- Protosyncellus
A protosyncellus is the principal deputy of the
bishop of aneparchy for the exercise of administrative authority in a,Eastern Orthodox or Byzantine Catholic church. The equivalent position in the Western Christian churches isvicar general .The protosyncellus is normally a senior
priest ,archimandrite ,chorbishop orauxiliary bishop selected to assist the bishop with his administrative responsibilities. In this capacity the protosyncellus exercises the bishop's executive power over the entire eparchy.The title derives from the Greek term "sygkelloi", from "syn", "with", and "kellion", "cell" (Latin: "cella"). Syncelli was a term used in the
early Church for thosemonk s orcleric s who lived in the same cell with their bishops and whose duty it was to be witnesses to the purity of their lives or to perform the daily spiritual exercises in common with them.In the
Eastern Church they became thecouncillor s andconfessor s of thepatriarch s and bishops and were much trusted by them. They held the first place after their masters and had a seat and vote in the councils of the Church. In the course of time the patriarchs took two or more syncelli, the most distinguished of whom was called protosyncellus. Alternate, and more accurate, spellings include "protosyncellos" and "protosygkellos".References
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14383b.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia] , article on "Syncelli"
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