that of bishop.[1] One does not often hear of an archbishop. The name occurs in the official title of the Patriarch of Constantinople, and in the case of one or two heads of autocephalous Churches. The title Exarch is also kept for a metropolitan who fills some exceptional and important position, as the Exarch of Georgia. So the Bulgars, not quite daring to call the head of their Church Patriarch, made him an Exarch. There is nothing corresponding to our Cathedral Chapters. All bishops are appointed by the Patriarch, Holy Synod, or other head of their Church. They must be celibates, and so are practically always chosen from the monasteries. They must be thirty years old, and are consecrated by the Patriarch or chief Metropolitan of their Church (or by their deputy) assisted by two other bishops.[2] The idea that to consecrate a bishop involves jurisdiction over him still prevails in the East. Metropolitans (and other bishops) are addressed as "Your Beatitude," they are "most Blessed Lords," and are spoken of as the "Holy man" of such a place. The title Despot (which in Greek has of course nothing of the bad associations of its English form) is often used too; the Turks usually speak of the bishop as the Despot Effendi.[3] All bishops are exempt from the law which forbade Rayahs to ride a horse or to have followers. Their names are mentioned throughout their dioceses in the Holy Liturgy. They wear the usual dress of monks, a long black cassock and cloak with the invariable black kalemaukion (brimless hat), and are only distinguished by the superior material of their clothes (the cloak is often fur-lined, &c.), the medal they wear round their neck, their veil, and the handsome ivory or silver-headed walking-stick they carry.[4] The institution of the Chorepiscopi (χωρεπίσκοπος, Country Bishop) in the East has
- ↑ The Greek Church will gradually change this (p. 314). Ἀρχιερεύς is a rather grandiloquent name for any bishop or abbot.
- ↑ In Turkey every bishop must receive his berat from the Government before he is consecrated.
- ↑ Ὑμετέρα μακαριότης· Μακαριώτατος κύριος· Ὁ ἅγιος τῶν Αθηνῶν, τοῦ Κορίνθου κ.τ.λ. Δεσπότης.
- ↑ They have no rings, and are very angry with our bishops for wearing them. This was one of Cerularius's complaints against us (p. 191).
For liturgical vestments see p. 405.
