The Arch-Patriarch of the Aurorian ChurchAn extract from the documents of the councilThe Official Titles of the ArchPatriarch:- Ecumenical Arch-Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Hosian Church of Terra
- Vicar of Elijah Hosios
- Successor of St. Michael Vigiulius, the First Apostle
- Bishop of Auroria
- Primate of Selucia
- Supreme Watcher of the Church
- Sovereign of the City State of the Empyrean Temple
- First and equal among the Patriarchs
- Father of the bishops
- Servant of the Faithful.
The statue of St Michael Vigiulius in the Empyrean temple weaaring Archpatriarchal regalia. Such regalia have not been used by recent Selucian ArchPatriarchs because of the troubles affecting the church. It is said however, that the new Archpatriarch may regain use of the full regalia to represent the refound vigor of the Church.
The canons and regulations regarding hierarchy:§1 When Eliyahu instituted the Apostles at the head of which he placed St Michael Vigilius, chosen from among them. Just as "by the Lord's institution, St. michael and the rest of the apostles constitute a single apostolic college, so in like fashion the Aurorian ArchPatriarch, Michel's successor, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are related with and united to one another.
§2 The Lord made Michael alone the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. This pastoral office of Michael and the other apostles belongs to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the ArchPatriarch.
§3 The ArchPatriarch, Bishop of Auroria and Michael's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful."
§4 "The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the ArchPatriarch, Michael's successor, as its head." As such, this college has "supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Aurorian ArchPatriarch."
§5 The bishops are appointed by the ArchPatriarch, and no bishop will have authority unless appointed by the ArchPatriarch. The ArchPatriarch has the faculty of revoking the appointment at any time.
§6 Particular Churches inisde the Mother Church are given the status of Patriarchates. The bishops of these churches are selected and appointed by the Patriarch, after the approval of the ArchPatriarch. The Patriarch is chosen by the bishops of the Pattriarchate, but needs to be appointed and approved by the ArchPatriarch. Unapproved bishops and Patriarchs are in full schism with the Church.
§7 Each bishop and priest may say the liturgy in the rite he may chose. Every dioceses has an official rite, but other rites can coexist within it.
§8 The ArchPatriarch is chosen by the holy Assembly of Cardinals. The elctions are secret and each candidate has to obtain 2/3rd of the votes. Any priest of the Church can be voted.
§9 The ArchPatriarch appoints Cardinals in the Empyrean Temple. Every priest can become a cardinal. Patriarchs are automatically cardinals.
§10 The ArchPatriarch shall reserve the right to dress in
white and gold. Cardinals can dress in
red. Patriarchs can dress in
gold. Bishops can dress in
purple and priests in
black.
§10 The language of the See of St, Michael shall be Selucians. Patrairchs and bishops are free to adopt the language of their rite and culture, but official documents are encouraged to be in Selucian.
Symbols:† The Church
♔ The Arch-Patriarch
♚ Cardinal
♗ Patriarch
♝ Bishop
☩ Selucian Rite
☨ Theognosian Rite
✙ Augustan Rite
✠ Eastern Rite
other
☦ Terran Patriarchal Church
✛ Apostolic Church of the East
✞ Non-Patriarchal