Major archiepiscopal church

Major archiepiscopal churches are Eastern Catholic Churches governed by major archbishops, assisted by their respective synods of bishops. These Catholic churches also have almost the same rights and obligations as patriarchal churches. A major archbishop is the metropolitan of a see determined or recognized by the Holy See, the Supreme authority of the Church, who presides over an entire Eastern Church sui iuris that is not distinguished with the patriarchal title. What is stated in common law concerning patriarchal churches or patriarchs is understood to be applicable to major archiepiscopal churches or major archbishops, unless the common law expressly provides otherwise or it is evident from the nature of the matter" (CCEO.151, 152).

The four major archiepiscopal churches in the Catholic Church are:

• Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) (Byzantine Rite) of Ukraine - Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk (though UGCC Synod uses the Patriarch title).
• Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (East Syriac Rite) of India - Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry.
• Malankara Syrian Catholic Church (West Syriac Rite) of India - Major Archbishop Baselios Cardinal Cleemis.
• Romanian Greek Catholic Church aka as Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic (Byzantine Rite) of Romania - Major Archbishop Lucian Cardinal Mureșan.

External links

• "Syro-Malankara Catholic Church"
• Church sui iuris