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THE MELKITES

227

Ḥomṣ and Beirut are Metropolitan sees without suffragans.[1] It may be that the new synod, the fourth of 'Ain-Trāz (1909), has made some legislation to this effect. The ordinary bishops, as well as the Patriarch, have certain civil rights over their flocks; each receives a berat from the state to this effect.[2]

When a see is vacant, the Patriarch proposes three candidates; of these the diocesan clergy should choose one. As a matter of fact, the laity, the "Notables of the Nation,"[3] play a considerable part in the election. Only at Aleppo is there a special rule, approved by Rome. Here the clergy and notables have absolutely free choice.[4] The Holy See has no voice nor part in the election of Melkite bishops.[5] They are ordained by the Patriarch, with two assistants. Besides the diocesan Ordinaries there are a certain number of titular bishops, either Patriarchal Vicars or Ordinaries who have retired. The Patriarch may name and ordain any titular bishops he pleases. They are called Synkelloi.[6] Their titles are those of ancient sees in the country which no longer have Ordinaries.

A curious right of the Ordinary is that no one may marry without his consent.[7]

The lower clergy is either secular or regular. Till the time of Maximos III the Melkite clergy consisted almost entirely of monks of the two Congregations.[8] One of that Patriarch's


3 These Notables of the Nation" ((Greek characters), arkhanḍūs at Tā'ifeh) play a great part in all Eastern Churches in the Ottoman Empire. In theory they are the chiefs of tribes and leaders of the people. But the term is vague, and is given easily to any rich man.


6 (Greek characters) ((Greek characters) and cella), Ar, muṭrānu-lḳillāyeh. Originally this was an ecclesiastic who lived with the bishop or abbot, never quitting him, to be witness of his conduct and morals.

  1. ↑ Charon explains and defends his system, iii, 251-258. He follows it in his list (284-324) and in the table at p. 329. There are Arabic words which distinguish. A bishop is Usḳuf, an archbishop Ra'īs usāḳifeh. But one rarely hears them, except in solemn proclamations. In ordinary speech everyone calls every bishop Mutrān.
  2. ↑ Charon gives an example of a berat — for Dimitri 'Antākī of Aleppo, in 1846.
  3. ↑ 3
  4. ↑ Pius VII approved this by his Brief, Tristis quidem of June 3, 1816. See the text in Charon, iii, p. 551.
  5. ↑ Charon quotes examples showing that sometimes at Rome they did not even know of the existence of certain Melkite Ordinaries (iii, 557).
  6. ↑ 6
  7. ↑ The priest has to apply for a faculty for every marriage.
  8. ↑ Not entirely. It is sometimes said that Maximos III founded the Melkite secular clergy. This is an exaggeration; he greatly fortified and extended it; but there were secular priests before his time.
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