Deposition of a Metropolitan

[Christopher Dombrowski]

I know that there has been a significant amount of deposing of autonomous metropolitans at ecumenical councils. What I'm wondering here is is if the holy synod of an autocephalous church can assemble and rightfully depose its metropolitan without the assistance of other autocephalous churches (if such a thing were to for some reason become necessary)?

[Edward Henderson]

I know that there has been a significant amount of deposing of autonomous metropolitans at ecumenical councils. What I'm wondering here is is if the holy synod of an autocephalous church can assemble and rightfully depose its metropolitan without the assistance of other autocephalous churches (if such a thing were to for some reason become necessary)?

An "autonomous metropolitan" can be deposed by a synod of bishops, usually by the Mother Church to which such a metropolitan is connected. Even a first-hierarch of an autocephalous church, where he be patriarch, metropolitan, or archbishop, can be deposed by the synod of bishops over which he presides. Whatmore, such a hierarch could appeal his deposition to the synod that deposed him and could even appeal ultimately to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

I believe in the case of the previous Patriarch of Jerusalem, Irenaeus, he was ultimately deposed by a Pan-Orthodox Synod, presided over by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

[Paul Cowan]

Whatmore, such a hierarch could appeal his deposition to the synod that deposed him and could even appeal ultimately to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

I believe in the case of the previous Patriarch of Jerusalem, Irenaeus, he was ultimately deposed by a Pan-Orthodox Synod, presided over by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

May I ask why the EP for an appeal and not back to the synod? If he is first amoung equals he presides over their collective meetings as in the second paragraph above. Does he have papal over-riding authority of his peers? Or is he the deciding vote if the others can not come to a concensus of a split 50/50? I hear alot these days of the EP seemingly desirious to be "the other" pope. I don't want this conception to cloud my mind of how the global church heirarchy works.

Paul

[Herman Blaydoe]

May I ask why the EP for an appeal and not back to the synod? If he is first amoung equals he presides over their collective meetings as in the second paragraph above. Does he have papal over-riding authority of his peers? Or is he the deciding vote if the others can not come to a concensus of a split 50/50? I hear alot these days of the EP seemingly desirious to be "the other" pope. I don't want this conception to cloud my mind of how the global church heirarchy works.

Paul

IANAL, however, I don't believe appeals work that way. For an appeal, you do not simply go back to the same group to ask them to change their minds, you go to a "higher" authority. That does not have to imply a Papal claim. The EP would most likely simply assemble another group of bishops to revisit the decision of the previous synod. Perhaps Andreas can give us a "legal" input?

Herman the only a para-legal Pooh

[Andreas Moran]

Perhaps Andreas can give us a "legal" input?

Churches have constitutions as states do. The ROC is governed by its statutes; the jurisdiction of EP in the 'New Lands' (i.e. Greece) is governed by Synodal Act (of 1928). Subordinate Churches such as the Greek Orthodox Diocese of America are governed by Charter (of 2003 granted by EP in the case of GOA). So, the administration (by its Holy Synod under the chairmanship of its archbishop or whoever) of any Church must be based on its constitution in whatever form that may be. In addition, there are, of course. the canons.