Difference between revisions of "Primus inter pares"

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'''''First among equals''''' is a Latin phrase indicating that a person is the most senior of a group of people sharing the same rank or office.  Usually, the role is considered a necessary inclusion to a system where all parties are equal.  In the Orthodox Church, the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] (currently His All-Holiness [[Bartholomew I (Archondonis) of Constaninople|Bartholomew I]]) fulfils this role.
  
'''''First among equals''''' is a Latin phrase indicating that a person is the most senior of a group of people sharing the same rank or office. Some political examples include the Prime Minister of many Commonwealth nations, the President of the European Commission, and the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.  
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Closely related to collegiality, these concepts caused the rejection of concept of the [[papacy]], and is the [[ecclesiology|ecclesiological]] reason for the Great Schism.
  
This also applies to religious figures, such as the Dean of the [[College of Cardinals]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], or the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] of the [[Orthodox Church]]. The term was also used by [[Roman Emperor]]s as a means of reducing the appearance of dictatorship (which was particularly important during the early [[Roman Empire]] to appease those who may have longed for a return to the old [[Roman Republic]]).
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==Equivalents==
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On [[Mount Athos]], the head of civil administration, styled ''protos'' (first), is elected for a limited time to govern the civil aspects of the Holy Mountain.
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Some political examples include the Prime Minister of many Commonwealth nations, the President of the European Commission, and the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The term was also used by Roman Emperors as a means of reducing the appearance of dictatorship, particularly important during the early Roman Empire to appease those who may have longed for a return to the old Roman Republic.
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This also applies to religious figures outside of the Orthodox Church.  The Dean of the College of Cardinals is considered to be the primus inter pares of this College in the [[Roman Catholic Church]].  In the [[Anglican Communion]], the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] is often considered to be "first among equals". The [[Moderator of the General Assembly (Presbyterianism)|Moderator of the General Assembly]] in a [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian church]] is similarly designated. The senior bishop of the seven [[diocese]]an bishops of the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] bears the truncated title [[Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church|Primus]] from ''primus inter pares''.
  
 
==Religion==
 
==Religion==
The phrase "first among equals" is also used by some to describe the role of the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]], who, as the ''Ecumenical Patriarch'', is considered the first among all the Patriarchs of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es.  According to those views, the title does not mean that the holder has special authority over the other [[bishop]]s; rather, it is an acknowledgement of his historic significance.
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The phrase "first among equals" is also used by some to describe the role of the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]], who, as the ''Ecumenical Patriarch'', is considered the first among all the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches.  According to those views, the title does not mean that the holder has special authority over the other [[bishop]]s; rather, it is an acknowledgement of his historic significance.
  
This is not the view of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which considers the Pope to be [[Pope|Vicar of Christ]], successor of [[Saint Peter]], and leader of the bishops, [[Apostolic succession|successors]] of the [[Apostle]]s. Because of this, the Roman Catholic Church sees the Pope as holding an office senior to that of other bishops, rather than merely being the most senior bishop. This claim was one of the main causes of the [[East-West Schism]] in the Christian church, finalized in 1054.  However, the Dean of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church is generally considered to be the first among equals in the College.
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This is not the view of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which considers the Pope to be [[Pope|Vicar of Christ]], successor of [[Saint Peter]], and leader of the bishops, [[Apostolic succession|successors]] of the [[Apostle]]s. Because of this, the Roman Catholic Church sees the Pope as holding an office senior to that of other bishops, rather than merely being the most senior bishop. This claim was one of the main causes of the Great Schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church around 1054.
  
In the [[Anglican Communion]], the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] is often considered to be "first among equals". The [[Moderator of the General Assembly]] in a [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian church]] is similarly designated. The senior bishop of the seven [[diocese]]an bishops of the [[Scottish Episcopal Church]] bears the truncated title [[Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church|Primus]] from ''primus inter pares''.
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==See also==
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*[[Church of Rome]]
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*[[Perogatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate]]
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*[[Primacy and Unity in Orthodox Ecclesiology]], by [[User:FrJohn|Fr John Schroedel]]
  
==Source==
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==External links==
* [[w:Primus_inter_pares&oldid=67646207|Wikipedia]]
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* Primus inter pares - [[w:Primus_inter_pares&oldid=67646207|source]], [[w:Primus inter pares|current version]]
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* [[w:Presbyterianism]]
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* [[w:Scottish Episcopal Church]]
  
==See also==
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[[Category:Ecclesiology]]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primus_inter_pares Wikipedia Article]
 
* [[Primacy and Unity in Orthodox Ecclesiology]]
 
* [[Church of Rome]]
 

Revision as of 03:32, September 9, 2006

First among equals is a Latin phrase indicating that a person is the most senior of a group of people sharing the same rank or office. Usually, the role is considered a necessary inclusion to a system where all parties are equal. In the Orthodox Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (currently His All-Holiness Bartholomew I) fulfils this role.

Closely related to collegiality, these concepts caused the rejection of concept of the papacy, and is the ecclesiological reason for the Great Schism.

Equivalents

On Mount Athos, the head of civil administration, styled protos (first), is elected for a limited time to govern the civil aspects of the Holy Mountain.

Some political examples include the Prime Minister of many Commonwealth nations, the President of the European Commission, and the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The term was also used by Roman Emperors as a means of reducing the appearance of dictatorship, particularly important during the early Roman Empire to appease those who may have longed for a return to the old Roman Republic.

This also applies to religious figures outside of the Orthodox Church. The Dean of the College of Cardinals is considered to be the primus inter pares of this College in the Roman Catholic Church. In the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury is often considered to be "first among equals". The Moderator of the General Assembly in a Presbyterian church is similarly designated. The senior bishop of the seven diocesean bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church bears the truncated title Primus from primus inter pares.

Religion

The phrase "first among equals" is also used by some to describe the role of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who, as the Ecumenical Patriarch, is considered the first among all the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. According to those views, the title does not mean that the holder has special authority over the other bishops; rather, it is an acknowledgement of his historic significance.

This is not the view of the Roman Catholic Church, which considers the Pope to be Vicar of Christ, successor of Saint Peter, and leader of the bishops, successors of the Apostles. Because of this, the Roman Catholic Church sees the Pope as holding an office senior to that of other bishops, rather than merely being the most senior bishop. This claim was one of the main causes of the Great Schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church around 1054.

See also

External links