Exarch
An exarch (/ˈɛksɑːrk/; from Ancient Greek ἔξαρχος exarchos, meaning “leader”) was the holder of any of various historical offices, some of them being political or military and others being ecclesiastical.
In the late Roman Empire and early Byzantine Empire, an exarch was a governor of a particular territory. From the end of the 3rd century or early 4th, every Roman diocese was governed by a vicarius, who was titled "exarch" in eastern parts of the Empire, where the Greek language and the use of Greek terminology dominated,[1] even though Latin was the language of the imperial administration from the provincial level up until the 440s (Greek translations were sent out with the official Latin text). In Greek texts, the Latin title is spelled βικάριος (bikarios). The office of exarch as a governor with extended political and military authority was later created in the Byzantine Empire, with jurisdiction over a particular territory, usually a frontier region at some distance from the capital Constantinople.[2]
In the
Political exarchs
In the civil administration of the Byzantine Empire the exarch was, as stated above, the imperial governor of a large and important region of the Empire. The Exarchates were a response to weakening imperial authority in the provinces and were part of the overall process of unification of civil and military offices, initiated in early form by Justinian I, which would lead eventually to the creation of the Thematic system by either the Emperor Heraclius or Constans II.
After the dissolution of the Western Empire in the late fifth century, the
In Italy the
The term Exarch most commonly refers to the Exarch of Italy, who governed the area of Italy and Dalmatia, still remaining under Byzantine control after the Lombard invasion of 568. The exarchate's seat was at Ravenna, whence it is known as the "Exarchate of Ravenna". Ravenna remained the seat of the Exarch until the revolt of 727 over Iconoclasm. Thereafter, the growing menace of the Lombards and the split between eastern and western Christendom that Iconoclasm caused made the position of the Exarch more and more untenable. The last Exarch was killed by the Lombards in 751.
A second exarchate was created by Maurice to administer northern Africa, formerly a separate praetorian prefecture, the islands of the western Mediterranean and the Byzantine possessions in Spain. The capital of the Exarchate of Africa was Carthage. An emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Heraclius, was the son of the exarch of Africa before Heraclius replaced the usurper emperor Phocas in 610. Phocas had revolted under emperor Maurice who had appointed Heraclius' father as exarch of Africa. The exarchate proved both financially and militarily strong, and survived until the Arab Muslim conquest of Carthage in 698.
Ecclesiastical exarchs
Early tradition
The term 'exarch' entered ecclesiastical language at first for a
The Council of Chalcedon (451), which gave special authority to the see of Constantinople as being "the residence of the emperor and the Senate", in its canons spoke of diocesan "exarchs", placing all metropolitans in dioceses of Asia, Thrace and Pontus (including metropolitans-exarchs of Ephesus, Heraclea and Caesarea) under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Constantinople. Metropolitans-exarchs of Ephesus tried to resist the supreme jurisdiction of Constantinople, but eventually failed since imperial government supported the creation of a centralized Patriarchate.[1]
When the proposed government of universal Christendom by five patriarchal sees (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, known as the
Local ecclesiastical development in some regions also included the title of exarch. Since the Church of Cyprus was declared
Eastern Orthodox Churches
In modern ecclesiastical practice of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the title of exarch was often used to designate the highest hierarchical office under the rank of patriarch. When Russian Patriarch Adrian of Moscow died in 1700, Emperor Peter the Great abolished the patriarchal office and appointed Metropolitan Stefan Yavorsky as exarch and head of the Most Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
After imperial Russia annexed Georgia (the eastern part in 1801, and the western part in 1810), the ancient Georgian Orthodox Church (autocephalous since 750, whose head was since 1008 styled Catholicos-Patriarchs) was reorganized into the Georgian Exarchate, and the newly appointed Exarch of Georgia (since 1817 always an ethnic Russian) sat in the Russian Holy Synod at St. Petersburg.[5] Since the entire region of the Caucasus fell under Russian rule, the jurisdiction of the Georgian Exarchate was expanded, encompassing the territories of modern-day Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 7 April 1917, the Georgian Patriarchate was restored for the Archbishops of Mtsheta and Tbilisi, with the style Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, and the title Exarch of Georgia was extinguished, but only for the Georgian part of the Exarchate. The Russian Orthodox Church and its exarch Platon (Rozhdestvensky) kept their jurisdiction over non-Georgian parts of the Caucasian region, and for those territories the Caucasian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church was created in the summer of 1917, with metropolitan Platon as Exarch of the Caucasus. In the spring of 1918, he was succeeded by metropolitan Cyril (Smirnov) as new Exarch of the Caucasus, but after his transfer to another post in the spring of 1920 no new exarch was appointed.[6]
On 28 February 1870 the twenty-year-old struggle between Greeks and Bulgarians for control of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria culminated when the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz created an independent Bulgarian ecclesiastical organization, known as the Bulgarian Exarchate. The Orthodox Church in Bulgaria had now become independent of the Greek-dominated Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Bulgarian Exarch, who resided in Constantinople, became the most famous bearer of the title of exarch; his adherents throughout region were called exarchists, as opposed to the Greek patriarchists. The ensuing struggle, waged especially in Macedonia, was not only religious but had a conspicuous political dimension of a contention between competing Greek and Bulgarian national aims. For more information see Bulgarian Exarchate and Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
In 1921, eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church in
During the 20th century, the pentarchy-number principle, already abandoned in the case of Bulgaria (10th century), Serbia (14th century) and Russia (16th century), gave way to the desire of the now politically independent Orthodox nations to see their sovereignty reflected in ecclesiastical autonomy – autocephaly – and the symbolic title to crown it: a 'national' Patriarch. For example, Bulgarian Exarchate was raised to the rank of Patriarchate in 1953.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the office of exarch can be also given to a special deputy of a Patriarch, with jurisdiction over a community outside the home territory of the Patriarchate. Thus, in the United States there are Exarchs representing, among others, the Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian and Jerusalem Patriarchs. The style of the Exarchs of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is "Exarch of the Holy Sepulcher".
The Mexican Orthodox parishes in five deaneries (Mexico City, D.F., State of Mexico, State of Jalisco, State of Veracruz and State of Chiapas) of the Orthodox Church in America are governed as the "Exarchate of Mexico", currently under the leadership of Bishop Alejo of Mexico City.[7]
The third officer of the court of the
Oriental Orthodox Churches
The
Latin Church
Historically, there have been a very few cases of the civil title of Exarch granted by the civil authority to prelates of the
However, the ecclesiastical title of Exarch has disappeared in the Western Catholic Church, being replaced by the terms "
Modern Eastern Catholic Churches
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In
These Churches are, in general, not identified with a particular liturgical rite. Thus, no fewer than fourteen of them use the same Byzantine Rite, mostly in one or other of only two languages, Greek and Church Slavonic, but they maintain their distinct identities. Because of population shifts, half or so of these Churches have not just exarchates but full-scale eparchies (bishoprics) or even archeparchies (archdioceses) outside their original territory.
Apostolic exarchs
Patriarchal exarchs
A
Archiepiscopal exarchs
Coadjutor exarchs
In particular cases, usually because of illness or some other problem, an exarch of any rank can be assisted by the appointment of a colleague who is called
Auxiliary exarchs
In practice, exarch of any rank can be additionally assisted by an
List of Eastern Catholic exarchates
The following Eastern Catholic exarchates can be found in the 2006 Annuario Pontificio and newer sources.[10] The Apostolic Exarchates are exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, rather than to their Patriarch or other head of the particular Church
- Greek Byzantine Catholic Church:
- Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Greece in Athens
- Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul (alias Constantinople; Turkey)
- Melkite (Greek) Catholic Church:
- Melkite Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Argentina
- Melkite Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela
- Russian Greek Catholic Church:
- Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church:
- Ruthenian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Czech Republic
- Exarchate of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto (since 2022)
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church:
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Germany and Scandinavia for Germany and Scandinavia (Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark)
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Italy
- Maronite Church:
- Syriac (Syrian) Catholic Church :
- Syrian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate for Canada
- Syriac Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela
Patriarchal Exarchates
- Armenian Catholic Church:
- Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Damascus (Syria)
- Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem and Amman (Palestine, Israel and Jordan)
- Melkite (Greek) Catholic Church:
- Melkite Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Iraq
- Melkite Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Istanbul(Turkey)
- Melkite Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Kuwait
- Maronite Church:
- Syriac (Syrian) Catholic Church:
- Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Bassorah and the Gulf(Iraq, Kuwait etc.)
- Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem (Palestine, Israel and Jordan)
- Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Turkey
Archiepiscopal Exarchates
- Ukrainian (Greek) Catholic Church, in Ukraine:
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Donetsk
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Kharkiv
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Lutsk
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Odesa
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Krym (Crimea), on the Russian-annexed Crimea, with cathedral see at Simferopol
Former Eastern Catholic Exarchates
(probably still incomplete)
Former Eastern Catholic Exarchates in the Old World
in Europe – Byzantine Rite
- Bulgarian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Sofia(1926–2019, elevated to Eparchy in 2019)
- Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Turkey of Europe(now of Istanbul)
- Hungarian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Miskolc(Hungary; promoted to eparchy)
- Apostolic Exarchate of Łemkowszczyzna
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Donetsk-Kharkiv(Ukraine; split in both named cities)
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Lutsk-Volyn (Ukraine; split in ?)
- Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Odesa-Crimea (Ukraine; split in both named parts)
- Apostolic Exarchate of Serbia and Montenegro(2003–2013)
- Byzantine Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Serbia(2013–2018, elevated as Eparchy in 2018)
- Apostolic Exarchate of Macedonia(2001-2018, elevated as an Eparchy in 2018)
in Asia – Armenian Rite
- Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Jerusalem(Palestine, Israel and Jordan, now 'Jerusalem and Amman')
- Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Syria (suppressed)
in Asia – Antiochian Rite
- Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate of Lebanon(national; suppressed)
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States(USA; promoted Eparchy of St. Mary, Queen of Peace, of the United States of America and Canada)
in Asia – Syro-Oriental Rite
- Syro-Malabar Apostolic Exarchate of Chanda(India; promoted eparchy)
in Africa – Alexandrian Rite
- Apostolic Exarchate of Addis Abbeba(Ethiopic Catholic; promoted Metropolitanate sui iuris)
- Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara(Eritrean Catholic)
in Africa – Antiochian Rite
- Maronite Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Western and Central Africa
Former Eastern Catholic Exarchates in the New World
in the Americas – Antiochian Rite
in the Americas – Armenian Rite
- Armenian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Latin America and Mexico
- Armenian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of the USA and Canada
in the Americas – Byzantine Rite
- Romanian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of the USA (US and Canada)
- Ruthenian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of the USA
- Melkite Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of the USA
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Canada
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Central Canada
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Eastern Canada
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Edmonton(Canada)
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Manitoba(Canada)
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Saskatoon(Canada)
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Stamford(US)
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Toronto(Canada)
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of the USA
- Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Western Canada
in the Americas –
- Chaldean Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of the USA
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Church:
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Canada
References
- ^ a b c Meyendorff 1989.
- ^ Ostrogorsky 1956.
- ^ https://droitromain.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/Corpus/Nov131.htm ; "sancimus secundum earum [scil. a sanctis quattuor conciliis] definitiones sanctissimum senioris Romae papam primum esse omnium sacerdotum, beatissimum autem archiepiscopum Constantinopoleos Novae Romae secundum habere locum post sanctam apostolicam sedem senioris Romae, aliis autem omnibus sedibus praeponatur."; "we order that, according what decided by them [the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus and Chalcedon] the pope of Rome shall be the first of all priests, then the very blessed archbishop of Constantinople New Rome shall have the second place after the holy, senior apostolic seat of Rome, by them all other seats shall be outranked."
- ^ A. Fortescue, Orthodox Eastern Church, 21–25.
- ^ Fortescue 1908, p. 295, 304–305, 351.
- ^ Moss, Vladimir. "The Orthodox Church in the Twentieth Century". romanitas.ru.
- ^ "Dioceses - Diocese of Mexico". www.oca.org.
- ^ Cheney, David M. "Serbia (Apostolic Exarchate)". Catholic Hierarchy.
- ^ Cheney, David M. "Bishop Christo Proykov". Catholic Hierarchy].
- ^ "Catholic Dioceses in the World (Apostolic Exarchates)". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
Sources
- Fortescue, Adrian (1908). The Orthodox Eastern Church. London: Catholic Truth Society.
- Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
- ISBN 9780881410563.
- ISBN 9788872103364.
External links
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Adrian Fortescue (1913). "Exarch". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. .
- Giga-Catholic Information: Rites - Apostolic Exarchates - Patriarchal Exarchates - Archiepiscopal Exarchates
- WorldStatesmen- Religious Organisations