I have been asked by many on different occasions and diverse places about the spiritual meaning and significance of the mitre of our bishops and thirumenis.
They are confused because they find no warrant for this in the New Testament, which is the basis for the Christian faith. Then from where did this come?
Well, here is the historical fact, if we are open to truth at all. Let me not say this on my own authority but on the authority of St Augustine, who is revered by the Roman Catholic Church.
In chapter 15 of the second book of the City of God (Civitas Dei) Augustine comments on the high veneration that the Romans accorded to Romulus, who is deemed the founder of Rome. [He did so, after killing his brother Remus, much like Cain founding the first city in history after killing his brother Abel.]
St Augustine expresses his disapprobation that Romulus was esteemed by the Romans higher than many of their gods. How did they indicate this? Here let me quote the words of St Augustine-
“To him they allotted a flamen –a priest of a class so highly esteemed in their religion (distinguished by their conical mitres), that for only three of their gods were flamens appointed, the Flamen Dialis of Jupiter, Flamen Martialis for Mars and Flamen Quirinalis for Quirinus.
Quirinus was the name given to Romulus, when he was turned into a God. Otherwise the third category of priests would have been called Flamen Romulus.
So, clearly the mitre was a gentile token of hierarchical importance in relation to the priests of Roman gods.
We are taught to detest and denounce pagans, but our bishops take pride in adorning themselves with pagan symbols of prestige. We have no problem with that.
Last year, in a facebook post, I had indicated that the custom of kissing the hand of a bishop was derived from the Roman custom of a slave acknowledging his master in public. A slave had to kiss the hand of his master. He was not allowed to kiss the hand of any other Lord.
Returning to the mitre –Only think of Jesus appearing wearing a conical mitre!
We will be shocked.
Now think of a bishop appearing without his head gear:
We will be shocked.
Our Christianity is made up of stupidities and superfluities like this. It has very little to do with what Jesus did or taught.
Wake up!
