Does anyone know why the Church of Russia refers to the heads of the later proclaimed autocephalos Churches, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, as "His Holiness," while the Greek Churches refer to them as "His Beatitude?"
While both terms may be equally acceptable for use, the official term of address is derived by each Hierarch, not by EP, MP or anyone else.
Also, I saw the Dyptics on the OCA's website. Why do they refer to the Ecumenical Patriarch as "His Holiness," rather than "His All Holiness," which is how his jurisdiction refers to him; "Tou Panahgiotatou."
His All Holiness has never recognized OCA's autocephaly as issued by MP. Maybe in return, the EP is referred to as His Holiness since He is considered an "equal" among "equals" (e.g. OCA Metropolitan) rather than first among equals. Remember that each Orthodox Bishop is equal and that the titles do not convey anything resembling rank, order, status, etc.
