Yet the Church makes a very definite point of regulating precedence, whether it be among patriarchs or among parish priests and their curates. Perhaps it is meant to remind everyone that "the last [shall] be first, and the first last" (Mt. 20:16).
I guess I just personally don't see whether Constantinople is first and Bucharest is fourth as having much to do with that Gospel injunction. Even within the list you posted
Quote
1. Patriarchal sees: 1.1. Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria 1.2. Patriarchs of Antioch according to seniority: 1.2.1. Greek-Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch (patriarch elected 2000) 1.2.2. Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch (patriarch elected 2009) 1.2.3. Maronite Patriarch of Antioch (patriarch elected 2011) 1.3. Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon (patriarchs since 3rd century; Catholic patriarchs since 1553) 1.4. Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia (patriarchs since ca. 294; Catholic patriarchs since 1742) 2. Major archiepiscopal sees: 2.1. Major archbishop of Kyiv‒Halych (Lviv 1963; Kyiv 2004) 2.2. Major archbishop of Ernakulam‒Angamaly (1992) 2.3. Major archbishop of Trivandrum (10 Feb. 2005) 2.4. Major archbishop of Făgăraş şi Alba Iulia (16 Dec. 2005)
I have a hard time seeing why the tiny Coptic Catholic Church is a Patriarchate and higher in precedence than a much larger church like the UGCC. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Anyway, it is nice to see younger leadership in the church and I commend the synod for making such a bold move.
http://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/catholics/ugcc/41564/ Now, I am really confused... He said a few days ago he will explain to the Pope about the patriarchate question. Now he said that he didn't talk about it at all. What's happening here???
With or without Rome's approval, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk is our Patriarch !!!
To believe that would be to cease to be catholic.
This bishop receives a great and wonderful promotion, a position of great honor, respect and responsibility, then goes to his boss to complain about his title?
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
With or without Rome's approval, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk is our Patriarch !!!
To believe that would be to cease to be catholic.
Okay, well, that's just hogwash, Fred. I can play cranky strident trad with the best of 'em, but I challenge you to back up your statement with some substance before you make your decrees of excommunication.
I once had a private conversation with a former member of the board about what constitutes a "patriarch." In my humble opinion, a patriarch is a "bishop's bishop," if you will. In other words, it's lonely at the top. As a bishop I've known put it, "the clergy tell me only what they think I want to hear; it's hard to get to know the truth." And when this man admitted to being alone in his own spiritual struggle, who could he go to?
A patriarch is one that a bishop can go to when he feels alone at the top. He's a father to his brethren--one who helps them carry their burdens; one who can sit and listen. I don't know the ins and outs of ecclesiastical politics to say that my humble opinion means a hoot. But if I were to be asked this question of what constitutes a patriarch and was told that the man did this, I'd say that with or without anyone else's blessing he's it. If a man helps carry another man's cross, he is father to him; he is Christ to him.
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