Rare word #5: Stauropegic

Stauropegic from Greek: stauros "cross", and pegio "to affirm") is a title or description applied to Eastern Christian monasteries subordinated directly to a Patriarch or Synod, rather than to their local Bishop. It derives from the Byzantine tradition of summoning the Patriarch to place a cross at the foundation of such monasteries.

Canon 434

A monastery is of pontifical right if it was erected by the Apostolic See or recognized as such by its decree; of patriarchal right if it is a stauropegial one; of eparchial right if it was erected by the bishop but has not obtained a decree of recognition from the Apostolic See.

Canon 486

1. The patriarch can for a grave reason, having consulted the eparchial bishop and with the consent of the permanent synod, concede the status of a stauropegial monastery in the very act of foundation of a monastery sui iuris.
2. The stauropegial monastery is directly subject to the patriarch in such a way that only he himself enjoys the rights and obligations of an eparchial bishop toward the monastery, the members assigned to it, as well as the persons who day and night dwell in the monastery. Other persons, however, connected with the monastery are subject directly and exclusively to the patriarch only in those aspects which concern their duties and offices.