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The Patriarchal Institution in the Early Church: (The Pentarchy of the Patriarchs

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The Patriarchal Institution in the Early Church: (The Pentarchy of the Patriarchs Durham E-Theses The Patriarchal institution in the early church: (The Pentarchy of the Patriarchs. The presuppositions, the evolution and the function of the institution) Panagiotopoulos, Loannis Ant. How to cite: Panagiotopoulos, Loannis Ant. (1996) The Patriarchal institution in the early church: (The Pentarchy of the Patriarchs. The presuppositions, the evolution and the function of the institution), Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/5385/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 The Patriarchal Institution in the Early Church (The Pentarchy of the Patriarchs. The Presuppositions, the Evolution and the Function of the Institution) by loannis Ant. Panagiotopoulos Graduate of Theology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 1996 MA THESIS PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM ^Department of Theology -6 OCT II to my parents Antonios and Stamatina Panagiotopoulos Ill FOREWORD The command of St. Paul, «~avTa Sk eia-yi^pLOvoj^ y.ai VMia -ua^w yivj^-Su)) (1 Cor 14:40), specifies the exact limits of the operation of the ecclesiastical community. Therefore any operation or action outside the limits of the ecclesiastical order, is not simply a problem for the Church's life but also a transgression of the apostolic commandment and the gospel. This influences the whole life of the ecclesiastical community as far as its historical continuity is concerned and, in this way, the evolution of the ecclesiastical administration. With this historical continuity in mind, we shall try to trace the evolution of the system of ecclesiastical administration of the Early Church. This period, which is commonly called the Early Church, continues to be of vital interest for us, because the global village in which we live corresponds, in some sense, to the unity of the Roman Empire. It is not surprising that modern man has taken an interest in this historical period, perhaps because now, more than ever before, he needs to understand himself Modern man needs to show off the real thing authentically and to make up authentically the so-called "collective consciousness." This thesis was the occasion for a personal journey from the East to the West, and from the West to the East. The new experiences and the knowledge, which we have gained, surpass the limits of the written word of the following text. We bear on our shoulders the continuous sense of the weight, which the "ironed feet" of the great scientists and researchers, who have worked in such a great and interesting period for the Theology and the History, has accumulated. I would like to thank my supervisor the Very Revd. Dr. George D. Dragas for his unreserved support, his advice, suggestions and his crucial contribution to this IV effort. I owe him a great deal, because as my supervisor, he showed me not only the path I ought to pursue in my research, but assisted me academically and personally in many ways, for which 1 am very thankflil, and made my experience in Durham a memorable one. I would also like to thank my Greek Professor Vlassios loan. Phidas of Athens, for introducing me to Dr. Dragas and helping me with invaluable suggestions and advice. Finally I would like to thank my parents for their love and support throughout this project. loannis Ant. Panagiolopoiilos V TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Foreword III 2. Table of Contents V 3 List of Abbreviations VI 4. Introduction VII 5. Chapter 1 Ecclesiological Prerequisites of the Patriarchal Institution. 15 6. Chapter 2 The Precedence of Honour attributed to certain Thrones during the first three centuries AD 29 7. Chapter 3 The Precedence of Honour attributed to certain Thrones during the fourth century AD 43 8. Chapter 4 The Institutionalization of the Precedence of Honour and the Ecclesiastical Government 73 9. Chapters The Institutionalization of the Precedence of Honour and the Synodical System 102 10. Chapter 6 The Function of the Institution of the Pentarchy 117 11. Epilogue 132 12. Bibliography I. Primary Sources 135 II. Secondary Authorities 136 VI LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AGO E. Schwartz, ed.. Acta Concilionim Oeaimeniconnn, Berlin, 1927 ff. BEPES BiCAio-Sriy.Tj '/JAATJVWV TJarsptov y.ai ' Ey-XArjC:ia(77ly.iov Zvy- Ypa^ecov [Library of Greek Fathers and Ecclesiastical Authors] (ed. 'AnosTTo/.txY) Ataxovia TTj:; ' YLy.y.'K-ff!ia.c, -rf, ^EXXaSoO Athens 1955 ff. EE0E Tz-ia^fjfxoviy.rj ^E-erripi^ Trj^ OeoAoyiy.rfi Ey_oArjC, roO Ilavs:- -tcTTiii'.ou 'A-3rivm. [Scientific Annual of the Dpt. of Theology of the University of Athens] HCC G. J. Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church, from the Original Documents., tr. H. N. Oxenham, 5 vols, Edinburgh, 1876. lEE lo'Topca rou 'E}i}^y]vty.o'j ''E-Svo'j;;, (ed. "Ex.Scit'.y.rj Ai'rjvuv), vls.1-15 (A'-IE ), Athens, 1970-78. Mansi G. D. Mansi, Sacrorum ConciUorum Nova et AmpUssima Co/lectio, Florence, 1759-63 MACE H. R. Loyn, ed.. The Middle Ages, a Concise Encyclopaedia, London, 1989, "Thames and Hudson". NJBC Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Roland E. Murphy, ed.. The New Jerome BihUcal Commentary, Student edition, 1993. ODE Alexander P. Kazhdan, ed.. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, vis. 1 -3, New York - Oxford , 1991. Phidas, Penlarchy HXaTtou 'Iw. $£'.5a, O &ecjxoc, rij^ Ilevrapyja!; raiv flaTpiap- y(i)v, V.I: npouno-Seffeic Atayiopdnoc'eb):; rod 0£Cjxo'j (a- 'dpyij^ [xeypi 10 451), Athens, 1969, V.II: ' la-ropiy.oy.awviy.i EIpo- Sl-qixara nepl TTJV Aeiroupycav roO ©ea-fioO (451 - 553), Athens, 1970. PG J. P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae Graecae Cursus Completus, Paris, 1844-66 PL J. P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae Latinae Cursus Completus, Paris, 1844-66 SG Sources Ghretiennes, Paris, 1941 ff. SYNTAGMA r. 'A. PaXXT) - M. no-rXT;, ed., TvvTayixa TWV ©e'.uv xat 'I- epcov Kavowv, vls. 1-6 (A - ST), Athens, 1852-1859, (Reprint 1992). INTRODUCTION Research, scientific speculation and involvement in the question of the patriarchal institution are not something new for Theology and Church History. It is well known that theological researchers have shown great interest in this subject. It could not have been otherwise, since the institution has been alive and works until today. While much has been written on this subject, and although a lot of it has stood the test of time, I believe that reexamination is needed. Before, however, we begin this task, we think that it would be fair to mention those persons who more or less specialized in their scholarly work in the patriarchal institution. It is important to note their opinions about this institution in general and about the Pentarchy in particular. Having a full picture from the beginning, we will have the opportunity to protect the value of our opinion and the impartiality of our conclusions. General Treatises Abbe Guettee, a Frenchman, wrote on The Papacy; Its Historic Origin and Primitive Relations M'ith the Eastern Churches, in the 19th Century.' This book is important because of the personal history of the author, who was a Roman Catholic priest but later became Orthodox. Thus, this treatise has the character of a witness to the historical truth, and is sympathetic to the See of Constantinople. Guettee was a talented historian, as is evident from his use of the sources. This fact makes the treatise and the author contemporar>'. He follows the tradition of the 12th Century Byzantine canonists in his interpretation of the patriarchal institution, and makes a distinction concerning the sanctioning of the patriarchal institution in the canons 6 and 7 of the First Ecumenical Council (which agrees with the opinion of most Orthodox and Western researchers). As a result, this perspective does not discern the importance of the precedence of honour in the evolution and function of the patriarchal institution. Although he has a limp sense of its significance in the formation of ecclesiastical administration, he understands, thanks to his persistence to appealing to the 'Abbe Gucttce, The Papacy: Its Historic Origin and Primitive Relations with the Eastern Churches, New York, 1866, (Minos Publishing Co.). 2Abbc Gucttce, The Papacy, p.95. VIII sources, the role of the Fourth Ecumenical Council to the patriarchal institution . "' The book remains useflil and timely to researchers, because the author cites the original sources in a thorough way. The same perspective which we saw in the previous treatise can also be seen in a book by B. J. Kidd.'' In his book, Kidd enumerates in chronological order the arguments for the Roman primacy. Therefore, he maintains all the characteristics of a treatise which has as a goal to cite the sources. He does not accept the later theory of Roman primacy, and he correctly criticizes the historical sources. Unfortunately, while he has collected many important sources, he does not delve deeply into their meaning and significance. In spite of its shortcomings, the book remains useful, because it successfully introduces the reader into the historical context.
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