Still, its role in most church matters was secondary. The
> most
> senior patriarchy is Jerusalem. Antioch comes in second, Alexandria
> third
> and Rome fourth.
>
>
Constantinople was reckoned second after Rome. The Third canon of the
first council of Constantinople (381) reads, "The Bishop of
Constantinople shall have the prerogative of honour after the Bishop of
Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome." Thus it was intruded into
second place, before Antioch and Alexandria. Jerusalem was never a
serious runner. It was accorded respect because of its being the site
of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, but was never on a par with
the other patriarchates in terms of actually doing anything.
Rome was never happy with this canon. When reference was made to it at
the Council of Chalcedon, Pope Leo claimed that it had never been
notified to Rome. Leo was not worried about Constantinople ranking
above Antioch and Alexandria - it still ranked behind Rome - but
because of the terms of its elevation "because Constantinople is New
Rome". The Popes never accepted that their primacy was on account of
the importance of the City of Rome; that was purely incidental. They
regarded (and still regard) their authority as deriving from it being
the see of St Peter, the Vicar of Christ.
Rome was even less keen on Canon 28 of Chalcedon:
"For the Fathers rightly granted privileges to the throne of Old Rome,
because it was the royal city. And the One Hundred and Fifty Bishops
[at Constantinople in 381] actuated by the same consideration, gave
equal privileges to the most holy throne of New Rome [Constantinople],
justly judging that the city which is honoured with the Sovereignty and
the Senate, and enjoys equal privileges with the old imperial Rome,
should in ecclesiastical matters also be magnified as she is, and rank
next after her." (p. 287)
Leo was furious:
"Leo can never be charged with weakness. His rejection of the canon
was absolute and unequivocal . . .
"To the empress he wrote with still greater violence: As for the
resolution of the bishops which is contrary to the Nicene decree, in
union with your faithful piety, I declare it to be invalid and annul it
by the authority of the holy Apostle Peter." (p. 289)
[Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series vol. XIV, page numbers
as above].
Oriens.
=====
____________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|