Eminence (style)

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His Eminence
)

cardinal.
(Portrait of Roman Catholic Cardinal Bernardino Spada by Guido Reni
, c. 1631.)

His Eminence (abbreviation H.Em. or HE) is a

style of reference
for high nobility, still in use in various religious contexts.

Catholicism

The style remains in use as the official style or standard form of address in reference to a

Prince of the Church
.

A longer, and more formal, title is "His (or Your when addressing the cardinal directly) Most Reverend Eminence".[a]

Patriarchs of Eastern Catholic Churches who are also cardinals may be addressed as "His Eminence" or by the style particular to Catholic patriarchs, His Beatitude.

When the

Reichsfürst (i.e., prince of the Holy Roman Empire) in 1607, became (in terms of honorary order of precedence, not in the actual church hierarchy of ordained ministers) the most senior official after the most junior member of the cardinals in 1630, he was also awarded the hybrid style His Most Eminent Highness (abbreviation HMEH) to recognize his status as a type of Prince of the Church.[1]

The

Grand Master of the contemporary Sovereign Military Order of Malta is still styled His Most Eminent Highness. Styles such as "His Grand Eminence" or "His Eminent Grace" amongst others were used as well, some formalized by the pope
or other powers, such as monarchs. However, many others were simply the personal preference of the cardinal and by the merit of other earthly offices.

While the term is shunned by many individuals of other faiths or denominations of Christianity, the title is officially maintained in international diplomacy without regard for its doctrinal, philosophical and theological origins.

Eastern Orthodox Church

Titular metropolitans are addressed with the style of "Excellency
".

The

Jerusalem, as well as the Serbian, Bulgarian and Russian patriarchs are referred to as "His Holiness", while Romanian Patriarchs are referred to as "His Beatitude". The patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church
is a unique exception, being addressed as "His Holiness and Beatitude".

Oriental Orthodoxy

In

Oriental Orthodoxy, bishops holding the rank of metropolitan
are referred to as "His Eminence".

In Syriac Orthodox Church the Catholicose of India who is also the Maphrian of the East is referred to as "His Beatitude Catholicose".

Other religions

In the

supreme bishops, who are the church's head primates, are referred to as "His Eminence" and "Your Eminence" in their official form of address or style
.

In

Gyalwa Karmapa had 4 principal disciples who held regency until the enthronement of the 17th Karmapa. Each of these 4 high lamas hold/held the title His Eminence. In the Southern Drukpa Kagyu in Bhutan
, the Five Lopons of the Zhung Dratshang are styled "Their Eminences".

It is also used, often informally (perhaps as a rendering of an oriental style), in

HRH style that is usually used by the country's royal monarchs, highlighting by so doing their positions as spiritual as well as temporal leaders. The Lord of the Rasulid Order is styled His Most Eminent Royal Highness (abbreviated HMERH).[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "History of the Order 1099–1999". Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Grand Priory of England. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  2. ^ "Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  3. Coconuts Manila
    . 20 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Murjite Order". Murjite Order. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Royal House of Tahir Buruj". 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

External links

Catholic Church Style
Pope His Holiness
Cardinal His Eminence
Bishop His Excellency