www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Presov and Mukachevo eparchies have new bishops

Here is a link [grkatpo.sk] to photos of the "Enthronement of Mons. Jan Babjak, SJ, Bishop of Preshov" from this past Saturday.

Give that Bishop a beard!!!!!!!!

The new Greek Catholic bishop of Presov receives the episcopal ordination from a Latin bishop at his enthonement he also receives his pastoral staff from a Latin bishop. When I see these pictures I wonder does to be communion with Rome mean to be under Rome (and under the Latin bishops)? The only difference between an Orthodox and a Catholic bishop is that the Catholic one is in communion of faith and love with the holy see of the Apostle Peter in Rome, I wonder what is the relationship between being in communion with Rome and not having beard for example (only two of them had beard, one of them being the exarch of Kosice in Slovakia? Why do they like so Western even wearing the Byzantine vestments? Why to be in communion with Rome means for some Eastern Catholics to undergo latinization?

Beard or no beard --- it matters not in heaven.

http://www.redemptorists.org.uk/ebish.htm

Here is a link [grkatpo.sk] for some more photos.

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
SLAVA NA VIKI BOHU!

Brian wrote: "...Give that Bishop a beard!!!!!!!! "

He doesn't need a beard, his mother has her head covered, once cancels out the other!!!

Interesting to see Fr. Valerian Michlik in attendance there!

mark

Here is a link with several pages of photos of both the Consecration in Rome of the New Presov Byzantine Bishop and his Enthronement in the Presov Eparchy. Go under the picture of Bishop Babjak and click on the VII roman numerals.
http://www.grkatpo.sk/

Brothers and Sisters:

There is a book that I had a few years ago that described the protocol for bishops in the Catholic Church. One of the things that was mentioned in the book was the fact that the Holy Father traditionally ordains bishops at St. Peter's Basilica on the Feast of the Epiphany. Part of the rationale for this ordination of bishops across the full spectrum of all the various sui juris churches is to show that all are in Catholic communion and that includes being in communion with the Head of the Church.

From the description in this particular book, it is a great offense to the Holy Father to refuse his invitation to participate in this annual ordination ceremony if one has just received one's Episcopal appointment and an invitation to participate at the same time. Could this be the reason that these two bishops participated?

As for reception of the crozier and/or enthronement by a Latin bishop--presumably the Holy Father's representative--that seems to be something rather standard in Catholic practice. When our current bishop was appointed, the Holy Father's representative was present, although I am not certain that he presented the crozier. I believe that the underlying symbolism and reality is that every Catholic bishop receives his appointment and his authority to act as a bishop from the Holy Father. Even when a man is elected by a local synod, the Congregation of Bishops in Rome must confirm his appointment. Otherwise, he cannot be ordained legally. So it appears that when a man is elected by the Synod of one of the Eastern churches in communion with Rome, his appointment must still go to the Congregation of Bishops (or is it to the Oriental Congregation?) for confirmation; or perhaps there is a back channel communication back-and-forth before such an election takes place.

As for whether that should or should not be the case that is something I won't debate. Long ago, I decided to focus on what is and why it is before I started to offer an alternative opinion.

On another note, the order of protocol for processions at St. Peter's when the Holy Father is present for the Liturgy specifies that those who are Patriarchs are to be followed by the rank of Cardinals and the Pope is to be in the last position. The book also states that a Cardinal who celebrates a Liturgy precedes a Patriarch in the order of the procession.

BOB

Bob, if we are to be truly churches sui iuris, and respected with full dignity as Eastern Churches that includes our right and ability to elect and consecrate our own hierarchy.

What you are describing is supremacy, and centralized ecclesial control, rather than primacy and respect for sister churches who are in communion with the successor of St. Peter.

This issue also has deeper implications for ecumenical dialogue. How can the Orthodox ever think of us as anything but Uniates or "Byzantine Roman Catholics" if every episcopal election has to go through a Roman dicastery?

Diak:

I hope that you are not offended. Again, I am reporting something I have read recently.

I may not think it is the best possible thing. You may not. But it appears to be what is at the present time.

Maybe it's a matter of trust. Can we trust each other to accept, live, enrich, and pass along the Faith in different ways?

I believe we not only can but we have to do so. But I don't have an appointment to the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.

BOB

This is a bit confusing. At a concelebrated RC Mass at St. Peter�s patriarchs are in the last position just before the Holy Father. Major archbishops and heads of Churches suri iuris precede the patriarchs. In Rome a few years back when the late Metropolitan Archbishop Judson concelebrated with Pope John Paul II he entered after the cardinals and just before the Holy Father himself, indicating that he was of higher rank than the cardinals. When Pope John Paul II visited Ukraine a few years ago the Holy Father was last in the procession and preceded by Patriarch Cardinal Husar. Before him came the heads of the various Byzantine Catholic Churches, the cardinals and then the archbishops and bishops. Clearly at that celebration Patriarch Cardinal Archbishop Husar was ranked ahead of the cardinals and just below the Holy Father.

I think that Diak describes the norm that we should be following. The Holy Father would have the right to interfere but only with good reason.

Dear Administrator:

The book I referred to was a few years old, not more than five years if I am not mistaken.

However, things change quickly today often faster than books can be published and revised.

Certainly the Holy Father has it within his faculties to alter these things. And I certainly think that for the sake of moving statements about how we live together into the actual practice of how we live together this is a positive and much-needed development. Both within our own communion and in order to reach out to those of our brothers who are not currently in administrative communion with us this is something that I believe we can all applaud.

Thanks for the clarification.

BOB