Pontifex Maximus

[sandmountainsli]

Does this make the Pope heir to the Roman Emperors?
WP

Pontifex Maximus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs. This was the most important position in the Ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians, until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post. A distinctly religious office under the early Roman Republic, it gradually became politicized until, beginning with Augustus, it was subsumed into the Imperial office. It was last held by the Christian Roman Emperor Gratian until the title passed over to the Bishop of Rome.

 

[cestusdei]

Not exactly. It was the title of the chief priest. When the empire became Christian it went from the emperor to the pope. It was a sign of respect for the Bishop of Rome. The Emperor of Byzantium and then the Holy Roman Emperor claimed to be successors to the Caesars.

 

[LilyM]

No more than German royalty who adopted the title Kaiser or Russian royalty who took the title Tsar (both being derived from Caesar).

As I recall the monarchs of Britain have kept the title of Defender of the Faith (given to them by the Pope) centuries after they broke away from him.

In fact ‘King of Kings’ was a title of the old Persian Emperors probably even before it was used to describe Christ - does that make Christ their heir??!?!?!?

Literally ‘Pontifex Maximus’ means ‘chief bridge builder’ (Lord alone knows what the significance of it was originally) - so it’s a wonderfully apt title for the Popes.

 

[sandmountainsli]

Thanks for clearing that up
I had a couple ancestors who went by the title “Holy Roman Emperor” but they were not Romans and from what we can tell not very Holy either.
WP

 

[Eden]

Thanks for clearing that up
I had a couple ancestors who went by the title “Holy Roman Emperor” but they were not Romans and from what we can tell not very Holy either.
WP

Being interested in genealogy myself, I wanted to point out that it is believed that all people of European ancestry alive today decend from at least one “Holy Roman Emperor” - Charlemagne.

Here is one article on the subject:

itotd.com/articles/226/most-recent-common-ancestors/

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

No more than German royalty who adopted the title Kaiser or Russian royalty who took the title Tsar (both being derived from Caesar).

As I recall the monarchs of Britain have kept the title of Defender of the Faith (given to them by the Pope) centuries after they broke away from him.

Of England - since 1521; it being a title bestowed on an English king. The only Scottish kings to bear it were also kings of England.​

Britain is made up of two kingdoms which have had one ruler since 1603 (everyone forgets the Welsh, of course - they have their own Principality). The point being, that Britain is not the same as England - it would be like calling North America the United States: there’s that place up north as well, which is ruled by the Queen ##

In fact ‘King of Kings’ was a title of the old Persian Emperors probably even before it was used to describe Christ - does that make Christ their heir??!?!?!?

Literally ‘Pontifex Maximus’ means ‘chief bridge builder’ (Lord alone knows what the significance of it was originally) - so it’s a wonderfully apt title for the Popes.

 

[Integritus]

Literally ‘Pontifex Maximus’ means ‘chief bridge builder’…

Actually its best to translate ‘Pontifex Maximus’ in English to mean Supreme Pontiff, even though you’re right about a literal root derivative from Latin.

It’s not a big deal, in either case. It’s a title that simply implies authority (like “President”). Anyways, compare this to various oher so-called “Christian” groups (ie: Mormons, Iglesia Ni Cristo) who claim their present leader is a Prophet, even though the High Prophet (Christ) already spoke in entirety.

No more than German royalty who adopted the title Kaiser or Russian royalty who took the title Tsar (both being derived from Caesar).

In fact ‘King of Kings’ was a title of the old Persian Emperors probably even before it was used to describe Christ - does that make Christ their heir??!?!?!?

Good points.

 

[sandmountainsli]

Being interested in genealogy myself, I wanted to point out that it is believed that all people of European ancestry alive today decend from at least one “Holy Roman Emperor” - Charlemagne.

Here is one article on the subject:

itotd.com/articles/226/most-recent-common-ancestors/

I have heard that theory before and it DOES seem to add up.
I am descended from the Stuarts of Bute who were/are illegitimate offspring of the old Scottish line and from a woman named Jane Sewall who was a descendant of the third Edward of England. All of thes ancestors are via my G-Grandma was a Handy which is an old Maryland family who were plantation owners from the 1600’s up to the WBTS. I have had a ball doing genealogy.
WP

 

[LilyM]

Of England - since 1521; it being a title bestowed on an English king. The only Scottish kings to bear it were also kings of England.​

Britain is made up of two kingdoms which have had one ruler since 1603 (everyone forgets the Welsh, of course - they have their own Principality). The point being, that Britain is not the same as England - it would be like calling North America the United States: there’s that place up north as well, which is ruled by the Queen ##

Hehe - forgive me, I’m used to being on an island which comprises a single country and thus have absolutely no sensiivity about such issues

 

[Atreyu]

Hehe - forgive me, I’m used to being on an island which comprises a single country and thus have absolutely no sensiivity about such issues

Yeah, the island of New South Wales, eh?