(Take One is here, where I ran off at the mouth for a while!)

Patriarch is one possible title for the presiding bishop or primate of a region of The Orthodox Church comprising a number of bishoprics, and/or even a number of smaller such regions.  Currently the other two possible titles are Metropolitan or Archbishop, although not all Metropolitans or Archbishops are presiding bishops of regions.

At this time Orthodoxy generally recognizes 9 Patriarchs of the following ‘home’ regions, listed in order of honorary seniority:

1. Constantinople: northern and western Turkey, northern and eastern Greece, Semi-autonomous Church of Crete, Autonomous Church of Finland.  NB: Often referred to as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, style bestowed during the 1st Christian millennium as C’ople was capital of the (“Byzantine”/Eastern) Empire of the Romans, ie, “the  Ecumene,” even while the Pope* and Patriarch of Rome and All the West was still First Among Equals, though most of the time outside the Empire.
2. Alexandria: continent of Africa, excluding Sinai Peninsula
3. Antioch: (headquartered in Damascus, Syria, since Middle Ages): southern Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Persian Gulf
4. Jerusalem: Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, (Golan Heights?,) Jordan, rest of Arabian Peninsula, autonomous monastic Church of Sinai
5. Moscow: former Soviet Union, except part of Caucasus (see Georgia below), Estonia (shared with Constantinople by temporary agreement), Autonomous Church of China (revival under negotiation with PRC; Hong Kong shared cooperatively with Constantinople), Autonomous Church of Japan (C’ople has a couple Greek parishes there), missions in Mongolia, North Korea
6. Serbia: former Yugoslavia; ministry to Serbs in Romania and Albania by agreement with those Churches.
7. Romania: that country; ministry to Romanians in Serbia by agreement with that Church.
8. Bulgaria: that country.
9. Georgia: that country and adjoining parts of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.  NB: Georgia’s primate is fully titled Catholicos-Patriarch, Catholicos having been an ancient primatial title in the Caucasus and Mesopotamia.

The following regions’ chief bishops are titled Metropolitan: Poland (autocephalous), Czech Republic and Slovakia (autocephalous), Orthodox Church in America (OCA, de facto autocephalous), Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate, autonomous), Belarus (MP, autonomous), Japan (MP, autonomous), Moldova (MP, autonomous), several provinces in Romania, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (aka ROCOR: MP, autonomous), the Ukrainian Churches of the USA and of Canada (parts of C’ople).  And the following regions’ chief bishops are titled Archbishop: Greece (ie, western Greece: autocephalous), Cyprus (autocephalous), Albania (autocephalous), Finland (C’ople, autonomous), Crete (C’ople, semiautonomous), the Greek Archdiocese of America (part of C’ople).

The title employed is a matter of local ecclesiastical tradition and evolution.  And as I mentioned, many Metropolitans and Archbishops do not head regions or clusters of bishoprics, but single bishoprics, or may even be auxiliary bishops.  But according to the common law of the Church, “A Patriarch never submits to another Patriarch,” nevermind to any other Bishop … except as equals in order of precedence or honorary seniority.  For example, if two or more Patriarchs find themselves in a meeting or church service together, the senior presides or chairs, but ideally does not ‘dictate.’

*–In Orthodox faith and practice, the title pope has never carried universal jurisdiction or significance, or even necessarily episcopacy.  Orthodoxy’s senior pope is the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, “only” second-among-equals; its other popes, ie, “Fathers,” are parish priests in Greece, Romania, and Russia [hence such common family surnames as Pappas, Popp, and Popov, respectively; St. Innocent of Alaska was born into a family of Popovs in Siberia, but since there were so many unrelated Popovs when he went to school, he was assigned a byname, Veniaminov, by which he became known exclusively].  Thus, the Pope of Rome in their eyes was never more than a brother Patriarch, senior only because Rome was the first capital of the Empire of the Romans (as affirmed on paper by Ecumenical Synods).  OTOH, in its own eyes Rome’s “pope” effectively developed another, higher level of jurisdiction, even over other Patriarchs, sometimes embodied in the fuller title “Pope of the Universal Church.”  The rest of Christianity never accepted this, even if from time to time Rome took actions in the East that came to be accepted, even acclaimed with what is sometimes called “Byzantine hyperbole.”

Why Patriarch at all?  By the middle of the 1st millennium the 5 most important or regionally-influential bishoprics in Chalcedonian Christendom had been accorded recognition as ecclesiastical “country-rulers,” or from the Greek, patri-archs: Old Rome, New Rome (C’ople), Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.  (This among several hundred Ecclesiastical Provinces, and thousands of bishoprics!)  This usage spread with Byzantine Christianity among the Serbs and Bulgarians, and eventually to the Empire of Russia, to Romania, and to Georgia.  Sometimes a new Local Orthodox Church’s primate was not called Patriarch, but “just” Metropolitan or Archbishop, only to have the higher honor of Patriarch bestowed upon him later in history.  The others listed above have not yet been “elevated” to Patriarchal status, and perhaps never will, since in modern times it seems established that a Local Orthodox Church can be autocephalous without having to be a patriarchate; in fact, Cyprus was formally affirmed as autocephalous by the Third Ecumenical Synod (the Council of Ephesus) in the 5th century, and has never been a Patriarchate.

By comparison, AFAIK Metropolitan as a distinct title was never used in Western Europe, although most Latin prelates called Archbishop are actually defined as metropolitan archbishops, that is, as chief bishops of ecclesiastical provinces.  But most Latin provinces have long since lost most of their significance in Church life to Vatican agencies and the relatively-new national and regional Bishops’ Conferences.  In my own state, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference includes resident ruling hierarchs not only of the Latin Church, but also the Ukrainian and Ruthenian (aka “Byzantine”) uniate Churches.  Similarly, some Anglican primates or archbishops are defined as metropolitans, but not as a title.  OTOH, the most historically significant Latin Patriarchs other than Rome developed thanks to the Crusades’ introduction of the Latin Church into the Near East, and continued with later honorifics for bishops in Venice, Lisbon, the West Indies (ie, colonial Spanish America), and the East Indies (ie, colonial India and vicinity); but there has never been any question of the strictly subordinate character of these other Latin patriarchs to the Pope of Rome.

[In re: "Patriarch of the West": The page just referenced at Giga-Catholic.com actually graphically illustrates the elevation of Rome above Patriarchates, just as this one does not list Rome AS a Patriarchal See -- just as some Orthodox commentators feared when Benedict XVI disused his most influential ancient title, Patriarch of the West, a couple years ago.  What they critiqued is that from the o/Orthodox perspective, far from humbling Rome's Papal office, this move sought to rely ever more on the unaccepted claim to "Pope of the Universal Church."  Again ISTM the Orthodox and Rome are talking past one another without realizing it.]

Historically the Latins in many countries had national Primates.  Often these were the bishops of those nations’ oldest Sees, sometimes their most important even if not oldest — and then there are England and Ireland, each with TWO primatial Sees, Canterbury and York, and Armagh and Dublin, respectively!  Baltimore was kind-of considered primatial see of the United States, although the status never developed into as big a deal as in some European countries.  These primacies were usually honorific, sometimes real chairmen of their episcopates, although sometimes in local ecclesiastical politics, or even in dealings with civil rulers, they became real leaders of their peoples.  They are now said to be on the wane worldwide, again in exchange for Bishops’ Conferences.

(“Oops, I did it again.”  Oh well, live and learn!)

Another one from Protos and what can I say… Lovely smooth start with a punch in the end, massively rounded in flavour and great with some strong cheese. If Protos was a woman… she would be Eva mendez ; Bloody Great!!!!!!!!!

In the last year, I’ve become particularly interested in working with public relations agencies and have seen this portion of my business pick-up considerably – so I was very excited to be able to photograph PROTOS last Friday. PROTOS is the annual award program presented by the Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (OC/PRSA).  PROTOS recognizes public relations work that meets or exceeds professional standards. Individuals and companies from across Orange County and beyond submit their best work in the areas of PR programs, media relations and collateral development.  This year’s theme was Passport to PROTOS 2009 and it was held at Rancho Las Lomas in Silverado Canyon.

PROTOS guests ham it up for their group photo

OC/PRSA wanted to provide all their guests with the opportunity to take home a portrait from the event.  Early in the evening, guests had the opportunity to pose for portraits with others from their agency and/or significant others and prints were made on-site and provided after the award ceremony in commemorative folders.  In addition to the portraits, I captured the awards ceremony and recipients being recognized by their peer group.   Congratulations to all PROTOS award winners! 

2009 PROTOS Award Winners

With regards to the job, I’m glad that my assistant and I arrived early at Rancho Las Lomas to set-up lights and coordinate with on-site personnel.  Turns out that there was insufficient power for the lights I had planned on using; so we quickly turned to Plan B and brought out the battery packs and we were in business! 

 My PROTOS contact, Kate Mossbarger sent a nice e-mail after the job “Thanks again for dropping off the photos yesterday! I looked through them and they’re awesome shots! You really captured people’s reactions to the awards and the overall excitement of the event.”  Thanks Kate!

 P.S. For tips on utilizing photography to enhance your public relations effort please visit my website where I have several articles that will be of interest.

Any time I’m in the greater Denver area (as I am now) I have to stop in at Protos Pizzeria Napoletana.  If not because of the fact that the proprietor and I are related, then certainly because I get to see things like this:

Is that Nacho Libre at the Bar?

Sorry about the craptastic photo quality from my kindergarten camera phone, but is that Nacho Libre?  He did go for the Atomica, if that means something.  Unfortunately my sister who owns the place (Pam Proto) is on her way to MY house while I patronize hers.  This “my second home is in row 6, port side window seat” thing makes for some interesting scheduling oddities.

Los Zerg es la raza más dificil de jugar pero más divertida de Starcraft

Los Hidraliscos, son unas de las unidades primarias de ataque a distancia con sus glandulas extrañas. El primero está bailando la “Macarena”

Los Zerling son los bichitos más graciosos del juego, hay que crear muchos, pues son muy debiles, pero se pueden enterrar en los caminos para ataques sorpresas en manada.

La reina, sirve principalmente para infectar unidades enemigas y centros de mando Terrans. Muy efectivos contra las unidades pesadas terrestres

El Mutalisk, es la unidad básica voladora de los Zerg en Starcraft y pueden mutar a Guardián, que es mucho más poderoso en ataque a tierra, pero no puede atacar a anemigos aereos y su coraza es bastante debil.

El Overlord, es una unidad que no ataca pero es necesaria para mantener más unidades. Se utilizan como radar móvil y como transporte de bichos.

El Ultralisk, es la unidad pesada terrestre de los Zerg. Su ataque en manada es bestial.

El Corruptor, es una unidad de ataque bacteriológico. Puede usar “hierve la sangre” para debilitar unidades y edificios enemigos (muy útil contra edificios Protos) y además puede crear un pequeño enjambre de insectos que protegen a las unidades amigas.

Pero como todo tiene un principio, las unidades más básicas de Starcraft son las Lavas y los Drones.

Los primeros se puede transformar en cualquier unidad y los segundos en cualquier edificio.

Hey!… Los Terrans nos han tirado una bomba atómica! Cabrones!!!!!

Ya estoy deseando que salga Starcraft 2 para continuar la aventura

FICHA

Nombre: Protos Verdejo 2007

Variedad: 100% Verdejo

Cosecha: 2007

% Vol: 13%.

Denominación de Origen Rueda

Elaborado por: Bodegas Protos S.L

Precio: 5´5 € aprox.

Fase visual

Color amarillo pajizo pálido con tonalidades verdes y grisáceas en ribete. Se presenta limpio, brillante y cristalino. Muestra una abundante lágrima y buena lágrima glicérica al agitar la copa.

Fase olfativa

Nariz limpia de intensidad media-alta y buena persistencia aromática en la que aparecen notas de fruta de hueso (albaricoque, melocotón), fruta tropical (mango, piña), notas cítricas y de manzana verde. También alguna nota de hierba fresca. Nariz muy intensa y con un gran abanico de aromas.

Fase gustativa

En boca se muestra ligero y con gran frescura. Bien equilibrada la calidez del alcohol con la frescura que aporta su elevada acidez. Tras su paso por boca deja una sensación amarga, como de verdor, típica de la variedad Verdejo. No es un vino muy persistente, dejando por vía retronasal recuerdos a fruta tropical y notas cítricas.

Comentarios

Este vino representa muy bien a los vinos varietales de la uva Verdejo, con ese final ligeramente acerbo en boca. Presenta una intensidad aromática elevada y con un gran abanico de aromas frutales y notas de hierba fresca. Es un vino fresco y muy agradable y con la buena relación calidad-precio que suele acompañar a los vinos blancos de la Denominación de Origen Rueda.

Valoración:

Uno de mis vicios, Starcraft

Marines Terrans disparando a discrección

Zergs

Protos

hay, que buenos ratos me han hecho pasar junto Kerrygan…

STARCRAFT 2 nu va mai fi lansat cum a fost anunţat, ci ca o trilogie. Campaniile celor trei rase vor reprezenta fiecare câte un joc de sine stătător.
Prima lansată va fi cea a terran-ilor, intitulată Terrans: Wings of Liberty. Va urma campania Zerg: Heart of the Swarm şi în final jucătorii pasionaţi de universul Starcraft vor putea achiziţiona Protoss: Legacy of the Void.

Conform oficialilor Blizzard, jocul a întârziat deja destul de mult şi au fost puşi în faţa unei alegeri: fie să lanseze jocul integral, dar să limiteze campaniile şi să renunţe la elemente importante din ele; fie să lanseze jocul pe bucăţi şi să aibă destul timp la dispoziţie pentru a urmării scenariile stabilite iniţial. Astfel, fiecare campanie va fi diferită. Cea a terran-ilor va include o mini-campanie protoss, campania Zerg va conţine elemente RPG, iar cea Protoss va fi caracterizată printr-o importantă latură diplomatică.

Campaniile Starcraft 2 se pare că vor fi destul de lungi şi vor avea un fir epic bogat, justificând într-un fel lansarea ca şi joc separat. În ceea ce priveşte latura multiplayer a jocului, ea a rămas neinfluenţată de decizia luată de Blizzard. Jucătorii se pare că vor avea acces la bătăliile în reţea indiferent de jocul pe care-l vor achiziţiona, însă anumite unităţi care apar în cele trei campanii nu vor fi disponibile în modul multiplayer.

Nu a fost anunţată încă o data de lansare pentru Starcraft 2, în ciuda faptului că săptămâna trecută a avut loc evenimentul BizzCon, axat pe jocurile companiei Blizzard. Ne-am bucura dacă trilogia Starcraft 2 va merita aşteptarea.

Sursa: Shacknews.com

Escribo esta entrada unica y exclusivamente para decir que sigo jugando al Starcraft y como mola.

Frases como:

- Dame algo a lo que disparar

- Quieres fuego

- Crucero de batalla operativo señor (con acento sovietico)

- Esto va a empezar

- Adun toridas

me producen escalofríos y alguna que otra lagrima cuando las recuerdo con los amigos

Por otro lado, no sabia que en la Ribera del Duero seguía existiendo un asentamiento Protos, y si no se lo creen vean este reportaje. Tienen hasta web.

Por Mao Hun Tseng

Colaboração: Saviolly

Brindo por el vino
argentino o de Zanzíbar,
Rioja o de la Geria
beber beber beber
hasta creer.
Gran equilibrista sobre los coches
saltando de capó en capó
en honor a esa botella de Tinto
que espera entre tus brazos
-¿no bebes demasiado?-
chica
no logro explicar ciertas cosas
si no es con una copa de Oporto
nena
no logro explicar que haces conmigo
si no es con una botella de Protos.