www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Roman and Byzantine parishes in Corsica

Hello, all,

This morning I caught part of a feature segment on the BBC World News on my local PBS station. The story was about two parishes in a small village on Corsica that were being served by the same priest. One parish was RC, the other was Byzantine. The priest is aging and wants to retire; the community is not sure how to replace him.

But here's where I became confused. The BBC identified the Byzantine parish as "Greek Orthodox," and cited it as the only example in the world where a Greek Orthodox priest had been given permission by Rome also to serve an RC parish. (The priest obviously had bi-ritual faculties in that the report showed him saying Mass in Roman vestments and conducting Divine Liturgy in Byzantine vestments.)

However, it was not clear to me from the report whether this was a "Greek Orthodox" or "Greek Catholic" priest: A French-speaking townswoman was interviewed, and was translated to say something to the effect of "Both I and my cousins are Catholic: I am Roman Catholic, and they are Greek Catholic." There was also a sign in French pointing the way to the "Greek Church (Eglise Grecque)."

If this truly was a Greek Orthodox priest, then it really is news to me. If he is Greek Catholic, then it would not seem particularly noteworthy, in that there are priests in the USA (and elsewhere) who hold bi-ritual faculties.

Did anyone else catch this story, or does anyone know about this situation? I tried to find out more at the BBC website, but was unable to locate the story.

Martin

Martin
I saw this same priest in the National Geographic a couple of months ago. When I am done helping my son FINALLY turn in his eagle scout service project will try to find which issue.

But, my memory recalls that they definitely said he served an Orthodox church as well as a Roman church. Of course I didn't think the Orthodox church would allow this (not that I am Orthodox).
denise

Denise,

The only thing that I could figure was that this priest could be from the Italo-Greek Catholic Church, which (I believe I understand) always has maintained relations both with Rome and Constantinople.

I would really like to hear from others who might know the circumstances of this story--sounds fascinating!

Martin

Martin:
I was writing about this over here:
https://www.byzcath.org/bboard/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001072;p=1#000005

Dear frinds,

Yes, our frined Martin is completely right archimandrite Florent Maichiavo, the parish priest of Cargese Saint Spyridon Greek Catholic Church, is a Byzantine rite italo-Albanian priest from Sicily (Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi) if I am not wrong. In Cargese there are two Catholic parishes, a Latin and a Byzantine one, but Archimandrite Florent serves only at the Byzantine one. You can learn more about the interesting history of Cargese Greek community that left Oitoulo (Peloponese)after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and its parish at this web site (http://www.corsica.net/corsica/uk/regajac/cargese/carg_egg.htm ). Till some years ago the Greeks of Cargese used to speak a Peloponesian Greek dialect. You can also watch on linea a video of the French television about the Easter celebrations in the parish (http://195.6.173.164/archives/sujets/ac160401a_1.htm).
Yours in Christ.

Bi-ritualism was one of the main tools used by the Popes of Rome to infiltrate and ultimately supress the Byzantine Rite in Southern Italy and Sicily.

A Latin Rite priest would be assigned to join a Byzantine Rite priest at a Byzantine Rite parish for the sake of the few attending Latin Rite worshipers (although there was almost always already an exclusively Latin Rite parish in the village or town).

Phase two involved training the Latin Rite priest to serve in the Byzantine Rite.

Phase three involved making the bi-ritualist Latin Rite priest the President or Proistamenos upon the retirement or death of the Byzantine Rite priest.

Phase four involved sending a mono-ritualist Latin Rite priest to replace the retiring or recently departed bi-ritualist Latin Rite priest.

Pope Clement XI put a stop to all of this after ascending in 1700. He was of the Latin Rite himself (obviously), but of pure Albanian ancestry!


From what I understand of the situation in that Corsican town, perhaps the reverse is now happening!

In Christ,
Andrew

Dear Reader Andrew,

Well, when the Russians imposed Orthodoxy on western Ukraine in 1946 - they weren't nearly as subtle!

Alex

Alex,

That wasn't bi-ritualism within a communion. It was an external hostile takeover by the same rite, different communion.

I don't know which is more insidious.

In Christ,
Andrew

Hello Andrew,
Would there be any way to know if Clement XI was descended from the Gegs or Tosks (or both)?

Thanks,
Michael

Dear Coalesco et. al.,

Here is a link that deals with some of the phenomenon of historical bi-ritualism in Southern Italy and the eventual protection of the Byzantine Rite there.

www.frosina.org/infobits/christianalbanianemigration [frosina.org]

In Christ,
Andrew

Dear Brethren,

Do we have any experts on Napoleon Bonaparte and his parents' lineage?

I understand that they may have had origins in the Byzantine Rite community on Corsica.

In Christ,
Andrew

So what does the BBC know about apostolic christainity? LOL Probably some vague post christian anglican reporting. And as for National Geographic oh well, its not my canon!
Stephanos I

Has anyone notified BBC and the National Geographic of the mistake, and clarified it? If not, perhaps the Administrator would do it?

Perhaps someone can tell us the administrative line (i.e. diocese or eparchy) for this Byzantine Rite parish in Corsica. To the best of my knowledge, the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi in Sicily does not list any parish in Corsica. Father Florent may be on loan from that Eparchy to serve this parish in Corsica, but on loan to whom (i.e. diocese or eparchy)?

My guess is that this Byz. Rite parish is simply an anomaly inside of the regular local, geographical Latin diocese.

In Christ,
Andrew