Page:Lesser Eastern Churches.djvu/452

430. Over his vestments (p. 436) he wears a diamond pectoral cross given to him by the Czar. He would gladly give up this ornament to be free. His income amounts to about £8000 a year. The present Katholikos of all the Armenians is Lord Matthew II (Izmirlian), formerly Patriarch of Constantinople, who succeeded in 1909.

The Patriarchs of Sis and Aghthamar (elected by local assemblies, half clerical, half lay) are also called Katholikos. By a curious modification of idea the Armenians now look upon this title as meaning something more than a mere Patriarch. Originally it meant very much less. These two and the Supreme Patriarch alone may bless the holy chrism and ordain bishops. At Sis reigns "The Servant of God, Patriarch and Katholikos of Lesser Armenia and of the Armenians in Cilicia, Syria and Palestine, minister of the right hand and throne of St. Gregory the Illuminator." Under him are two archbishoprics, ten bishoprics, and two abbacies "nullius," all in Asia Minor and North Syria. The Katholikos of Aghthamar is really only a titular Patriarch. He has one bishopric near Lake Van under him. The Patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem (both elected by the National Assembly at Constantinople, chiefly lay) do not bear the title Katholikos; they must ask the Supreme Katholikos for the holy chrism, and send bishops they appoint to him for ordination. In spite of that, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople is the second greatest prelate in his Church. He rules eleven archbishoprics, twenty-seven bishoprics, one vardapet's district and six abbacies in the Turkish Empire, archiepiscopal sees of Egypt, Bulgaria and Rumania, vardapets' districts of Greece and Cyprus. The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem lives at the great monastery of St. James (Srbotz Hakobiantz), which