Influence of the Legal System of the Latin Church on Formation of the Current Legal Order of the Eastern Catholic Churches as Illustrated by the Offices of protosyncellus and syncellus

Abstract

The office of vicar general was created in the Western Church in the 12th century. Gradually, his authority was strengthened until the office became mandatory and he became the main collaborator of the diocesan bishop in the administrative body of the particular Church. During the preparation of the Second Vatican Council the need to establish a newinstitution within the structure of particular Churches was recognized. In addition to the office of vicar general, the office of episcopal vicar was created – a new function with a similar legal characteristics and competences, but intended to support the diocesan bishop in specific aspects of his activity. In the Eastern Church, it was customary to choose bishops from among religious. Bishops wanted to continue their monastic life. A bishop would choose a fellow man who lived with him in home. Such a life companion was known as synkellios, which in Latin was rendered as syncellus. A syncellus was not only a companion of the bishop’s life but also assisted him in his functions and even represented him in many ecclesiastical matters, which made the syncellus a significant figure in the local Church.

The unions concluded with Churches that recognized the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome were also associated with their adoption of the Latin system of ecclesiastical law and structural forms existing in the Western Church. One of the elements of this juridical heritage was the office of vicar general. These solutions were laid down in Pius XII’s motu proprio Cleri sanctitati and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches . The offices of vicar general and episcopal vicar were introducted and assigned the ancient names of syncellus and protosyncellus.