Difference between revisions of "Presbeia"

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==Presbeia in the Liturgy==
 
==Presbeia in the Liturgy==
Churches following the Greek and Russian traditions have two different ways of determining presbeia at the altar.  
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Churches following the Greek and Russian traditions have two different ways of determining ''presbeia'' at the altar.  
  
In Greek (and Antiochian) practice, presbeia is reckoned in the following order:
+
In Greek (and Antiochian) practice, ''presbeia'' is reckoned in the following order:
 
*Hierarchs, grouped by title/elevation, and then refined by year of ordination
 
*Hierarchs, grouped by title/elevation, and then refined by year of ordination
 
*Monastic priests, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination
 
*Monastic priests, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination
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*Non-monastic deacons, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination.  
 
*Non-monastic deacons, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination.  
  
In Russian practice, presbeia is reckoned in the following order:
+
In Russian practice, ''presbeia'' is reckoned in the following order:
 
*Hierarchs, grouped by title/elevation, and then refined by year of ordination
 
*Hierarchs, grouped by title/elevation, and then refined by year of ordination
 
*Priests, grouped by title/elevation, with monastic priests preceding non-monastic priests, and then refined by year of ordination
 
*Priests, grouped by title/elevation, with monastic priests preceding non-monastic priests, and then refined by year of ordination

Revision as of 19:45, April 24, 2014

This article deals with presbeia in canon law and tradition. For the presbeia of the saints, see intercession.

The term presbeia (πρεσβεία, Greek for "prerogatives," "seniority," or "privileges") refers to the position of certain bishops with regard to others, whether purely in honor or in terms of authority. It may also refer to the seniority of order among clergy in general, ascertained by some combination of rank, title or elevation (clergy award), and date of ordination.

Canonical literature distinguishes between two forms of honor for bishops, the presbeia timis (πρεσβεία τιμίς, "prerogatives of honor") and the akolouthia timis (ακολουθία τιμίς, "service of honor"). The first term, presbeia timis, refers to authoritative prerogatives, such as the right to ordain bishops in a certain region. The latter, akolouthia timis, refers to purely honorific status. For instance, at one point in the history of the Church in Palestine, the Patriarch of Jerusalem had the akolouthia timis because of his position as the bishop of the Holy City of Jerusalem, but the nearby Metropolitan of Caesarea held the presbeia timis, having the right to ordain bishops in Palestine.

The traditional phrase, primus inter pares ("first among equals") is an example of timis which is both presbeia and akolouthia in that it gives its holder a position more honored than all other Orthodox bishops, but also it has traditionally been associated with the right to preside at Ecumenical Councils. It may further include other sorts of prerogatives, depending on canonical interpretation.

Presbeia in the Liturgy

Churches following the Greek and Russian traditions have two different ways of determining presbeia at the altar.

In Greek (and Antiochian) practice, presbeia is reckoned in the following order:

  • Hierarchs, grouped by title/elevation, and then refined by year of ordination
  • Monastic priests, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination
  • Non-monastic priests, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination
  • Monastic deacons, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination
  • Non-monastic deacons, grouped by title/elevation and then refined by year of ordination.

In Russian practice, presbeia is reckoned in the following order:

  • Hierarchs, grouped by title/elevation, and then refined by year of ordination
  • Priests, grouped by title/elevation, with monastic priests preceding non-monastic priests, and then refined by year of ordination
  • Deacons, grouped by title/elevation, with monastic deacons preceding non-monastic deacons, and then refined by year of ordination.

See also


This article forms part of the series
Clergy
Antiochian Local Synod
Major orders Bishop | Priest | Deacon
Minor orders Subdeacon | Reader | Cantor | Acolyte
Other orders Chorepiscopos | Exorcist | Doorkeeper | Deaconess - Presbityde
Episcopal titles Patriarch | Catholicos | Archbishop | Metropolitan | Auxiliary | Titular
Priestly titles Protopresbyter | Archpriest | Protosyngellos | Economos
Diaconal titles Archdeacon | Protodeacon
Minor titles Protopsaltes - Lampadarios
Monastic titles Archimandrite | Abbot - Hegumen
Related Ordination | Vestments | Presbeia | Honorifics | Clergy awards | Exarch | Proistamenos | Vicar
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