Gospel and the Psalms to all the others. The above-named persons, divided into three sets of five each, stand on the right side of the altar when the Patriarch celebrates. On the left are seventeen officers, namely, the Protopope and the Second Priest (δευτερεύων), the Exarch,[1] the Head of Churches (ὁ ἄρχων τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν), who keeps the holy chrism, the Catechist, Periodeutes, who visits country churches, the Baptist, First Singer (πρωτοψάλτης), two other Singers and Primicerii, the Choirmaster (πρώξιμος), who tells the others which is the dominant of the mode they are singing, Master of Ceremonies, Church-cleaner, Doorkeeper, Lamplighter, the Dean, who persuades the clergy that their cathedratica (patriarchal fees) are not too great, and the Deputy, who goes before the Patriarch and tells the crowd to stand back. So the Œcumenical Patriarchs, during their short reigns, are able to enjoy the dignity of quite a large court. The Great Logothete is the only one of these officers whose position is really important. He is always a layman, whose appointment must be confirmed by the Porte, and he is the official intermediary between the Phanar and the Turkish Government. All synodal acts, appointments to sees, depositions, and canonical acts generally must be countersigned by him. And in the intrigues that flourish round the throne of Constantinople, the Great Logothete plays a very important part.[2]
2. The other Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests, and Clerks.
We have seen something of the state of the other patriarchates at the present time. Here we need only add their titles and arms. In Egypt, Libya, and Arabia the Orthodox are ruled by the "most divine and all-holy Lord, the Lord Patriarch of Alexandria, Judge of the World."[3] He
- ↑ This is the person who examines marriage cases—Defensor matrimonii. He must not be confused with the Bulgarian Exarch.
- ↑ Silbernagl: Verfassung, u.s.w. pp. 20–23.
- ↑ Ὁ θειότατος καὶ παναγιώτατος κύριος, ὁ πατριάρχης Ἀλεξανδρέιας, δικαστὴς τοῦ κόσμου. This curious title may be a reminiscence of the days when St. Cyril of Alexandria, the great hero of the Egyptian Church, judged and deposed Nestorius of Constantinople at Ephesus (431). The Coptic Patriarch uses it too. I have also seen a longer title adding that he is Patriarch of Abyssinia, Nubia, and all the places where St, Mark preached.
