Aprotosyncellus,protosynkellos orprotosyngel (Greek:πρωτοσύγκελλος) is the principal deputy of thebishop of aneparchy for the exercise of administrative authority in anEastern Orthodox orEastern Catholic church. The equivalent position in theWestern Christian churches isvicar general.
The protosyncellus is normally a seniorpriest,archimandrite,chorbishop orauxiliary bishop selected to assist the bishop with his administrative responsibilities. In this capacity the protosyncellus exercises the bishop's executive power over the entire eparchy.
The title derives from the Greek termsyncellus (σύγκελλος), fromsyn, "with", andkellion, "cell" (Latin:cella).Synkellos was a term used in theearly Church for thosemonks orclerics who lived in the same cell with their bishops and whose duty it was to be witnesses to the purity of their lives or to perform the daily spiritual exercises in common with them.
In theEastern Church, they became thecouncillors andconfessors of thepatriarchs and bishops and were much trusted by them. They held the first place after their masters and had a seat and vote in thecouncils of the Church. In the course of time the patriarchs took two or moresyncelli, the most distinguished of whom was calledprotosynkellos,Latinized asprotosyncellus.
Protosyncellus is also the title for the ordinary of anEastern Catholic Territory dependent on the Patriarch, a missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction, even if held by or vested in the eparch of aneparchy (full bishopric).
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