The nāṭar kursyā (or nāṭar kursi, Syriac ܢܛܪ ܟܘܪܣܝܐ, meaning "guardian of the throne") was an officer of the Church of the East. Originally charged with administering the church in the interim between the death of one patriarch and the election of a new one, the office had evolved by the end of the 15th century so that its holder was the designated successor of the reigning patriarch. At first, the bishop of Kashkar was ex officio guardian of the throne, but by the 14th century the honour had been transferred to the metropolitan of Elam. It was under Patriarch Shemʿon IV (died 1497) that the office was transformed. Endeavouring to keep the patriarchal office in his family and in violation of canon law, he appointed his nephew to the office and designated him his chosen successor. This practice became traditional, except when the church or a part of it was in union with Rome.[1] Sometimes the nāṭar kursyā was a nephew, at other times a younger brother. The patriarch could change the appointment if the nāṭar kursyā fell out of favour. He was always a bishop.[2] By the end of the 16th century, he was usually appointed metropolitan of Mosul.[3] Higher clergy in the Church of the East did not eat animal products other than eggs and dairy, and in the Qūdshānīs patriarchate this restriction was extended to the patriarch's sister during pregnancy, since she might have been carrying a future nāṭar kursyā.[4]
The system of the nāṭar kursyā was later extended to other dioceses.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abDavid J. Wilmshurst, The Ecclesiastical Organisation of the Church of the East, 1318–1913 (Peeters, 2000), p. 193.
^Heleen H. L. Murre-van Den Berg (1999), "The Patriarchs of the Church of the East from the Fifteenth to Eighteenth Centuries", Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies2 (2), pp. 235–264, esp. at 239.
^Adam H. Becker, Revival and Awakening: American Evangelical Missionaries in Iran and the Origins of Assyrian Nationalism (University of Chicago Press, 2015), p. .
April 11, 2024
natar, kursya, nāṭar, kursyā, nāṭar, kursi, syriac, ܢܛܪ, ܟܘܪܣܝܐ, meaning, guardian, throne, officer, church, east, originally, charged, with, administering, church, interim, between, death, patriarch, election, office, evolved, 15th, century, that, holder, des. The naṭar kursya or naṭar kursi Syriac ܢܛܪ ܟܘܪܣܝܐ meaning guardian of the throne was an officer of the Church of the East Originally charged with administering the church in the interim between the death of one patriarch and the election of a new one the office had evolved by the end of the 15th century so that its holder was the designated successor of the reigning patriarch At first the bishop of Kashkar was ex officio guardian of the throne but by the 14th century the honour had been transferred to the metropolitan of Elam It was under Patriarch Shemʿon IV died 1497 that the office was transformed Endeavouring to keep the patriarchal office in his family and in violation of canon law he appointed his nephew to the office and designated him his chosen successor This practice became traditional except when the church or a part of it was in union with Rome 1 Sometimes the naṭar kursya was a nephew at other times a younger brother The patriarch could change the appointment if the naṭar kursya fell out of favour He was always a bishop 2 By the end of the 16th century he was usually appointed metropolitan of Mosul 3 Higher clergy in the Church of the East did not eat animal products other than eggs and dairy and in the Qudshanis patriarchate this restriction was extended to the patriarch s sister during pregnancy since she might have been carrying a future naṭar kursya 4 The system of the naṭar kursya was later extended to other dioceses 1 References edit a b David J Wilmshurst The Ecclesiastical Organisation of the Church of the East 1318 1913 Peeters 2000 p 193 Heleen H L Murre van Den Berg 1999 The Patriarchs of the Church of the East from the Fifteenth to Eighteenth Centuries Hugoye Journal of Syriac Studies 2 2 pp 235 264 esp at 239 Wilmshurst Ecclesiastical Organisation p 352 Adam H Becker Revival and Awakening American Evangelical Missionaries in Iran and the Origins of Assyrian Nationalism University of Chicago Press 2015 p Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Natar kursya amp oldid 1181723097, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
