In theEastern Catholic Churches,major archbishop (sometimes also styled asmajor archeparch) is a title for the chiefhierarch ("Father and Head")[1] of an autonomous (sui juris)particular Church that has not been "endowed with the patriarchal title".[2] Major archbishops generally have the same rights, privileges, and jurisdiction as Eastern Catholicpatriarchs, except where expressly provided otherwise, and rank immediately after them in precedence of honor.[3]
In addition to their role governing their particular Church, major archbishops, like Eastern Catholic patriarchs, areex officio members of theCongregation for the Oriental Churches in theRoman Curia.[4] They are required to attend the annual general meeting of this congregation, as well as other sessions if they are visiting Rome or are otherwise able.[5]
There are currently four major archbishops each leading a major archiepiscopal autonomous Church.
There was a strong movement within and after theSecond Vatican Council to elevateJosyf Slipyj, then metropolitan ofLviv, for the Ukrainians, to the status of patriarch. Many of his admirers use this title for Slipyj when referring to him historically and many in Ukraine use this title for the current major archbishop even today. However (and at the behest ofRussian Orthodox officials), Pope Paul VI specifically declined to grant this title, instead creating this new title and appointing Slipyj the first "major archbishop" of Lviv (the seat has since been moved toKyiv). Slipyj's successors have only used the title of major archbishop.[citation needed]
The title "major archbishop" was first granted to the head of theUkrainian Greek Catholic Church in 1963. TheSyro-Malabar Church became major archiepiscopal in 1992, followed by theSyro-Malankara Catholic Church and theRomanian Greek Catholic Church in 2005.[citation needed]
Compared to other titles available to the heads ofsui juris Eastern Catholic Churches, the title of "major archbishop" falls below "patriarch" and above "metropolitan archbishop". The title is used forarchbishops ofepiscopal sees that were founded more recently than thepatriarchal sees and are therefore less prestigious.Canon law, however generally treats major archbishops as equivalent to patriarchs, except where specifically provided otherwise.[6] What differences there are between the two offices are mainly differences of ceremony or honor. Major archbishops rank immediately belowpatriarchs in theorder of precedence of the Catholic Church.[7] If made members of theCollege of Cardinals, major archbishops join the order ofCardinal-Priests, whereasEastern Catholic patriarchs join the highest order asCardinal-Bishops. Like patriarchs, major archbishops are elected by thesynod of thesui iuris Church, but their election requires confirmation by thePope, not the simple notification and request forcommunion required of patriarchs.[8] On the other hand,metropolitan archbishops of Eastern Catholic Churchessui juris are appointed by the Pope (rather than elected by their synod) and have much less authority even within their own churches.[9]
The titlemajor archbishop in the Catholic Church is roughly equivalent and alternative to the other title ofcatholicos used historically for the primate of a synod in many of the Churches outside the Roman Empire (whereas “patriarch” was a term used within the Empire).Catholicos is used internally by the Syro-Malankara Church for their major archbishop. It can also be used to describe the major archbishops of other Oriental Catholic Churches[10]
This section provides a complete list of every bishop who has held the title of major archbishop, organized according to the precedence of their titles, which follows the order in which their churches became major archiepiscopal.[11] So far, every major archbishop has been a cardinal except for Cyril Baselios and Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Antony Padiyara and Lubomyr Husar are the only major archbishops to resign the office, rather than dying in it.
For a complete list of heads of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, including prior to its establishment as a major archiepiscopal church, seeList of Leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
For a complete list of heads of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, including prior to its establishment as a major archiepiscopal church, seeList of Major Archbishops of the Syro-Malabar Church.
For a complete list of heads of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, including prior to its establishment as a major archiepiscopal church, seeList of Major Archbishops of Thiruvananthapuram.
For a complete list of heads of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, including prior to its establishment as a major archiepiscopal church, seeList of bishops of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia.
