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Fr.Ron
Guest
I have been asked a question for which i do not have an answer. There are four Seas, Holy, Constantinople, Antioch and Alexandria, in the Catholic Church. What constitutes a Sea and what is the reason for a Sea?
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Genesis315
Guest
You forgot one of the Sees, the pre-eminent See–Rome. See comes from the word for Chair and it is in reference to the presiding chair used by an Apostle. These five Apostolic Sees were presided over and founded directly by Apostles. “Apostolic Sees” (plural) refers to all of them, while the Apostolic See (singular) refers to Rome–just as when you see “the Apostle” it refers to St. Paul or “the Prophet” refers to Isaiah (even though there were more prophets and apostles).
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Genesis315
Guest
And welcome to CF Father 
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Mike_Dye
Guest
An Apostolic see is any see founded by an Apostle and having the authority of its founder. The word sedes “chair” is an old techinical term applicable to all episcopal sees, it was first used to designate the churches founded by the Apostles, later the word was applied to the principal Christian churches. These were considered the five great patriarchal sees of Christian antiquity. Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusulem, and Constantinople.
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Chatter163
Guest
Given the question, spelling and all, I strongly doubt that the new member is a priest.And welcome to CF Father
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LilyM
Guest
I was thinking that too. At least not a Roman Catholic priest.
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AlexV
Guest
Don’t be so sure, seminary education in many places being what it is…
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LilyM
Guest
Alex - not knowing what a See is? While there are seminaries that don’t do a sterling job of education faithwise, I really doubt there are any in existence that would’ve passed a priest who didn’t know that much.
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gelsbern
Guest
I am finding myself in agreement with Chatter and Lily as to questioning whether this is a priest or not, but I find it quite distasteful of what Lily M said in regards with what type of priest this is.
It COULD be a Roman Catholic priest who just doesn’t speak english. It could be a Roman Catholic priest who isn’t well educated. To insinuate that any other priest who is not in union with Rome would be unintelligent and that only Roman Catholic priests are well educated is false and insulting and at the least a very uncharitable comment.
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decn2b
Guest
Noteworhty on each alar is the Altar stone with 5 crosses etched in it. Theses 5 crosses represent the 5 principal churches of Christendom ie the 5 sees we are taling about.
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Trident59
Guest
You are assuming that “each Altar” has an Altar stone. Ours does not. It is made of wood. After our parish burnt to the ground in about 1989 we rebuilt it but we were told that an altar stone was not necessary. The old Altar stone was found in the rubble and is now in the safe keeping of one of our parishoners.
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
The four apostolic Sees are Rome, Alexandra, Antioch and Jerusalem. Constantinople being added as a fifth later. They are recognized as Apostolic Sees because they were where Apostles settled and stayed. The other Apostles established Churches, and moved on, many were martyred very early on.
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Andreas_Hofer
Guest
The comment doesn’t insinuate that all schismatic priests are idiots, it just points out that it would be near impossible to get through a modern Catholic seminary without knowing what a see is. Thus, if it really is a priest, odds are almost sure he is not Catholic. The days of St. Joseph of Cupertine (BTW, one of my favorite saints) are long gone. Methinks your own irregular situation has made you overly sensitive.
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gelsbern
Guest
Possibly, but I do have an MDIV and am educated myself. I just think that adding in the word Roman Catholic Priest as a clarifier was unnecessary when I get PM’s all the time telling me to please not use the term Roman Catholic.
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LilyM
Guest
My humblest apologies gelsbern and anyone else I may have offended :bowdown2:
I had no thought or intent of implying that the education of non-RC priests was in any way inferior, simply that it was quite possibly different, at least for some.
I had no thought or intent of implying that the education of non-RC priests was in any way inferior, simply that it was quite possibly different, at least for some.
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rwoehmke
Guest
Didn’t Benedict XVI just dump the title of Patriarch of the See of Rome?
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Br.Rich_SFO
Guest
No, He didn’t take the title Patriarch of the West for himself. The next pope could pick it back up again. He is still the Bishop of the Apostolic See of Rome.
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Struggling
Guest
And he still fulfills the role of Patriarch for the Latin-Rite. Perhaps “the west” was a little broad…but maybe “patriarch of rome” or something, or just “patriarch of the latins” would be a nice replacement to see…
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gelsbern
Guest
No sweat LilyM, I know you would never insinuate such a thing, It had just been a particularly rough day with some other stuff going on and I apologize for being so thin skinned, please forgive me if I came across a little cross on the matter
I did speak to Fr. Ron on the telephone. His information is fairly easy to find if one starts with his profile. He is indeed a Roman Catholic priest (please excuse the term Roman Catholic for this time) he says he just can’t spell worth a ding. His spell checker never caught the error because sea is a valid word. He seems to be a very wonderful priest and with the work he does, (you can see it on his profile), spelling things properly is probably a low priority.
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Sam88
Guest
I note that the OP did not explicitly refer to just a Apostolic see, but to sees in general of which there are many more than the ones listed. The diocese of any bishop can also be referred to as a see.
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