www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Queen Sophia of Spain: Byzantine Catholic Monarch

The white klobuk Patriarch Alexis wears follows the older style of Russian monastic headgear, now associated with monks of the Great Schema. The legend of the white cowl reminds us that the white klobuk was first worn by the Archbishop of Novgorod. If you look at old Russian icons you will see many hierarchs, and indeed monks, wearing the rounded 'shlem' and the veil with the lappets falling down at the front. Of course, in the Russian Orthodox Church (MP) metropolitans wear white veils. Within the Old Rite (Belayakrinitsy) the first hierarchs of the Russian and Romanian Churches wear the 'white cowl' with the embroidered cherubim.

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

I am under the impression that there is at least one or two Byzantine Catholic chapels in Spain. I just did an internet search and found a reference to a "Queen of Angels Byzantine Chapel" in Malaga.

The word Byzantine here could be in use as meaning Byzantine in the usage of Byzantine Rite, instead of as part of the porper name of a church, as in the Byzantine Catholic Church.

David

"The following Female Sovereigns regularly wear the "Pivilege du Blanc"

Queen Sophia of Spain
Queen Fabiola of Belgium
Queen Paula of Belgium
Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg
Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg

The late Princess Grace of Monaco being only a Serene Highness and not a Royal Highness did not have the automatic right to the distinction (which was a pity)."

Does the Princess Consort of Lichtenstien posses this right?

Dear David:

As far as I know the Princess of Liechtenstein does not have "Privilege du Blanc".

I have seen pictures of her late Highness Princess Gina wearing black at papal ceremonies.

I have never seen pictures of the current Princess at the Vatican.

The reason why the Princesses of Monaco and Liechtenstein do not have this right has something to do with how their states are defined diplomatically.

Monaco exists under treaty obligations which unite it to France under certain situations.

I understand that if the Royal family in Monaco becomes extinct then the country would revert to France.

Liechtenstein on the other hand has certain arrangements with Switzerland.

This is of course a simplistic understanding of the situation and I am, thankfully, not a diplomat.


defreitas

The Norbertines (Premonstratensians)wear white cassocks (and, in some circles, birettas). They predate the Dominicans, ya know.

The Norbertines of St Michael's Abbey in Orange County, California, have quite frinedly relations with Holy Resurrection Monastery, in Cal.,I understand. In fact, I think you can see one of the Norbertines in one of the photos that HR has on its web site--must have been visiting.

Fr Hugh Barbour, O. Praem., prior of St Michael's, has given a very interesting talk (which is available on tape) on St John Moschos' "Spiritual Meadow". This was part of his three-talk contribution to a seminar entitled "Lessons from Late Antiquity: How to Live Well in a Dying Age", by the Rockford Institute last Summer. Fr Hugh's other talks were on St Augustine and on St Gregory of Tours' "Life of the Fathers." I highly recommend them.

Woody