www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology More Questions About Ecclesiastical Dignities

Within the past six to eight months, we have had 2 interesting threads on ecclesiastical dignities:

Mitred Archpriest Minutiae and Archimandrite? Mitred Archpriest? Hegumen? .

Father Anthony,

In one of those, you mentioned that the Greek Church has a dignity, conferred on both married and monastic clergy, of "Confessor". I was wondering how such a priest in styled, both in personal address and in writing his name and title?

Alex or any other of my Ukrainian brethren,

I notice, on the Eparchy of Stamford's page, that Kyr Basil has elevated several priests to the dignity of Canon.

This title did not come up in our prior discussions and I don't remember encountering it previously among any of the Byzantine Churches.

Is it one that is commonly conferred among the Ukes? Does anyone know what insignia accompany its grant?

I'm presuming that the priest is styled V. Rev. Canon _______ - correct? And, where does it fall in the hierarchy of honorifics - above, below, equivalent to Archpriest?

Many years,

Neil

A Niall, a chara dhil,
Back in grade school, Sister Euthanasia taught us to address a Confessor in this way:

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned . . ." [Oh, stop groaning - you knew someone would come up with that one!]

Does the Eparchy of Stamford really have a chapter of Canons? That's very rare in US dioceses of any liturgical tradition. It may even be unique.

Incognitus

Some eparchies have a loose Canon or two. I didn't know Sister Euthanasia, but I did meet Sister Mary Godzilla and Sister Mary Overbite.

Perhaps from the same convent as Sister Mary Butch of the biker nuns? These can easily be recognised by their tatoos which read "Born to raise Lazarus".

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

Charles,

Me thinks you still haven't gotten over those mean sisters that were your Catholic School teachers when you were a little boy!

Fondly,
Alice

Alice, I loved the nuns who gave me candy.

Coo - I was never given candy but I remember Mother Peter - fully habited as Ursulines were in those days - who taught us swimming and got pulled into the swimming pool by one of her students in a panic. No the habited M. Peter did not sink , neither did she walk on water

Or how about M Borromeo - demonstrating to the boarders, one St Paddy's day , how to dance an Irish jig and though she remembered to hitch up her habit forgot the Rosary and it's swinging broke several bits of glassware . Well - they were in a science lab it has to be admitted.

Aaaaaah memories of our youth

OH a thought - would the giving of candy now be considered an abuse , leading as it nowadays thought , to the destruction of the teeth of our kids

Anhelyna [ who will have teeth again by the end of July ]

sorry - but dental things are a sore subject with me at present

Incognitus,

Yes, I did, but I could hope :rolleyes:

I don't know if there is a formal Chapter or not, but this is the text as posted at Stamford's website:

I hadn't noticed it until now, but I am presuming that the abbreviation "V.F." is being used to denote these priests as Vicars Forane, a curious choice of usage in lieu of Protopresbyter, which was what I would have anticipated. (Alternatively, it represents the name of a religious community with which I'm not familiar.) Thoughts?

Many years,

Neil

Good morning Neil.

The priests whose names are followed by the abbreviation V.F. are indeed protopresbyters, at least according to the 2004 edition of The Official Catholic Directory. They are listed therein under the rubric
"Protopresbyters (Deans)".

I am not well-versed in the precedence among the various ranks, but I would hazard a guess that a canon outranks an archpriest since one of the new canons is already an archpriest.

I find it interesting that two of the honorees have papal honors - monsignori. Interestingly, the first named, Msgr Binkowski, is a chaplain of his holiness, while the second, Msgr Squiller, is a prelate of honor (ph) which in Roman precedence outranks a chaplain of his holiness (cohh). I guess that the combination of a cohh and vf outranks a ph.

The OCD does not list a chapter of canons for Stamford, so I guess that the title is honorary.

Many years,

Charles

Charles,

Thank you for the info.

I still find it curious that Bishop Basil has elected to style the dignity of Protopresbyter as "Canon". From the info available online, I can't find that any of the other Ukrainian Eparchies does so.

Many years,

Neil

Neil,

He is styling protopresbyter as dean or V.F.

I have found two canons listed on the website of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg and one canon listed on the website of the UGCC Toronto Eparchy.

Perhaps one of our Canadian friends can shed some light on the title of canon in the UGCC.

Many years,

Charles

There is a Ukrainian Rite Parish in Ramey, PA
that I sometimes attend. I don't recall the
exact "wording" but the pastor has "Canon"
as part of his "title".

Then of course there were such essential paramonastics as Sister Mary Pieplate of the Last Supper, Sister Mary Thrombosis of the Sacred Heart, Sister Mary Grace Note of the Crumpled Wimple, Half-Starched - and the Superior, Reverend Mother Latifundia.

Trying to decide who outranks whom in a mix-up of Greek and Latin ecclesiastical honorifics is a job worthy of a College of Heralds. Leave it up to Mother Latifundia. Or see if you can locate Sister Mary Ignatius, who will Explain It All To You.

Incognitus

Dear Neil:
Bishops in the each Eparchy gives Ecclesiastical titles to should honor in a public manner to those who have work for the good of the church. The after Vatican II the Ecclesiastical titles seemed to be put to the side till now but church seeks once more to demonstrate those who have taken on responsibilities will be honor. Your question of the titles should be addressed to those in authority.
Yours in Christ,
o. Edward

We had a Sister Mary of Perpetual Motion at our school. Actually there was a Sister Murphy who used to bring a thermos of Irish Coffee with her. "Murph the Surph" had about one third coffee and two thirds whisky. She opened up the thermos and the first two rows passed out.

God Bless Sister Murphy. Even is she did have a heavy hand with the ruler!

Tim