Protosyncellus

Synkellos (Greek cellmate, . Synkelloi pl; Latin Syncellus ) is the name for a personal adviser and staff of a bishop in matters of administration and of canon law. The Synkellos is an ordained priest in the rule.

In ecclesiastical usage it thus usually refers to the former custom of the priest or deacon to live constantly on the side of a patriarch. The function of the Synkellos resembled that of a private secretary. He was the most important person after the patriarchs, and often its designated successor.

The term Synkellos is known in the Byzantine ( Greek Orthodox ), Syriac Orthodox churches and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The Office is roughly equivalent to that of a vicar general of the Catholic Church. In the Armenian Church there are comparable with this function the Wardapet.

A well-known Synkellos was the chronicler Georgios Synkellos in the 9th century.

• Bishop beings
• Ecclesiastical Office
• Orthodox title