www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Patriarch Lubomyr

The CCEO does not request patriarchs, major archbishops or metropolitans of sui iuris Churches to submit their resignation at 75 as it does for bishops. That of course does not prevent them from resigning if their health would indicate require it.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Patriarch Myroslav Ivan did not retire when he became less able to do the Administrative work during his later years. Bishop Lubomyr was chosen by the Synod to be his assistant.

This Latin Catholic has a question: what exactly is a patriarch? Is it merely an honorific? Does it imply jurisdiction? Is there a historical connection? Or is there more?

It could be said that it is merely a title, since there is a Patriarch of the East Indies. But this is merely a title of the Archbishop of Goa.

It would also seem that it does not necessarily imply jurisdiction, since there have been titular patriarchs in the past e.g. the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople.

As well, a historical connection does not always seem needed. Please do correct me if I am wrong, but Patriarch Lubomyr of the UGCC is the Patriarch of Kiev. However, the UGCC's history (since coming back into communion with the Holy See) seems confined mostly to Galicia/Галичина.

Thoughts, comments, opinions?

You are half correct. In the Latin Church the title Patirarch means nothing more than the archbishops of Goa, Lisbon and Venice get to be called patriarch, be addressed as Beatitude, and have 15 tassels on their green galero, and usually those of Lisbon and Venice are made cardinals anyway making the latter two distinctions moot. The CIC does not recognize any jurisdictional perogatives to primates or patriarchs:

Can. 438 The titles of patriarch and primate entail no power of governance in the Latin Church apart from a prerogative of honor unless in some matters the contrary is clear from apostolic privilege or approved custom.

The CCEO has 24 Canons dealing with the rights and obligations of Eastern Patriarchs in relation to their jurisdcition over their Churches. See Title 4 Canons 78-101:
http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_INDEX.HTM

"Can. 438 The titles of patriarch and primate entail no power of governance in the Latin Church apart from a prerogative of honor unless in some matters the contrary is clear from apostolic privilege or approved custom."

(Bold empasis mine)

This reminds me of the Orthodox view of the Pope of Rome. Very interesting....

Both Patriarchs Josyp (92) and Miroslav Ivan (86) served past age 75, and has been pointed out the requirements for canonical retirement do not apply.

No such request was made by Rome in either case for retirement, either; nor likely will there be one in this case.
FDRLB

Now that the primary two canonical requirements of the CCEO have been met, namely need (the largest Eastern Catholic Church sui iuris), and the reestablishment of the permanent see in the "principal city" for the residence of the Patriarch (Kyiv, the historic see of the Union) we are well on the way.

Many years to our blessed Patriarch, Lubomyr. Mnohaya lita, eis polla eti Despota!
FDRLB

Many Years to His Beatitude !