Ecclesiastical office
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
episcopal see
(the "metropolitan see") of an
ecclesiastical province
. The head of such a metropolitan see has the rank of archbishop and is therefore called the
metropolitan archbishop
of the ecclesiastical province. Metropolitan (arch)bishops preside over
synods
of the bishops of their ecclesiastical province, and
canon law
and tradition grant them special
privileges
.
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
[
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]
As Christianity expanded in the
Roman Empire
, larger concentrations of believers were to be found in urban environs. The Bishop of such cities came to hold a pre-eminence of honour in the
province
of which his diocese was the
capital
, with some eventually gaining a primacy even over other provinces with their own
primus inter pares
. By the middle of the 3rd century
Carthage
had become the leading see in
Roman North Africa
.
[4]
The
Council of Nicea
codified this arrangement into
canon law
[5]
in accordance with the growing standardisation of ecclesiastical diocesan structure along the lines of secular Roman blueprints. It also gave the first documented use of the term "Metropolitan" in reference to such bishops as had the presidency over a province. Meanwhile, Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch had grown in ecclesiastical prominence such that by the early 4th century they had long-recognised jurisdiction over more than one province of bishops each. Alexandria had attained primacy over
Roman Egypt
,
Roman Libya
, and
Pentapolis
. The Bishop of Rome had
Primatial
authority over provinces within 100 miles of the city.
[6]
By virtue of their authority over multiple provinces, the sees of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch were by this time already exercising "supra-metropolitan" reach that would later be extended and become known as
Patriarchates
.
[6]
After Nicaea the designation of Metropolitan applied to such sees as
Caesarea
and Carthage, which by the late 4th century had a recognised primacy over multiple provinces of
Syria Palaestina
and the wider
Mahgreb
, respectively.
[7]
[4]
[6]
With the Imperial Capital having moved to
Byzantium
in 330, the renamed city of
Constantinople
became increasingly important in church affairs of the Greek East. The See of Constantinople was granted Archepiscopal status prior to
a council held in the city in 381
. Coinciding with the city's use as the Imperial residence, the See of Milan was elevated to Metropolitan/Archepiscopal status by the time of the presidency of
Ambrose
(374-397)
[8]
and temporarily exercised primacy over Northern Italy (the
Diocesis Italia annonaria
, which included territory across the Alps to the Danube).
[9]
All provinces of Italy were under the broader Primatial oversight of the Archbishop of Rome at least by the end of the 4th century.
[9]
Catholic Church
[
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]
Latin Church
[
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]
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
Apostolic Nuncio
, who evaluates the candidates in a consultative and confidential process. The Nuncio in turn forwards the best candidates to the
Congregation for Bishops
in Rome, who conduct a final evaluation of candidates and offer their findings to the Pope for his final decision of appointment.
[18]
Eastern Catholic
[
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]
Within patriarchal or major archiepiscopal churches
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
[
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]
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
precedence
, while in others that order is reversed. Primates of
autocephalous
Eastern Orthodox churches below patriarchal rank are generally designated as archbishops. In the
Greek Orthodox churches
, archbishops are ranked above metropolitans in precedence. The reverse is true for some Slavic Orthodox churches (Russian Orthodox,
Bulgarian Orthodox
) and also for
Romanian Orthodox Church
, where metropolitans rank above archbishops and the title can be used for important regional or historical
sees
.
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
Serbian Orthodox Church
, honorary title of metropolitan is given to diocesan bishops of some important historical sees (Article 14 of the Constitution of Serbian Orthodox Church).
[26]
For example, diocesan bishop of the
Eparchy of Montenegro and the Littoral
is given the honorary title of metropolitan, but without any jurisdiction over other diocesan bishops in
Montenegro
. Diocesan bishop of the
Eparchy of Dabar-Bosnia
is also given the honorary title of metropolitan, but without any jurisdiction over other diocesan bishops in
Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
Oriental Orthodox Communion
[
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]
Malankara churches
[
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]
Metropolitan is a title used by all
Oriental Orthodox Churches
in
Malankara
.
Malankara Metropolitan
was a legal title given to the head of the
Malankara Syrian Church
, aka Puthencoor (New Allegiance) Syrian Christians, by the Government of
Travancore
and
Cochin
in South India. This title was awarded by a proclamation from the
King of Travancore
and the
King of Cochin
to the legal head of the Malankara Church. The Supreme Court of India has authenticated the usage of the title by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in its verdict in the Malankara Church case.
Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II
was enthroned as
Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan
on 1 November 2010 at
Parumala
, Kerala. Under his
see
, the
dioceses
are further headed by diocesan metropolitans.
Other Eastern Christians
[
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]
In the
Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
[27]
which is based in India, the metropolitan also known as the
Mar Thoma
is the primate and supreme head of the church who is entitled to special privileges and remains the ultimate authority over the synod.
Philipose Mar Chrysostom
is the senior metropolitan as of 28 August 2007, and
Joseph Mar Thoma
was installed on 2 October 2007 as the 21st Malankara Metropolitan.
Anglican
[
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]
In the
Anglican Communion
, a metropolitan is generally the head of an ecclesiastical province (or cluster of
dioceses
). In the few Anglican churches with multiple provinces headed by metropolitans (namely the
Church of England
, the
Church of Ireland
, the
Anglican Church of Canada
, the
Anglican Church of Australia
, and the
Church of Nigeria
), a metropolitan ranks immediately under the
primate
or senior metropolitan of the national church.
[28]
Most metropolitans, but not all, are styled archbishop. In England, Ireland, and Australia, each province has a "metropolitical see" whose diocesan bishop is
ex officio
metropolitan (such as the Archbishops of Canterbury and Sydney), while in Canada metropolitans are elected by the provincial houses of bishops from among the sitting diocesans. Prior to 1970, however, the metropolitan of the
Province of Rupert's Land
was always the bishop of the
eponymous diocese
, centred on Winnipeg. (Since then, only one Bishop of Rupert's Land,
Walter Jones
, has been elected metropolitan).
Other Protestant
[
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]
The title is used by the Indian
Oriental Protestant
Syrian Christian
-like
Pentecostal
denomination the
Believers Eastern Church
as the current main leader of the church.
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
- ^
"metropolite"
.
Oxford English Dictionary
(Online ed.).
Oxford University Press
.
(Subscription or
participating institution membership
required.)
- ^
First Council of Nicaea, canon IV
- ^
Cross, F. L.; Livingstone, E. A., eds. (2005).
"Metropolitan"
.
The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
. New York: Oxford University Press.
ISBN
978-0-192-80290-3
.
- ^
a
b
Hassett, Maurice M. (1908).
"Archdiocese of Carthage"
. In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
Catholic Encyclopedia
. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^
At canons 4 and 6
- ^
a
b
c
Schaff, Philip; Wace, Henry (2022-04-29).
A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, Volume 14: The Seven Ecumenical Councils
. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 15?19, 438.
ISBN
978-1-6667-4063-9
.
- ^
"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Caesarea Palaestinae"
.
www.newadvent.org
. Retrieved
2023-05-26
.
- ^
Lizzi, Rita (1990).
"Ambrose's Contemporaries and the Christianization of Northern Italy"
.
The Journal of Roman Studies
.
80
: 156?173.
doi
:
10.2307/300285
.
ISSN
0075-4358
.
JSTOR
300285
.
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
[
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]