218 SOME CHURCHES EXEMPTED FROM THE PATRIARCHATE. as to semblance and the sound of words: for as to the true sense, I indeed conceive that the canon only related to causes emergent in the eastern parts; and probably it only respected the three dioceses of Asia, Pontus, and Thrace, which were immediately subjected to his patriarchal jurisdiction. Pope Nicholas I. very jocularly [ludicrously] expounds this canon, affirming that by the primate of the diocese is understood the pope (diocese being put by a notable figure for dioceses), and that an ap- peal is to be made to the bishop of Constantinople onlyby permis- sion, in case the party will be content therewith.' We may note, that some provincial churches were, by ancient cus- tom, exempted from dependence on any primacyor patriarchate. Such an one the Cyprian church was adjudged to be in the Ephe- sine synod, in which the privileges of such churches were confirmed against the invasion of greater churches, and to that purpose this general lawenacted: " Let the same be observed in all dioceses and provinces everywhere, that none of the bishops, beloved of God, in- vade another province which did not formerly belong to him or his predecessors; and if any one have invaded one, and violently seized it, that he restore it."' Such a church was that of Britain anciently, before Austin intro- duced the papal authority here against that canon, as by divers learned pens has been showed. Such was the church of Africa, as by their canons against trans- marine appeals and about all other matters appears. It is supposed by some' that discipline was screwed yet one peg higher, by setting up the order of patriarchs higher than primates or diocesan exarchs; but I find no ground of this supposal except in one case, that is, of the bishop of Constantinople being set above the bishops of Ephesus, Cresarea, and Heraclea, whichwere the primates of the three dioceses. It is a notable fib which Pope Nicholas II. tells, as Gratian cites him, " That the church of Rome instituted all patriarchal supre- macies, all metropolitan primacies, episcopal sees, all ecclesiastical orders and dignities whatsoever."' i Quem autem primatemdieeceseos S. synodus dixerit, prteter apostoli primi vica- rium, nullus' pentus intelligitur, &c. " None can understand whom the holy synod should call primate of a diocese, except the vicar of the prime apostle." Tantundem valet dixisse primatem dieeceseos, quantum si perhibuisset dieeceseon. P. Nic. I., Ep. viii. p. 507. " To say the primate of a diocese is as much as to say of dioceses." 2 Tó ai ,úrá xa) iari rwr äxx,,, órerxtiiosav seal rw, áoravrax,ü laeemsgm m'apa(DuxaxAe'- osray ¿ors 1.0iNva i rroxávrmv sorapxian iripav oúx olio,, deeds, xai ig.p iiç úaó ruse airs, dyes s v. a erpis ,lira, xsTpa xaraxaaßávarv, áxx' si xai rrç xarixa ss, xai úÇ' iaura- acvr,inras, ßraedase,ç rein, eivr,ls$óvas, &c. Cone. Eph., can. viii. 3 Ísid., Dist. ii. cap. 1. ' Omnes sive patriarc'ate cujuslibet apices, sive metropole5n primatus, aut episcopa-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=