must rule the Church according to the canons (see p. 135). If he does not do so, presumably this would be considered a just reason for withstanding his orders, or perhaps even for deposing him.[1] Mâr Shim‘un has a large diocese of his own.[2] He has the right to ordain, translate, and depose all other Nestorian bishops. If the Metropolitan (p. 132) ordains a bishop, a further ceremony, very like a second ordination, must be performed by the Patriarch. The Patriarch may further ordain a priest for any diocese; he alone consecrates the holy chrism (every seven years), and blesses the antimensia.[3] He can make canon and liturgical laws, he censures books, and is named in all public prayers. His income consists of a tax of about threepence, levied every three years from all men who obey him, the first-fruits (in kind) of his own diocese and a tithe of the first-fruits of other bishops, fines often imposed instead of excommunication, free gifts (sometimes of a considerable amount) made by the notables,[4] and the Turkish subsidy.[5] His title is: "The reverend and honoured father of fathers and great shepherd, Mâr Shim‘un, Patriarch and Katholikos of the East."[6] He uses his own Christian name before "Shim‘un" at the head of his letters. His seal bears in the middle the inscription: "The lowly Simon (Shim‘un), Patriarch of the East," and around: "Mâr Shim‘un, who sits on the throne of the Apostle Addai."[7] The last Patriarch, Ruwil (for Rubil = Ruben), died on March 29, 1903. A fortnight before (March 15) he had appointed his nephew Benjamin (Benyamīn) to succeed him, and had ordained him bishop. On April 12, the metropolitan, Mâr Ḥnânyeshu‘ ordained Benjamin Patriarch. There had been a good deal of dispute and intrigue about the succession. A cousin, Mâr
- ↑ Possibly by a synod of all the bishops. But such a measure would be a revolution, for which it is always impossible to draw up rules. It would almost certainly cause a schism.
- ↑ See at Ḳudshanis, including most of the "tribal" Nestorians; Maclean and Browne, p. 195.
- ↑ The cloth with relics used by Nestorians as a portable altar, as it is by the Orthodox and all Eastern Churches (Orth. Eastern Church, p. 409).
- ↑ Silbernagl: ib. 262.
- ↑ He receives £100 a year from the Anglicans.
- ↑ Maclean and Browne: op. cit. 185; see also the longer title, ib.
- ↑ Silbernagl: p. 261.
impossible this is will be seen from Orth. Eastern Church, chap, i., and from the account of the original position of their Katholikos. On no historical basis is he a Patriarch at all.
