Difference between revisions of "Church of Constantinople"

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[[Image:Constantinople seal.gif|right|The Church of Constantinople]]
 
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The '''Church of Constantinople''' is one of the fifteen [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] churches, also referred to as the '''Ecumenical [[Patriarchate]]'''. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who has the status of ''[[primus inter pares]]'' ("first among equals") among the world's Orthodox [[bishop]]s.  The current Ecumenical Patriarch is His All-Holiness [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]], Archbishop of Constantinople.
 
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The local churches of the Ecumenical Patriarchate consist of five archdioceses, three churches, 13 metropolises ("metropolis" is preferred use over "metropolitanate" within this particular Orthodox jurisdiction), and one diocese, each of which reports directly to the Patriarch of Constantinople with no intervening authority.  In addition, three of the five archdioceses have internal metropolises (16 in all), which are part of their respective archdioceses rather than distinct administrative entities, unlike the other metropolises.
 
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[[Image:Ecumenical Patriarchate.jpg|right|frame|The entrance to the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar in Constantinople]]
 
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==Peculiar prerogatives of the patriarchate==
 
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:''Main article: [[Prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate]]''
 
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In history and in [[canons (law)|canonical literature]] (i.e. the Church's canons and traditional commentaries on them), the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been granted certain prerogatives (''[[presbeia]]'') which other autocephalous Orthodox churches do not have.  Not all of these prerogatives are today universally acknowledged, though all do have precedents in history and canonical references.  The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of these prerogatives and their reference points:
 
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*Equal prerogatives to Old Rome (Canon 3 of the [[Second Ecumenical Council]], Canon 28 of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]], Canon 36 of the [[Quinisext Council]])
 
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*The right to hear appeals, if invited, regarding disputes between clergy (Canons 9 and 17 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
 
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*The right to ordain bishops for areas outside defined canonical boundaries (Canon 28 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
 
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*The right to establish [[stavropegial]] [[monastery|monasteries]] even in the territories of other [[patriarchate]]s (the [[Epanagoge]], commentaries of [[Matthew Blastares]] and [[Theodore Balsamon]])
 
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'''Universal Right of Appeal to Constantinople'''
 
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'''Canon 9''' (Canon 17 has similar wording) of [[Chalcedon]] reads: ''"If any Clergyman has a dispute with another, let him not leave his own Bishop and resort to secular courts, but let him first submit his case to his own Bishop, or let it be tried by referees chosen by both parties and approved by the Bishop. Let anyone who acts contrary hereto be liable to Canonical penalties. If, on the other hand, a Clergyman has a dispute with his own Bishop, or with some other Bishop, let it be tried by the Synod of the province. But if any Bishop or Clergyman has a dispute with the Metropolitan of the same province, let him apply either to the Exarch of the diocese or to the throne of the imperial capital Constantinople, and let it be tried before him."'' <ref>(D. Cummings, trans., ''The Rudder of the Orthodox Catholic Church: The Compilation of the Holy Canons Saints Nicodemus and Agapius'' (West Brookfield, MA: The Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1983), p. 253).</ref>
 
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St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain comments on the meaning of this canon:
 
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'':"So it is evident that the Canon means that if any bishop or clergyman has a dispute or difference with the Metropolitan of an exarchy, let him apply to the Exarch of the diocese; which is the same thing as saying that clergymen and metropolitans subject to the throne of Constantinople must have their case tried either before the Exarch of the diocese in which they are situated, or before the Bishop of Constantinople, as before a Patriarch of their own. '''It did not say that if any clergyman has a dispute or difference with the Metropolitan of any diocese or parish whatever, they must be tried before the Bishop of Constantinople….''' That is why Zonaras too says that the Bishop of Constantinople is not necessarily entitled to sit as judge over all Metropolitans, '''but (only) over those who are judicially subject to him''' (interpretation of c. XVII of the present 4th C.). And in his interpretation of c. V of Sardica the same authority says: "The Bishop of Constantinople must hear the appeals only of those who are subject to the Bishop of Constantinople, precisely as the Bishop of Rome must hear the appeals only of those who are subject to the Bishop of Rome"'' <ref>(D. Cummings, trans., ''The Rudder of the Orthodox Catholic Church: The Compilation of the Holy Canons Saints Nicodemus and Agapius'' (West Brookfield, MA: The Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1983), p. 255).</ref>
 
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One might also point out the absurdity of ''not'' reading the canon as St. Nichodemos suggests.  You would have to conclude that Constantinople could even overrule Rome... something that even the pre-schism Roman Church would never have accepted, nor is it likely that any other Patriarchate of that time would have either.
 
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'''Universal Jurisdiction: The Claim to All "Barbarian Lands"'''
 
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'''Canon 28''' of Chalcedon reads: ''"Everywhere following the decrees of the Holy Fathers, and aware of the recently recognized Canon of the one hundred and fifty most God-beloved Bishops who convened during the reign of Theodosius the Great of pious memory, who became emperor in the imperial city of Constantinople otherwise known as New Rome; we too decree and vote the same things in regard to the privileges and priorities of the most holy Church of that same Constantinople and New Rome. And this is in keeping with the fact that the Fathers naturally enough granted the priorities to the throne of Old Rome on account of her being the imperial capital. And motivated by the same object and aim the one hundred and fifty most God-beloved Bishops have accorded the like priorities to the most holy throne of New Rome, with good reason deeming that the city which is the seat of an empire, and of a senate, and is equal to old imperial Rome in respect of other privileges and priorities, should be magnified also as she is in respect of ecclesiastical affairs, as coming next after her, or as being second to her. And it is arranged so that only the Metropolitans of the Pontic, Asian, and Thracian dioceses shall be ordained by the most holy throne of the most holy Church of Constantinople aforesaid, and likewise the Bishops of the aforesaid dioceses which are situated in barbarian lands; that is to say, that each Metropolitan of the aforesaid dioceses, together with the Bishops of the province, shall ordain the Bishops of the province, just as is prescribed try the divine Canons. But the Metropolitans of the aforesaid dioceses, as has been said, are to be ordained by the Archbishop of Constantinople, after the elections have first been conducted in accordance with custom, and have been reported to him."'' <ref>(D. Cummings, trans., ''The Rudder of the Orthodox Catholic Church: The Compilation of the Holy Canons Saints Nicodemus and Agapius'' (West Brookfield, MA: The Orthodox Christian Educational Society, 1983), p. 271-276)</ref>
 
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Concerning the meaning of the reference to "barbarian Lands", St. Nicodemos writes:
 
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:''"Not only are the Metropolitans of the said dioceses to be ordained by him, but indeed also the bishops located '''in barbarian regions that border on the said dioceses''', as, for instance, those called Alani are adjacent to and flank the diocese of Pontus, while the Russians border on that of Thrace"'' <ref>The Rudder, p. 276</ref>. 
 
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And so the canon does not refer to all unclaimed territory on the planet, according to St. Nicodemos, but only to a specific area on the border of a specific area.
 
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{{church|
 
{{church|
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name= Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|
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name= Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople[[Image:Constantinople seal.gif|center|The Church of Constantinople]]|
 
founder= [[Apostle Andrew]]|
 
founder= [[Apostle Andrew]]|
 
independence=Traditional |
 
independence=Traditional |
Line 49: Line 14:
 
website=[http://www.ec-patr.org Church of Constantinople]
 
website=[http://www.ec-patr.org Church of Constantinople]
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Church of Constantinople''' is one of the fourteen or fifteen [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] churches, also referred to as the '''Ecumenical [[Patriarchate]]'''. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who has the status of ''[[primus inter pares]]'' ("first among equals") among the world's Orthodox [[bishop]]s. The local churches of the Ecumenical Patriarchate consist of five archdioceses, three churches, thirteen metropolises, and one diocese, each of which reports directly to the Patriarch of Constantinople with no intervening authority.  In addition, three of the five archdioceses have internal metropolises (16 in all), which are part of their respective archdioceses rather than distinct administrative entities, unlike the other metropolises.
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The current Ecumenical Patriarch is His All-Holiness [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]], Archbishop of Constantinople.
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==Metropolitanates of Constantinople==
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<small>''See Main Article'' '''[[Church of Constantinople Structure]]'''</small>
  
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== Structure of the patriarchate ==
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The [[Church of Constantinople]] is headed by the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] and is split into a number of Metropolitanates as listed below.
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*[[Archdiocese of Constantinople]]
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[[Image:Byzantine-Constantinople.jpg|left|thumb|Map of Byzantine Constantinople.]]
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**Metropolis of Chalcedon
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{| width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="2" border=0
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**Metropolis of Gokceada and Bozcaada (Imbros and Tenedos)
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| align="left" valign="top"|
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**Metropolis of the Prince's Islands
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*The '''[[Archdiocese of Constantinople]]'''
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**Metropolis of Derkos
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**[[District of Stavrodromion]]
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*[[Orthodox Archdiocese of Crete|Archdiocese of Crete]]
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**[[District of Tatavla]]
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**Metropolis of Gortyna and Arkadia
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**[[District of the Bosphorous]]
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**Metropolis of Rethymna and Avlopotamos
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**[[District of Hypsomatheia]]
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**Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronos
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**[[District of the Phanar and the Keratius gulf]]
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**Metropolis of Lampi, Syvritos and Sfakia
 
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**Metropolis of Ierapytna and Siteia
 
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**Metropolis of Petra and Herronisos
 
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**Metropolis of Kisamos and Selinos
 
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**Metropolis of Arkalohorion, Kastelio and Vianno
 
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*[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Archdiocese of America]]
 
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**Metropolis of Chicago
 
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**Metropolis of New Jersey
 
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**Metropolis of Atlanta
 
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**Metropolis of Denver
 
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**Metropolis of Pittsburgh
 
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**Metropolis of Boston
 
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**Metropolis of Detroit
 
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**Metropolis of San Francisco
 
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*[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia|Archdiocese of Australia]]
 
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*[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain|Archdiocese of Great Britain]]
 
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*Metropolis of Rhodes
 
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*Metropolis of Kos
 
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*Metropolis of Karpathos and Kasos
 
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*Metropolis of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalaia
 
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*[[American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese]]
 
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*[[Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA]]
 
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*[[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]]
 
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*[[Orthodox Metropolis of Korea|Metropolis of Korea]]
 
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*[[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)|Metropolis of Canada]]
 
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*Metropolis of Buenos Aires
 
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*Metropolis of Mexico
 
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*Metropolis of New Zealand
 
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*[[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia|Metropolitanate of Hong Kong]]
 
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*[[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of France|Metropolis of France]]
 
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*Metropolis of Germany
 
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*Metropolis of Austria
 
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*Metropolis of Belgium
 
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*Metropolis of Scandinavia
 
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*[[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Switzerland|Metropolis of Switzerland]]
 
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*Metropolis of Italy
 
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*Metropolis of Spain
 
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*[[Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America]]
 
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*[[Russian Orthodox Exarchate in Western Europe]]
 
  
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| align="left" valign="top"|
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*'''Sacred Metropolitanates within Turkey:'''
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**[[Metropolis of Chalcedon]]
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**[[Metropolis of Derkoi]]
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**[[Metropolis of the Imbros and Tenedos|Metropolis of Gokceada and Bozcaada (Imbros and Tenedos)]]
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**[[Metropolis of the Prince Islands]]
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| align="left" valign="top"|
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|}
  
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There are also two [[autonomy|autonomous]] churchs whose primates are confirmed by Constantinople, but which are not hierarchically or administratively part of the patriarchate, the [[Church of Finland]], and the [[Church of Estonia]].
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== Places of Pilgrimage ==
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Some sites of pilgrimage are no longer owned by the Church nor function as orthodox centres but are historically connected and of great significance to Orthodoxy.
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* Church of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia ]]
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* [[Church of the Holy Apostles (Constantinople)]]
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<gallery>
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Image:ChristChora.JPG
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Image:Christ03.JPG
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</gallery>
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== Peculiar prerogatives of the patriarchate ==
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''Main article: [[Prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate]]''
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[[Image:Ecumenical Patriarchate.jpg|left|thumbnail|The entrance to the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the [[Phanar]] in Constantinople]]In history and in [[canons (law)|canonical literature]] (i.e. the Church's canons and traditional commentaries on them), the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been granted certain prerogatives (''[[presbeia]]'') which other autocephalous Orthodox churches do not have.  Not all of these prerogatives are today universally acknowledged, though all do have precedents in history and canonical references.  The nature of these prerogatives or even their very existence is hotly contested on [[Prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate#Canonical claims|canonical grounds]] by certain other Orthodox churches, particularly the [[Church of Russia]].
 +
<br>
 +
The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of these prerogatives and their reference points:
 +
*Equal prerogatives to Old Rome (Canon 3 of the [[Second Ecumenical Council]], Canon 28 of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]], Canon 36 of the [[Quinisext Council]])
 +
*The right to hear appeals, if invited, regarding disputes between clergy (Canons 9 and 17 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
 +
*The right to ordain bishops for areas outside defined [[canonical territory|canonical boundaries]] (Canon 28 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
 +
*The right to establish [[stavropegial]] [[monastery|monasteries]] even in the territories of other [[patriarchate]]s (the [[Epanagoge]], commentaries of [[Matthew Blastares]] and [[Theodore Balsamon]])
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople]]
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*[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|'''Hierarchical Succession''']]
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*[[Holy Synod of Constantinople|'''The Holy and Sacred Synod''']], ''The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is presided over by His All-Holiness [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]], Archbishop of Constantinople and is comprised of XX Metropolitans.''
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*[[Theological School of Halki|'''Theological Institutions''']]
 
*[[Ecumenical Patriarchate in America]]
 
*[[Ecumenical Patriarchate in America]]
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*[[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean Islands]]
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{{churches}}
 
{{churches}}
  
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==References==
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==External links==
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<div class="references-small">
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*[http://www.ec-patr.org/default.php?lang=en/ Official website of the Patriarchate of Constantinople]
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<small><references /></small>
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*[http://www.ecupatria.org Official website of the Permanent Representation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches]
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</div>
 
  
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== External links ==
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*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=13&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: Patriarchate of Constantinople] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar
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* [http://www.ec-patr.gr Official website of the Patriarchate of Constantinople]
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*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8148.asp The Origins and Authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church], by [[Demetrios Constantelos|Demetrios J. Constantelos]]
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* [http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg.aspx?eccpageID=13&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: Patriarchate of Constantinople] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar
 
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*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8148.asp The Origins and Authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church], by Demetrios J. Constantelos
 
 
*[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/balsamon-cpl.html Caesaropapism?: Theodore Balsamon on the Powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople], by Paul Halsall
 
*[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/balsamon-cpl.html Caesaropapism?: Theodore Balsamon on the Powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople], by Paul Halsall
 
*[http://www.svots.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=116 Chalcedon Canon 28: Yesterday and Today], by Rev. [[John H. Erickson]]
 
*[http://www.svots.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=116 Chalcedon Canon 28: Yesterday and Today], by Rev. [[John H. Erickson]]
 
*[http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/milton1_6.html Constantinople and Rome: A Survey of the Relations between the Byzantine and the Roman Churches], by Milton V. Anastos
 
*[http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/milton1_6.html Constantinople and Rome: A Survey of the Relations between the Byzantine and the Roman Churches], by Milton V. Anastos
 
*[http://www.ec-patr.gr/patrdisplay.php?lang=en&id=5 Brief Historical Note Regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate], from the official website
 
*[http://www.ec-patr.gr/patrdisplay.php?lang=en&id=5 Brief Historical Note Regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate], from the official website
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* http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate/timeline.swf (Timeline)
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* http://www.patriarchate.org/media/vrtour_patriarchate.php (Virtual tour)
+
*Prof. Thomas Mathews. [http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart/html/Byzantine/ The Byzantine Churches of Constantinople]. New York University (Institute of fine Arts).
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* http://www.archons.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/ (History)
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*[http://www.byzantium1200.com/ Byzantium 1200] (Byzantium 1200 is a project aimed at creating computer reconstructions of the Byzantine Monuments located in Istanbul, TURKEY as of year 1200 AD).
−
* http://realserver.goarch.org/ram/en/lightstillbright.ram (History - video)
+
 
 +
*[http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate/timeline.swf Timeline]
 +
*[http://www.patriarchate.org/media/vrtour_patriarchate.php Virtual tour]
 +
*[http://www.archons.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/ History]
 +
*[http://realserver.goarch.org/ram/en/lightstillbright.ram History - video]
 
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_patriarch.aspx Articles Critical of Actions of Positions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate]
 
*[http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/ea_patriarch.aspx Articles Critical of Actions of Positions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate]
 +
*[http://www.ortodoksi.net/index.php/The_Legal_Status_of_the_Ecumenical_Patriarchate The Legal Status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate] by Jaakko Husa, Professor of Constitutional Law and General Jurisprudence at the University of Joensuu (Finland) / Ortodoksi.net
 +
  
 
[[Category:Jurisdictions|Constantinople]]
 
[[Category:Jurisdictions|Constantinople]]
  
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[[ar:القسطنطينية]]
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[[ar:بطريركية القسطنطينية]]
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[[el:Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο]]
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[[es:Iglesia Ortodoxa de Constantinopla]]
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[[fr:Église de Constantinople]]
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[[ro:Biserica Ortodoxă a Constantinopolului]]
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[[ru:Константинопольская православная церковь]]

Revision as of 02:09, November 18, 2012

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Church of Constantinople
Founder(s) Apostle Andrew
Autocephaly/Autonomy declared Traditional
Autocephaly/Autonomy recognized Traditional
Current primate Patriarch Bartholomew I
Headquarters Istanbul, Turkey
Primary territory Constantinople, most of Turkey, Mount Athos, Crete, parts of Northern Greece, the Dodecanese
Possessions abroad United States, Canada, Great Britain, Western Europe, South America, Central America, Australia, Southeast Asia
Liturgical language(s) Greek, English
Musical tradition Byzantine Chant
Calendar Revised Julian, Julian
Population estimate 3,500,000
Official website Church of Constantinople

The Church of Constantinople is one of the fourteen or fifteen autocephalous churches, also referred to as the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who has the status of primus inter pares ("first among equals") among the world's Orthodox bishops. The local churches of the Ecumenical Patriarchate consist of five archdioceses, three churches, thirteen metropolises, and one diocese, each of which reports directly to the Patriarch of Constantinople with no intervening authority. In addition, three of the five archdioceses have internal metropolises (16 in all), which are part of their respective archdioceses rather than distinct administrative entities, unlike the other metropolises.

The current Ecumenical Patriarch is His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople.

Metropolitanates of Constantinople

See Main Article Church of Constantinople Structure

The Church of Constantinople is headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople and is split into a number of Metropolitanates as listed below.

Map of Byzantine Constantinople.

Places of Pilgrimage

Some sites of pilgrimage are no longer owned by the Church nor function as orthodox centres but are historically connected and of great significance to Orthodoxy.

  • ChristChora.JPG
  • Christ03.JPG

Peculiar prerogatives of the patriarchate

Main article: Prerogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

The entrance to the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar in Constantinople
In history and in canonical literature (i.e. the Church's canons and traditional commentaries on them), the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been granted certain prerogatives (presbeia) which other autocephalous Orthodox churches do not have. Not all of these prerogatives are today universally acknowledged, though all do have precedents in history and canonical references. The nature of these prerogatives or even their very existence is hotly contested on canonical grounds by certain other Orthodox churches, particularly the Church of Russia.


The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of these prerogatives and their reference points:

See also


Autocephalous and Autonomous Churches of Orthodoxy
Autocephalous Churches
Four Ancient Patriarchates: Constantinople · Alexandria · Antioch · Jerusalem
Russia · Serbia · Romania · Bulgaria · Georgia · Cyprus · Greece · Poland · Albania · Czech Lands and Slovakia · OCA* · Ukraine*
Autonomous Churches
Sinai · Finland · Estonia* · Japan* · China* · Ukraine*
The * designates a church whose autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.


External links

  • Prof. Thomas Mathews. The Byzantine Churches of Constantinople. New York University (Institute of fine Arts).
  • Byzantium 1200 (Byzantium 1200 is a project aimed at creating computer reconstructions of the Byzantine Monuments located in Istanbul, TURKEY as of year 1200 AD).
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