Posted to the website of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America:
CHAPTER VI, THE BISHOPS
Article 75: The Patriarch is the reference point of all bishops in Damascus, Patriarchal Monasteries and Vicariates; and they are under his authority[.]
Article 76: The Metropolitan is the point of reference of all bishops in his Archdiocese and they are under his authority.
Article 77: All bishops within the Antiochian See are auxiliary bishops and are directly under their spiritual authority.
Article 78: The Metropolitan defines the responsibilities of the bishops and the place where they should serve. The bishop does not do anything contrary to the will of the Metropolitan.
Article 79: The aforementioned articles 75, 76, 77 and 78 are applicable in all Antiochian Archdioceses and whatever contradicts these articles is null and void.
Issued by the Holy Synod of Antioch, Damascus, February 24, 2009
Signed by:
His Beatitude, IGNATIUS IV, Patriarch
His Eminence, ILYAS, Tripoli
His Eminence, ELIA, Hama
His Eminence, ELIAS, Tyre and Sidon
His Eminence, GEORGE, Homs
His Eminence, PAUL, Australia
His Eminence, DAMASKINOS, Brazil
His Eminence, ESPER, Houran
His Eminence, BASILIOS, Akkar
So, there is a great deal I could say about what this looks like to me, and there are a number of things which stick out like a sore thumb on which I could comment. Not just this text, but the language used in posting it:
Since this was a special Synod meeting with only one item on the agenda concerning the bishops, the proposed text of this decision was sent to the members of the Holy Synod, who were not present, for their approval. (emphasis in original)
However, before I shoot my mouth off, is there anybody familiar with the situation who would care to comment?
For potentially useful background reading, I suggest the interview with His Beatitude Patriarch IGNATIUS IV in the December 2008 issue of The Word, pp. 5-8. I might also suggest His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP’s discussion of primacy at the American Conference of the Fellowship of Ss. Alban and Sergius last June.
I will be very curious to hear what people have to say.
Leitourgeia kai Qurbana: Contra den Zeitgeist 