Web Site Home - Theology Home - Hierarchy Home - Locations Home - Education Home - Stewardship Home - Links Home - Vendors Home - Alphabetical Index Home - Thesaurus Home - Sitemap Home - Arabic fonts Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information CenterBishops / Sayedna / Sayidna
A bishop is the spiritual descendant/successor of the Holy Apostles. The Holy Apostles were appointed by Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ to be His representatives on earth. Then, a bishop is the representative of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ on earth. A bishop can be the head of the Church in an eparchy or have a special assignment. TitleBishop are usually addressed and referred to as "Sayedna" or "Sayidna" which means "Master or Teacher". When there is possible confusion about to whom the word "Sayedna" is referring then "Sayedna first name" is used. Order of HierarchyThe order of hierarchy, beginning with the so-called minor orders and going up the ladder:
The three Roles of a Bishop / Sayedna / SayidnaThe Bishop of an eparchy is the head of the Church in that eparchy. The Bishop is the successor of the Apostles in our midst, appointed by God to head the Church as its high priest. Thus, the Bishop is the representative of Christ in our midst. His Excellency / Sayedna / Sayidna Nicholas Samra, Auxiliary Bishop and Protosyncellos of Newton's explaination of the three roles of the BishopBishop / Sayedna Nicholas explained that the job of the Bishop is to be the high priest and the chief shepherd of the church. He told how the robes the bishop wears symbolize his role as Ruler, Guardian, and Guide. The three roles are illustrated in the vestments of the Bishop. Bishop / Sayedna Nicholas' explaination was to Saint Elias the Prophet Melkite Greek Catholic Mission Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) Class. Rev. Fr. Abouna Philaret Littlefield's explaination of the three roles of the BishopRev. Fr. Philaret Littlefield is Pastor of St. George Melkite (Byzantine) Greek Catholic Church, Milwaukee, WI. Thus, the Bishop is the representative of Christ in our midst and, as such, fulfills the three-fold ministry of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King. The Bishop's Prophetic role is that of teacher. The three roles are illustrated in the celebration of the Pontifical Divine
Liturgy. (When a Bishop / Sayedna / Sayidna says the Divine Liturgy, the Divine Liturgy is called a "Pontifical Divine Liturgy".) Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual Please click on Role of the Bishop. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States. Material prepared by Fr. Philaret Littlefield for inclusion in the St. George (Milwaukee, WI) Melkite Sunday Bulletin. Pontifical Divine LiturgyWhen a Bishop / Sayedna / Sayidna says the Divine Liturgy, the Divine Liturgy is called a "Pontifical Divine Liturgy". Candles during a Pontifical Divine LiturgyDuring the singing of the Trisagion Hymn, the Bishop / Sayedna / Sayidna, holding two candlesticks blesses the assembled Church, asking God to "look down from heaven and see: bless this vineyard which your right hand has planted" or "nurture this vineyard" which He has planted by His own hand". TitleForm of AddressForm of Address for one BishopThe word "Sayedna" or "Sayidna" is singular. For one Bishop, the singular form is used. Archbishops are usually addressed and referred to as "Sayedna" or "Sayidna" which means "Master or Teacher". No first or last name is used. In some situations, two or more Bishops are present. Then, the word "Sayedna" can address or refer to any of the present Bishops. Then, to specify to which Sayedna the person is addressing or refering to, "Sayedna first name" is used. For example, "Sayedna Boutros" is used to distinguish from "Sayedna Boulos". In some situations, two or more Bishops with the same first name are present. Then, to specify to which Sayedna the person is addressing or refering to, "Sayedna first name last name" is used. For example, "Sayedna Boutros Bisharah" is used to distinguish from "Sayedna Boutros Diab". The formal written title is "Sayedna first name last name" or
"His Excellency, Bishop first name last name" or "His Grace, Bishop first name last name" or "His Grace, The Most Reverend Bishop first name last name" or "Most Reverend Bishop first name last name". Priests are not called "Sayedna last name" or "Bishop last name". Episcopal OrdinationA priest becomes a Bishop at an Episcopal Ordination. There is one consecrator and two co-consecrators. These three roles are held by senior member of the heirarchy: the Patriarch, archbishops, and bishops. RetirementAccording to Church law, an archbishop must submit his request to retire when he reaches his 75th birthday. A bishop's request to retire may be:
When an archbishop's request to retire is accepted, the process begins for naming a new bishop for the diocese. Web Site Home - Theology Home - Hierarchy Home - Locations Home - Education Home - Stewardship Home - Links Home - Vendors Home - Alphabetical Index Home - Thesaurus Home - Sitemap Home - Arabic fonts Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Martha Liles Web URL address: Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center or https://www.mliles.com/melkite/ E-mail: mliles@mliles.com or mliles@mliles.com Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is
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