Eight Patriarchs of Eastern Churches at Holy Synod, Year of Faith

[5Loaves]

Eight Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches at Holy Synod of Bishops opening Mass 0:37

Also: BARTHOLOMEW I Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
“The door, then, must remain open for deeper reception, pastoral engagement, and ecclesial interpretation of the Second Vatican Council.”

"It is fitting that this occasion also marks for your Church the formal inauguration of the “Year of Faith”, as it is faith that provides a visible sign of the journey we have traveled together along the path of reconciliation and visible unity.”

He’s speaking in Italian.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Eight Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches at Holy Synod of Bishops opening Mass 0:37

I have to say, the capacity of the Vatican press to properly report on the “Eastern Churches” remains poor at worst, confusing at best.

The headline simply says “Patriarchs of Eastern Churches”. Catholic or Orthodox? The Ecumenical Patriarch was a prominent speaker on Day One. Further, at the point in the video cited above, they flash to Major Archbishop Sviatoslav of the UGCC. We can understand why, in some respects, but technically he is not a Patriarch (although we like to think better of him, in particular ).

Why should it be significant that Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches attend a Synod of Catholic Bishops? Are they not also and integral part of that group? Highlighting their attendance in this context makes it seem as if they are not part of the Catholic Church.

Metropolitan William (Pittsburgh) and Metropolitan Jan (Presov) of the Ruthenians were also present, heads of sui juris Churches, yet not Patriarchs. Were they also counted as “Patriarchs”? I thought there were only six Eastern Catholic Patriarchates at present.

Seems that we’ve come a long way, but still have a way to go …

 

[Crescentinus]

The headline simply says “Patriarchs of Eastern Churches”. Catholic or Orthodox? The Ecumenical Patriarch was a prominent speaker on Day One. Further, at the point in the video cited above, they flash to Major Archbishop Sviatoslav of the UGCC. We can understand why, in some respects, but technically he is not a Patriarch (although we like to think better of him, in particular ).

Can I call His Beatitude Sviatoslav as Patriarch? :3

 

[Rawb]

Eight Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches at Holy Synod of Bishops opening Mass 0:37

Also: BARTHOLOMEW I Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
“The door, then, must remain open for deeper reception, pastoral engagement, and ecclesial interpretation of the Second Vatican Council.”

"It is fitting that this occasion also marks for your Church the formal inauguration of the “Year of Faith”, as it is faith that provides a visible sign of the journey we have traveled together along the path of reconciliation and visible unity.”

He’s speaking in Italian.

The words of his All Holiness disturb me. Something seems off to me about an Orthodox bishop commenting on the interpretation of another church’s council.

Also, he is not the representative of all Orthodox Christians, he only has the right to represent his own diocese (unless, I suppose, The Church tells him he is representing everyone at such-and-such time)

 

[5Loaves]

SUMMARY - LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

SYNODUS EPISCOPORUM BULLETIN

XIII ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS 7-28 OCTOBER 2012

The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith

This Bulletin is only a working instrument for the press.
Translations are not official.

English Edition…

IX. FOR THE ORIENTAL CATHOLIC CHURCHES

Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church
ex designatione

• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Kyrillos WILLIAM, Bishop of Assiut of the Copts

Synod of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church
ex officio

• H. B. Gregorios III LAHAM, B.S., Patriarch of Antiochia of the Greek-Melkites, Head of the Synod of the Greek-Melkite Church
  ex electione
• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Joseph ABSI, of the Missionary Society of St.Paul, Titular Archbishop of Tarsus of the Greek-Melkites, Auxiliary Bishop and Protosyncellus of Damas of the Greek-Melkites

Synod of the Syriac Catholic Church
ex officio

• H. B. Ignace Youssif III YOUNAN, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, Head of the Synod of the Syriac Catholic Church

Synod of the Maronite Church
ex officio

• H. B. Béchara Boutros RAÏ, O.M.M., Patriarch of Antiochia of Maronites, Head of the Synod of the Maronite Church
  ex electione
• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Michel AOUN, Bishop of Jbeil of the Maronites

Synod of the Chaldean Church
ex designatione

• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Shlemon WARDUNI, Bishop of Curia of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Titular Bishop of Anbar of the Chaldeans

Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church
ex officio

• H. B. Nerses Bedros XIX TARMOUNI, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenians, Head of the Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church

Synod of the Ukranian Greek Catholic Church
ex officio

• H. B. Sviatoslav SCHEVCHUK, Archbishop Major of Kyiv-Halyč, Head of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
  ex electione
• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Taras SENKIV, O.M., Titular Bishop of Siccenna, Auxiliary Bishop, Protosyncellus and Apostolic Administrator “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of Stryj of Ukrainians
• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Dionisio LACHOVICZ, O.S.B.M., Titular Bishop of Egnazia, Apostolic Visitor of the Faithful of the Ukranian Byzantine Rite Residents in Italy and Spain

Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church
ex officio

• H. B. Card. George ALENCHERRY, Archbishop Major of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, Head of Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church
  ex electione
• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Joseph KALLARANGATT, Bishop of Palai of Syro-Malabars

Synod of the Syro-Malankar Church
ex officio- H. B. Baselios Cleemis THOTTUNKAL, Archbishop Major of Trivandrum of Syro-Malankars, Head of the Synod of the Syro-Malankar Church

Synod of the Romanian Church
ex designatione

• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Virgil BERCEA, Bishop of Oradea Mare of the Romanians

Council of the Ethiopian Church
ex officio

• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Berhaneyesus Demerew SOURAPHIEL, C.M., Archbishop of Addis Abeba, President of the Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia and Eritrea, President of the Council of the Ethiopian Church

Council of the Ruthenian Church
ex officio

• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. William Charles SKURLA, Archbishop of Pittsburg of the Byzantines, President of the Council of the Ruthenian Church

Council of the Slovakian Church
ex officio

• H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Ján BABJAK, S.I., Metropolitan Archbishop of Prešov of the Catholics of Byzantine Rite, President of the Council of the Slovak Church

 

[5Loaves]

Also, he is not the representative of all Orthodox Christians, he only has the right to represent his own diocese (unless, I suppose, The Church tells him he is representing everyone at such-and-such time)

(This should be really a separate thread. Please start one if you want to discuss this subtopic. ) This seems to be an ongoing issue in the Orthodox world of the understanding of the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as portrayed in the media where the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople calls itself the leader of the Orthodox worldwide and encourages the press to do the same. The part about “fraternal spirit among all the Orthodox Primates” is downplayed

The Ecumenical Patriarchate website

As Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Patriarch Bartholomew occupies the First Throne of the Orthodox Christian Church and presides in a fraternal spirit among all the Orthodox Primates. **The Ecumenical Patriarch has the historical and theological responsibility **to initiate and coordinate actions among the Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania, The Czech Land and Slovakia, Finland, Estonia, and numerous archdioceses in the old and new worlds. This includes the convening of councils or meetings, facilitating inter-church and inter-faith dialogues and serving as the primary expresser of Church unity as a whole. As Ecumenical Patriarch he transcends every national and ethnic group on a global level and today is **the spiritual leader of approximately 250 million faithful world-wide. **

May God continue to bless His All Holiness in his work and protect him in the precarious situation in Turkey of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

 

[Vico]

Eight Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches at Holy Synod of Bishops opening Mass 0:37

Also: BARTHOLOMEW I Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
“The door, then, must remain open for deeper reception, pastoral engagement, and ecclesial interpretation of the Second Vatican Council.”

"It is fitting that this occasion also marks for your Church the formal inauguration of the “Year of Faith”, as it is faith that provides a visible sign of the journey we have traveled together along the path of reconciliation and visible unity.”

He’s speaking in Italian.

They do seem to be generalizing. The eight could be:

Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites Catholic Church
Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrian Catholic Church
Patriarch of Antiochia of Maronite Catholic Church
Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholic Church
Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of Syro-Malankar Catholic Church
Ecumenical Patriarch Archbishop of Constantinople, Eastern Orthodox

What was actually said that day is:“Today, fifty years from the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, we begin with great joy the Year of Faith. I am delighted to greet all of you, particularly His Holiness Bartholomaois I, Patriarch of Constantinople, and His Grace Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. A special greeting goes to the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches, and to the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences. In order to evoke the Council, which some present had the grace to experience for themselves - and I greet them with particular affection - this celebration has been enriched by several special signs: the opening procession, intended to recall the memorable one of the Council Fathers when they entered this Basilica; the enthronement of the Book of the Gospels with the same book that was used at the Council; the consignment of the seven final Messages of the Council, and of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I will do before the final blessing.”
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20121011_anno-fede_en.html