throughout the USA, and was appointed by John Paul II, but participates in the synod (council of Bishops) of the worldwide Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which is headed by Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, who is indeed a Cardinal, but is also Metropolitan of Halych, Major-Archbishop of Lviv, Bishop of Kamianets-Podilsky, a Priest of the Eparchy (Diocese) of Stamford Connecticut and probably a few other titles as well, including Patriarch (athough he is too modest to use this title himself).

More information is available on the UGCC website, look for Church History, and Leaders.

www.ugcc.org.ua/eng/ [ugcc.org.ua]

There are also several other Eastern Church Cardinals, including Cardinal Daoud, Cardinal Sfier of Lebanon (Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites) and Cardinal Ghattas of Egypt (Pariarch of Alexandria of the Copts).

I hope I have helped, athough I realize that it can be confusing. Part of this is because each Eastern Church has its own history and thus, its own structural development.

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Congratulations to all of you who have been waiting for so long the appointment of a new Metropolitan of Pittsburg. May God grant him many blessed years!

Congratulations also to all our brothers in Christ at Parma Eparchy. Now you have 2 Bishops!

Congratulations to Metropolitan Schott and Archpriest Kudrick!

One is leaving Pittsburgh for Cleveland (for those who don't know, Parma is a suburb (with lots of Polish!) of Cleveland) and one is leaving Cleveland for Pittsburgh

It was posted that both gentlemen like to, among other things, watch football. Well, the Browns aren't too popular in Pittsburgh, neither are the Steelers in Cleveland! :

Seriously, I hope for the best for both servants of the Lord in their new assignments, and for the growth of and the restoration of the traditions of the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church. I had the opportunity to meet Metropolitan Procyk, and I hope Metropolitan Schott does well as his successor.

Alex,

The Byzantine Franciscans are great promoters of our Byzantine traditions. Remember that New Skete was founded by Byzantine Franciscans. In fact, my spiritual director is a Byzantine TOR and is from the same friary as Bishop-elect John. (And you know how I can get when it comes to preserving or restoring our traditions. ) However, they are a disappearing breed. Sybertsville, was recently downgraded from a friary (to whatever a friary gets downgraded to, loss of autonomy or something) because the number of members fell below the required amount. There are only a handful of friars left there. The Ukrainians have a friary in New England, but I don't know what their numbers are.

In Christ,
Lance

[ 05-03-2002: Message edited by: Lance ]

Ukraniancatholic:

No, the Melkite Patriarch is not a cardinal. Although several past patriarchs have been offered the red hat, all have refused as the role of Patriarch is higher, ecclesiastically, than that of cardinal.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Mystic Greg,

Check out Faith & Worship, under Patriarchs, Archbishops, & Metropolitans, Oh My! you will find a more complete explanantion of the definitions of these titles.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

to Mystic:


The plural of monsignor is monsignori. It is not in the chain of command. The title of monsignor is honorific. It is not given to members of a religious order.