Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 9/7/2004

Question
Mr.  Card,

Hi!  How are you?  I have a few questions on the Eastern Rites of the Church.  Here they are:

What is the difference between a Metroplitan and a Archbishop?

What does a patriarch do?  

What does a Synod of Bishops do?

How do they work with the Pope?

God Bless,

Daniel  

Answer
                 Pax

Dear Daniel---
  I like your questions alot for two reasons. First they short and to the point. Second they are an area of special interest to me.

1. A western Archbishop and an eastern Metroplitan can generally be seen as of equal rank. Sidenote:An archbishop rules over his diocese and some others indirectly, kinda like as the first among equals.Yet the bishop of a diocese has final word until canon law says other wise. That region is called a Metroplitan Province.

2. A patriach is the head bishop of liturgical rite in the Church. In the west there are 3. Two are  a honorary for most part. The other is not, the Bishop of Rome is also the Patriach of the Roman Rite.
3-4 It has several meanings. Most are set up to advise a bishop or the pope. Synod is a type of ruling or advisory council basicly in the Catholic use of the word.
             your servant but His first
                  george