“Sunthroneeso”
“Sunthronesso” is a Syriac phrase to mean ‘enthronization’ or ‘enthronement’ and it has its origin in the Greek phrase “Synthronisai” meaning to come together and enthrone’. In the ancient times the kings and bishops were enthroned as part of a religious act. It implied on the one hand the divine assent to the election and on the other hand the popular acceptance of the selection. The divine assent was pointing to the ‘authority’ from above symbolically presented in the public reading of a ‘letter of commendation’ called ‘sustatikos’ in Greek and ‘sustatikoon’ in Syriac. The popular acceptance was pointing to the submission of the authority symbolically enacted by the applause” auxios”.
In the Malankara Orthodox Church, the ‘sunthroneeso’ of bishops is done as a continuation of the practice in almost all oriental and eastern orthodox churches, especially in the Syrian Orthodox Tradition. Although the enthronement is already included in the Episcopal consecration, the act of enthronement is made a separate ceremony when the bishops are declared ‘metropolitans’ of particular diocese.
The Christian meaning and message of ‘enthronement’ will have a typical tone. This tone is created by Jesus Christ’s teaching on ‘authority’. Jesus declared “my Kingdom does not belong to this world, if my Kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. No, my Kingdom does not belong here” (Jn. 18:36). Although Jesus claimed no earthly authority, his listeners felt an authority in his person: “He was not like the teachers of the Law, instead, he taught with authority” (Matt. 7:29)
The authority of Jesus was centered on a particular attitude in his mission. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people”. It is this willingness to “serve” (like a slave) that makes every bishop a true shepherd in the manner of Jesus Christ, the good shepherd. “I am the good shepherd who is willing to die for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). It should be added here that the gospel passage that will be read by the metropolitan to be enthroned will be the same “Good shepherd”- passage from the gospel of John (Chapter 10).
Shepherd’s authority is to ensure the well being of the sheep by feeding it and keeping it from pitfalls and dangers. Likewise Bishop uses his authority to ensure that the Church exists and progresses according to the wish and will of Lord Jesus Christ. This authority is not for domination but to stimulate the faithful to follow the will of God and to be divinized. Wisdom, love and holiness of the authority will encourage the faithful to follow the guidance of the authority and a little force may be needed occasionally with regard to only the so called Christian members who are not mature. Ideally the ministry is not through coercion but through persuasion.
The symbols of crown and throne are very important in the Orthodox Christian tradition. Towards the end of the sacrament of baptism, a symbolic crown is placed on the baptismal candidate and also there is a crowning ceremony in the sacrament of marriage. These crownings indicate symbolically the authority given by God to fight against evil passions to fulfill human potential and to lead an authentic Christian life. Throne is also symbolizing divine authority. Through the ordinations and finally through the enthronement, bishop is authorized to make sure that the faithful could be authoritative in the sense that they could overpower evil in themselves and also in society.
“Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Mark 14:61b-62 – cf. 13:26-27; Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 7:55-56. This is a beautiful reference to the enthronement of Jesus Christ who had been crucified. The glorious vision of Christ on the throne is an invitation to prepare for the last judgment and our eternal destiny with Him. Bishop who is supposed to be an icon of Christ draws our attention to our eternal inheritance and invite us to prepare for our final destiny. Christ gives us the assurance that, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”(Revelations 3:21). Through the enthronement, the Church reminds the bishop to overcome so that he could share the throne with the Shepherd of shepherds and reminds also the faithful of their responsibility to identify with Christ through crucifixion or self denial so that they could also share this glorious destiny. St. Polycarp’s words of exhortation is noteworthy here:“Therefore prepare for action and serve (douleusate) God in fear” and truth, leaving behind the empty and meaningless talk and the error of the crowd, and “believing in him who raised” our Lord Jesus Christ “from the dead and gave him glory” and a throne at his right hand; to whom all things in heaven and on earth were subjected, whom every breathing creature serves, who is coming as “Judge of the living and the dead,” for whose blood God will hold responsible those who disobey him. (The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter 2, The Apostolic Fathers, Greek Texts And English Translations, edited and revised by Michael W. Holmes,1999, pp. 207, 209).
By saying auxios, the Church recognizes the authority of their Metropolitan to guide and lead them. Their loud voice of auxios meaning ‘he is worthy to this’ proclaims the fact that he is worthy to inherit the throne of Jesus Christ and indirectly enlighten the bishop regarding his divine call to serve like Christ the crucified.
(Indebted to Fr. Dr. Jacob Kurian and Fr. Dr. Bijesh Philip)