www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Is This a Proper View....

Is the following a proper view of the Eastern Catholic Church heirarchy?

Pope
Patriarchs
Metropolitans
Priests
Deacons

Thanks!

Andrew,

You forgot in between Metropolitans and priests, there is Archbishops and Bishops. Also below deacon, you have the minor orders of subdeacon and reader (lector or cantor)

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Bless, Father Anthony!

And what about chorepiscopi for the Oriental Catholics?

Is that a rank as well?

Alex

Dear drewmeister,

Actually, the rank of "Pope" only applies to Coptic Catholics!

The Pope has really no direct administrative relation to the EC churches.

We do like him, though! He is also the ultimate arbiter in disputes.

For example, should the Administrator here consider me to be heretical in this or that, I could write another letter to Pope Benedict to ask for his direct intervention . . .

Alex

I am sure it is, but from the one that is an acquaintance (Maronite),I am not quite sure to group them with bishop?

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Thanks for your replies!

I thought the Pope had a say in the EC Churches? I mean, when the Church declares a new dogma, it applies to the ECC, does it not?

Thanks again!

Dear drewmeister,

And I thought the Church never declared "new dogmas!"

The Pope is still a Latin hierarch. When he declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, for example, he was essentially "silencing" that Latin party within the Church that disagreed with those who could still believe Our Lady was born with the "stain of Original Sin" in accordance with Augustinian theology.

Since, for the Eastern Churches, Augustine is the patron saint of "Hippo's" ( ), and had no theological influence over us (other than an "annoying one" ), when the Pope declared that Mary was conceived in holiness - we simply said, "Yes, we've always known that - you are preaching to the converted over here (in the East)."

Other than outline the parameters of papal infallibility and jurisdiction, I don't see how any Pope can add anything that the Christian East doesn't already accept from Christian Tradition (which is largely Eastern in the first millennium anyway).

I think we ourselves know better than the West what Christian faith and Tradition are all about, don't you?

Alex

Father,

I did not know that the maronites were considered Oriental....is that so? I am just wondering, not questioning you!

In His Name,
Stephen

Dear Stephen,

They are not, but a number of the Eastern Rites do have that office. I also know that in the Orthodox Church of Cyprus that office is also part of their hierarchy. As far as what the relationship and all the duties of that office, I am not sure. I would think that it would vary from rite to rite.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Among the Maronites (and I assume Syrian and Chaldean Catholics) it is an honorary title equivalent to a Byzantine mitered archpriest, as they are given the miter, pectoral cross, and crosier. However, I believe the title does carry with it a certain amount of jurisdiction. I think it carries an automatice appointment as syncellus/episcopal vicar.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thanks for all the replies!