Interesting, thanks for the cite. It says "Imperial throne": does that mean the emperor to the exclusion of the patriarch, or is understood they are sort of the same unit here since we're talking about ecclesiastical matters.
I could see someone picking it apart..."no emperor anymore, therefore no appeal!" LOL
"It says "Imperial throne": does that mean the emperor to the exclusion of the patriarch, or is understood they are sort of the same unit here since we're talking about ecclesiastical matters."
Well, the canons say "the Throne of the Imperial City" and "the throne of Constantinople", meaning the Patriarchial throne, but I'll bet the Russians are hanging their hat on exactly your thought.