Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan (alternative obsolete form: metropolite[1]), pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis
Originally, the term referred to the bishop of the chief city of a historical Roman province, whose authority in relation to the other bishops of the province was recognized by the First Council of Nicaea (AD 325).[2] The bishop of the provincial capital, the metropolitan, enjoyed certain rights over other bishops in the province, later called "suffragan bishops".[3]
The term metropolitan may refer in a similar sense to the bishop of the chief
In some churches, such as the Church of Greece, a metropolis is a rank granted to all episcopal sees. Their bishops are all called metropolitans, the title of archbishop being reserved for the primate.
Origins
As Christianity expanded in the
Catholic Church
Latin Church
In the Latin Church, an ecclesiastical province, composed of several neighbouring dioceses,[10] is headed by a metropolitan, the archbishop of the diocese designated by the Pope.[11] The other bishops are known as suffragan bishops.
The metropolitan's powers over the dioceses of his province, other than his own diocese, are normally limited to:
- supervising observance of faith and ecclesiastical discipline and notifying the Pope of any abuses;
- carrying out, for reasons approved beforehand by the Holy See, a canonical inspection that the suffragan bishop has neglected to perform;
- appointing a diocesan administrator if the college of consultors fails to elect an at least 35-year-old priest within eight days after the vacancy of the see becomes known;[12] and
- serving as the default ecclesiastical court for appeals from decisions of the tribunals of the suffragan bishops.[13]
The metropolitan also has the liturgical privilege of celebrating sacred functions throughout the province, as if he were a bishop in his own diocese, provided only that, if he celebrates in a cathedral church, the diocesan bishop has been informed beforehand.[14]
The metropolitan is obliged to request the pallium, a symbol of the power that, in communion with the Church of Rome, he possesses over his ecclesiastical province.[15] This holds even if he had the pallium in another metropolitan see.
It is the responsibility of the metropolitan, with the consent of the majority of the suffragan bishops, to call a provincial council, decide where to convene it, and determine the agenda. It is his prerogative to preside over the provincial council.[16] No provincial council can be called if the metropolitan see is vacant.[17]
The Metropolitans of a given territory are also involved in the selection of bishops. Every three years, they compile a list of promovendis - a list of priests who may be suitable for the office of bishop. This is forwarded to the local
Eastern Catholic
Within patriarchal or major archiepiscopal churches
In those Eastern Catholic Churches that are headed by a patriarch, metropolitans in charge of ecclesiastical provinces hold a position similar to that of metropolitans in the Latin Church. Among the differences is that Eastern Catholic metropolitans within the territory of the patriarchate are to be ordained and enthroned by the patriarch, who may also ordain and enthrone metropolitans of sees outside that territory that are part of his Church.[19] Similarly, a metropolitan has the right to ordain and enthrone the bishops of his province.[20] The metropolitan is to be commemorated in the liturgies celebrated within his province.[21]
A major archbishop is defined as the metropolitan of a certain see who heads an autonomous Eastern Church not of patriarchal rank. The canon law of such a Church differs only slightly from that regarding a patriarchal Church.[22] Within major archepiscopal churches, there may be ecclesiastical provinces headed by metropolitan bishops.
As heads of their own particular churches
There are also autonomous Eastern Catholic Churches consisting of a single province and headed by a metropolitan. Metropolitans of this kind are to obtain the pallium from the Pope as a sign of his metropolitan authority and of his Church's full communion with the Pope, and only after his investment with it can he convoke the Council of Hierarchs and ordain the bishops of his autonomous Church.[23] In his autonomous Church it is for him to ordain and enthrone bishops[24] and his name is to be mentioned immediately after that of the Pope in the liturgy.[25]
Eastern Orthodox Church
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the title of metropolitan is used variously, in terms of rank and jurisdiction.
In terms of rank, in some Eastern Orthodox churches metropolitans are ranked above archbishops in
In terms of jurisdiction, there are two basic types of metropolitans in Eastern Orthodox Church: real metropolitans, with actual jurisdiction over their ecclesiastical provinces, and honorary metropolitans who are in fact just diocesan bishops with honorary title of metropolitan and no jurisdiction outside their own diocese.
Some Eastern Orthodox churches have functioning metropolitans on the middle (regional) level of church administration. In Romanian Orthodox Church there are six regional metropolitans who are the chairmen of their respective synods of bishops, and have special duties and privileges. For example, metropolitan of Oltenia has regional jurisdiction over four dioceses.
On the other hand, in some Eastern Orthodox churches title of metropolitan is only honorary, with no special or additional jurisdiction. In
Oriental Orthodox Communion
Malankara churches
Metropolitan is a title used by all
Other Eastern Christians
In the
Anglican
In the
Other Protestant
The title is used by the Indian
See also
- Exarch
- Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral
- List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Moscow
- List of Metropolitans of the Indian Orthodox Church
References
- ^ "metropolite". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^ First Council of Nicaea, canon IV
- ISBN 978-0-192-80290-3.
- ^ a b Hassett, Maurice M. (1908). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company. . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
- ^ At canons 4 and 6
- ^ ISBN 978-1-6667-4063-9.
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Caesarea Palaestinae". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- S2CID 162263728.
- ^ a b Hoare, F. R. (1954-01-01). The Western Fathers (1st ed.). Sheed & Ward. pp. xvi–xvii.
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 431
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 435
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 436 §1–2
- ^ Canon 1438 no. 1.
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 436 §3
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 437
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 442
- ^ Code of Canon Law, canon 440 §2
- ^ "To choose a bishop: A man for the Church, not a "ladder-climber" - Vatican News". 26 April 2021.
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 86
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 133
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 135
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canons 151–154
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 156
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 159
- ^ Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 161
- ^ "Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church". Serbian Orthodox Church.
- ^ "History of Marthoma Church – Marthoma Church of Silicon Valley".
- ^ "Anglican Communion: Member Churches".
External links
- "List of Catholic Metropolitan Archdioceses in the world". GCatholic.org.
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. .