Patriarchate

Jurisdiction and office of an ecclesiastical patriarch

Not to be confused with Patriarchy or Patriate.

Eastern patriarchates of the Pentarchy, after the Council of Chalcedon (451)

Patriarchate (/ˈpeɪtriɑːrkɪt, -keɪt/, UK also /ˈpætri-/;[1] Ancient Greek: πατριαρχεῖον, patriarcheîon) is an ecclesiological term in Christianity, referring to the office and jurisdiction of a patriarch.

According to Christian tradition, three patriarchates—Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria—were established by the apostles as apostolic sees in the 1st century. These were officially recognized by the First Council of Nicaea.[2] The Patriarchate of Constantinople was added in the 4th century, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem followed in the 5th century. These five sees were later recognized collectively as the pentarchy by the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

Over the course of Christian history, additional patriarchates were gradually recognized by the original ancient episcopal sees. However, several of these later lost jurisdiction—primarily due to the Islamic conquests in the Middle East and North Africa—and became titular or honorary patriarchates without real institutional authority over their historical territories.

## History

[edit]

Main articles: Apostolic see and Pentarchy

As Christianity expanded throughout the Roman Empire, concentrations of believers were increasingly found in urban centers. Bishops in these cities came to hold pre-eminence in the province where their diocese was located, especially if the city was the provincial capital. Over time, some bishops attained authority beyond their province, becoming recognized as primus inter pares. The Council of Nicea formalized this structure into canon law, following secular Roman administrative patterns. It also introduced the term "Metropolitan" to describe bishops who presided over multiple dioceses within a province.

By the 4th century, cities such as Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch had extended their ecclesiastical authority beyond a single province. For instance, Alexandria held jurisdiction over Roman Egypt, Roman Libya, and the Pentapolis, while Rome exercised primatial authority over surrounding provinces within 100 miles of the city.[3] By virtue of this multi-provincial oversight, the sees of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch were already exercising a "supra-metropolitan" jurisdiction, later termed as Patriarchates.[3] By the end of the 4th century, all of Italy had come under the broader primatial jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Rome.[4]

After the Imperial capital moved to Byzantium in 330, the renamed city of Constantinople grew in prominence within the Eastern Church. It was granted archiepiscopal status before the Council of 381, which ranked it second in honor after Rome. Archbishop Atticus expanded the jurisdiction of the see in the early 5th century.[5]

Following the Council of Ephesus in 431, Bishop Juvenal of Jerusalem sought to extend his oversight across all three provinces of Roman Palestine, aiming to elevate Jerusalem to a Metropolitan See. This move was opposed by Cyril of Alexandria and Pope Leo I, who argued against separating Jerusalem from the authority of Antioch.[6] Juvenal later claimed metropolitan authority over Roman Arabia and Phoenicia. At the Council of Chalcedon, negotiations with Archbishop Maximus of Antioch led to approval for Jerusalem’s oversight over all of Palestine but not beyond. The council recognized Jerusalem as a Metropolitanate, elevating it alongside the sees of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch.[7] Emperor Justinian would later recognize Jerusalem as one of the five official Patriarchates.

The East–West Schism of 1054 separated the Latin Church’s See of Rome from the Byzantine patriarchates of the East, resulting in the formation of the modern Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. [citation needed]

Today, the four Eastern Orthodox patriarchates—Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem—alongside their Western counterpart, Rome, are regarded as "senior" (Greek: πρεσβυγενή, presbygenē, "senior-born") or "ancient" (παλαίφατα, palèphata, "of ancient fame") patriarchates. These are considered apostolic sees, each traditionally founded by one of the apostles or evangelists: Andrew, Mark, Peter, James, and Peter again, respectively.

In the case of Constantinople, Andrew is said to have visited the earlier city of Byzantium in 38 AD (prior to its renaming by Constantine the Great in 330 AD). According to tradition, he appointed Stachys the Apostle as bishop, who remained in office until 54 AD. Therefore, the apostolic heritage of Constantinople is attributed to the original See of Byzantium. [citation needed]

## Roman Catholic Church

[edit]

Within the Catholic Church, six patriarchs lead the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris.[8] These include the heads of the Coptic Catholic Church (Patriarchate of Alexandria), the Maronite Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the Syriac Catholic Church (each using the title Patriarch of Antioch), the Chaldean Catholic Church (Patriarchate of Baghdad), and the Armenian Catholic Church (Patriarchate of Cilicia).

The Pope, as Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff, leads the Latin Church and holds supreme authority over the entire Catholic Church. While Pope Francis reinstated the historical title "Patriarch of the West" in 2024, it had been officially dropped by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and is not commonly used to describe the Pope’s role within the Latin Church.

There are also four Major Archbishops, each heading an Eastern Catholic Church sui iuris without a patriarchal title. These include the Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, and Romanian Greek Catholic Churches. Though they rank just below patriarchs in precedence, Major Archbishops hold similar authority within their Churches. A key procedural difference is that patriarchs request ecclesiastica communio (ecclesiastical communion) from the Pope following their election and enthronement, while a Major Archbishop’s election requires papal confirmation before enthronement.

In the Latin Church, there are four titular patriarchates—historical archdioceses where the archbishop holds the honorary title of patriarch. This title grants ceremonial precedence but no jurisdiction beyond the archdiocese (except in the case of Jerusalem, which retains territorial jurisdiction). These are the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Lisbon, the Patriarchate of Venice, and the Patriarchate of the East Indies.

It is not uncommon for multiple Eastern Catholic Patriarchates—and the Latin Church—to have overlapping jurisdictions, particularly in the Middle East and diaspora regions. For example, among the three Patriarchates of Antioch, the Melkite Patriarch is based in Damascus, Syria; the Maronite Patriarch resides in Bkerké, Lebanon; and the Syriac Catholic Patriarch is based in Beirut, Lebanon.[9]

## Eastern Orthodox Church

[edit]

Part of a series on the

Eastern Orthodox Church

Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Hagia Sophia

Overview

* Structure
* Theology (History of theology)
* Liturgy
* Church history
* Holy Mysteries
* View of Salvation
* View of Mary
* View of icons

Background

* Crucifixion / Resurrection / Ascension
of Jesus

* Christianity
* Christian Church
* Apostolic succession
* Four Marks of the Church
* Orthodoxy

Organization

* Autonomy
* Autocephaly
* Patriarchate
* Ecumenical Patriarch
* Episcopal polity
* Canon law
* Clergy
* Bishops
* Priests
* Deacons
* Monasticism
* Degrees
* Bratstvo

Autocephalous jurisdictions

Autocephalous Churches who are officially part of the communion:

* Constantinople
* Alexandria
* Antioch
* Jerusalem
* Russia
* Serbia
* Romania
* Bulgaria
* Georgia
* Cyprus
* Greece
* Poland
* Albania
* Czech Lands and Slovakia

Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure:

* America
* North Macedonia

Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches:

* Ukraine (OCU)

Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church:

* Ukraine (UOC)

Autonomous jurisdictions

* Sinai (JP)
* Finland (EP)
* Estonia (EP)
* Japan (MP)
* China (MP)
* Americas (RP)
* Bessarabia (RP)
* Moldova (MP)

Semi-Autonomous:

* Crete (EP)
* Estonia (MP)
* ROCOR (MP)

Episcopal assemblies

* Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
* Austria
* Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg
* Canada
* France
* Germany
* Great Britain and Ireland
* Italy and Malta
* Latin America
* Scandinavia
* Spain and Portugal
* Switzerland and Liechtenstein
* United States of America

Noncanonical jurisdictions

* Old Believers
* Spiritual Christianity
* True Orthodoxy
* Catacomb Church
* Old Calendarists
* American Orthodox Catholic Church
* American World Patriarchs

* National churches:

*     * Abkhazia
* Belarus
* Italy
* Latvia
* Montenegro
* Turkey
* UOC–KP

* Evangelical Orthodox

Ecumenical councils

* First Seven Ecumenical Councils:

* Nicaea I
* Constantinople I
* Ephesus
* Chalcedon
* Constantinople II
* Constantinople III
* Nicaea II

* Other possible ecumenical councils:

* Constantinople IV
* Constantinople V

* Other important councils:

* Quinisext Council
* Jassy
* Moscow
* Jerusalem
* Constantinople (1872)

History

* Church Fathers
* Pentarchy
* Byzantine Empire
* Christianization of Georgia
* Christianization of Bulgaria
* Christianization of Kievan Rus'
* Great Schism
* Russia
* Ottoman Empire
* North America
* Moscow–Constantinople schism
* 15th–16th c.
* 1996
* 2018

Theology

* History of Eastern Orthodox theology
* (20th century (Neo-Palamism))

* Apophaticism
* Chrismation
* Contemplative prayer
* Essence vs. Energies
* Hesychasm
* Holy Trinity
* Hypostatic union
* Icons
* Metousiosis
* Mystical theology
* Nicene Creed
* Nepsis
* Oikonomia vs Akribeia
* Ousia
* Palamism
* Philokalia
* Phronema
* Sin
* Theosis
* Theotokos

* Differences from the Catholic Church
* Opposition to the Filioque
* Opposition to papal supremacy

Liturgy and worship

* Divine Liturgy
* Divine Services

* Akathist
* Apolytikion
* Artos
* Ectenia
* Euchologion
* Holy Water
* Iconostasis
* Jesus Prayer
* Aprakos
* Kontakion
* Liturgical entrances
* Liturgical fans
* Lity
* Memorial service
* Memory Eternal
* Omophorion
* Eastern Orthodox bowing
* Eastern Orthodox marriage
* Praxis
* Paraklesis
* Paschal greeting
* Paschal Homily
* Paschal troparion
* Prayer rope
* Prosphora
* Russian bell ringing
* Semantron
* Sign of the cross
* Sticheron
* Troparion
* Vestments
* Use of incense

Liturgical calendar

* Paschal cycle
* 12 Great Feasts
* Other feasts:

* Feast of Orthodoxy
* Intercession of the Theotokos

* The four fasting periods:

* Nativity Fast
* Great Lent
* Apostles' Fast
* Dormition Fast

Major figures

Saints (Russian (until 15th century), Russian (post-15th century), Serbian, American)

* Justin Martyr
* Athanasius of Alexandria
* Ephraim the Syrian
* Basil of Caesarea
* Cyril of Jerusalem
* Gregory of Nazianzus
* Gregory of Nyssa
* John Chrysostom
* Cyril of Alexandria
* John Climacus
* Maximus the Confessor
* John of Damascus
* Theodore the Studite
* Kassia
* Cyril and Methodius
* Photius I of Constantinople
* Vladimir the Great
* Sava I of Serbia
* Gregory Palamas
* Innocent of Alaska

Other topics

* Architecture
* Folk
* Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs
* Cross
* Saint titles
* Statistics by country

* v
* t
* e

Nine of the current autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches—among them the four ancient churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem—are organized as patriarchates. In chronological order of establishment, the other five patriarchates are the Bulgarian Patriarchate (the first to be founded after the Pentarchy), the Georgian Patriarchate, the Serbian Patriarchate, the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Romanian Patriarchate.[10]

The Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch relocated its headquarters to Damascus in the 13th century, during the period of Mamluk rule over Syria. Although a Christian community had existed in Damascus since apostolic times (Acts 9), the see continues to be known as the Patriarchate of Antioch.[11]

In certain legal jurisdictions, a patriarchate is considered to have legal personality, meaning it is recognized similarly to a corporation. For example, in 1999, the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem filed a lawsuit in New York against Christie's Auction House, disputing the ownership of the Archimedes Palimpsest.[12]

## Oriental Orthodoxy

[edit]

Several patriarchates exist within the Oriental Orthodox Churches. These include four ancient sees: the Coptic Orthodox Church (Alexandria), the Syriac Orthodox Church (Antioch), and two Armenian patriarchates—one based in Jerusalem (Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem) and the other in Constantinople (Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople).

In addition to these, two modern patriarchates have been established: the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[13]

There are also several autocephalous churches that function similarly to patriarchates, even though they do not use the patriarchal title. These include the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (Armenian Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin), and the Holy See of Cilicia (Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia).[14]

## Church of the East

[edit]

Patriarch of the Church of the East is the head of the Church of the East. Today, there are three rival patriarchs:

* Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East
* Catholicos Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East
* Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Baghdad (of the Catholic church)

## Protestantism

[edit]

The head of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church is also called a Patriarch.[15][16]

## Apostolic Catholic Church

[edit]

The Patriarch of the Apostolic Catholic Church is called a Patriarch.

## See also

[edit]

* Holy See
* Patriarch of Alexandria
* Patriarch of Antioch

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
2. ^ Fortescue, Adrian (1911). "Patriarch and Patriarchate" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11\. "see - II.THE THREE PATRIARCHS"
3. ^ a b Schaff, Philip; Wace, Henry (2022-04-29). A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, Volume 14: The Seven Ecumenical Councils. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 15–19, 438. ISBN 978-1-6667-4063-9.
4. ^ Hoare, F. R. (1954-01-01). The Western Fathers (1st ed.). Sheed & Ward. pp. xvi–xvii.
5. ^ Venables 1911 cites Socr. vii. 25, 28, 37.
6. ^ "St. Pachomius Library". www.voskrese.info. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
7. ^ Erickson, John H. (1991). The Challenge of Our Past: Studies in Orthodox Canon Law and Church History. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. p. 96\. ISBN 978-0-88141-086-0.
8. ^ In his motu proprio Ad Purpuratorum Patrum of 11 February 1965, Pope Paul VI decreed that Eastern Catholic Patriarchs elevated to cardinals would be ranked as Cardinal Bishops—rather than Cardinal Priests—and yield precedence only to the six Cardinal Bishops holding suburbicarian titles.
9. ^ Annuario Pontificio 2012 (in Italian). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2012. pp. 3–5.
10. ^ "Orthodox Church - Autocephalous Patriarchates". CNEWA. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
11. ^ "Why Is Antioch in Turkey?". Orthodox History. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
12. ^ "Greek Orthodox Patriarchate v. Christie's". International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR). Retrieved 2025-05-09.
13. ^ "Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
14. ^ Stammer, Larry (21 October 2000). "Armenians Called by 1 Faith, But 2 Churches". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
15. ^ Úřad ústřední rady (Office of the Central Council), Czechoslovak Hussite Church
16. ^ Patriarcha, Czechoslovak Hussite Church

## Sources

[edit]

* Erickson, John H. (1991). The Challenge of Our Past: Studies in Orthodox Canon Law and Church History. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 9780881410860.
* Kiminas, Demetrius (2009). The Ecumenical Patriarchate: A History of Its Metropolitanates with Annotated Hierarch Catalogs. Wildside Press LLC. ISBN 9781434458766.
* Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. The Church in history. Vol. 2\. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 9780881410563.
* Meyendorff, John (1996). Rome, Constantinople, Moscow: Historical and Theological Studies. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 9780881411348.
* Nedungatt, George, ed. (2002). A Guide to the Eastern Code: A Commentary on the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. Rome: Oriental Institute Press. ISBN 9788872103364.
* Pheidas, Blasios I. (2005). "Papal Primacy and Patriarchal Pentarchy in the Orthodox Tradition". The Petrine Ministry: Catholics and Orthodox in Dialogue. New York: The Newman Press. ISBN 9780809143344.
* Runciman, Steven (1985). The Great Church in captivity: A study of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the eve of the Turkish conquest to the Greek War of Independence. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521313100.

## External links

[edit]

* Fortescue, Adrian (1911). "Patriarch and Patriarchate" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11.

* v
* t
* e

Patriarchates in Christianity

Traditional ecclesiastical jurisdictions of primates in Christianity, sorted according to earliest apostolic legacy and branched where multiple denominational claimants:
bold blue = Catholic Church, light blue = Eastern Orthodox Church (* unrecognized), bold/light green = Oriental Orthodoxy, italic blue = Nestorianism, bold italic blue = pre-schism

Early
Christianity
(Antiquity)
(30–325/476)|

| Pentarchy
(five
apostolic
sees)|

| Patriarch of Rome (1st cent.)|

* Holy See (since 1st cent.)

|

Patriarch of Constantinople
(451)|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 330)
* Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople (1204–1964)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 1461)
* Autocephalous Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate (since 1924*)

Patriarch of Antioch
(1st cent.)|

* Patriarchate of Antioch (1st cent.–518)
* Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 518)
* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 519)
* Maronite Patriarchate (since 685)
* Latin Patriarchate of Antioch (1099–1964)
* Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1668)
* Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1724)

* Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (since 1058)
* Patriarchate of Cilicia (since 1740)

Patriarch of Alexandria
(1st cent.)|

* Patriarchate of Alexandria (1st cent.–451)
* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451)
* Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451)
* Latin Patriarchate of Alexandria (1219–1964)
* Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 1824)

Patriarch of Jerusalem (451)|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 451)
* Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 638)
* Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 1099)

Other|

| Patriarch of Carthage (2nd cent.)|

* Patriarch of Carthage (2nd cent.–1076)

|

Patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
(280)|

* Patriarch of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (280–1552)
* Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate of Baghdad (since 1553)
* Patriarchs of the Church of the East (Eliya line) (1558–1830)
* Patriarchs of the Church of the East (Shimun line) (1692–1830)
* Assyrian Church of the East Patriarchate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (since 1830)
* Ancient Church of the East Patriarchate of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (since 1968)

Patriarch of Armenia (301)|

* Catholicos of All Armenians (Patriarch of Etchmiadzin) (since 301)

* Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (since 1058)
* Patriarchate of Cilicia (since 1740)

Middle Ages
(476–1517)|

* Patriarchate of Aquileia (568–1751)
* Patriarchate of Grado (725–1451)
* Patriarchate of Bulgaria (919*/927–1018)
* Patriarchate of Georgia (1010–1811)
* Patriarchate of Cyprus (1185*–1191)
* Primate of Bulgaria (1204–1235)
* Tarnovo Patriarchate of Bulgaria (1235–1394)
* Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate of Peć (1346*/1375–1463)
* Patriarchate of Venice (since 1451)
* Catholicate of Abkhazia (15.*/16. century–1814)

Early Modern era
(1517–1789) |

* Patriarchate of the West Indies (since 1524)
* Latin Patriarchate of Ethiopia (1555–1663)
* Patriarchate of the East Indies (since 1572)
* Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate of Peć (1557–1766)
* Patriarchate of Moscow (since 1589)
* Patriarchate of Lisbon (since 1716)

Late Modern era
(since 1789)|

* Patriarchate of Karlovci (1848–1920)
* Patriarchate of Georgia (since 1917*/1990)
* Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate of Peć (since 1920)
* Patriarchate of Romania (since 1925)
* Patriarchate of Croatia (*1942–1945)
* Patriarchate of Bulgaria (since 1953)
* Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate of Ethiopia (since 1959)
* Patriarchate of Kyiv (1992*–2018; since 2019*)
* Eritrean Orthodox Patriarchate of Eritrea (since 1994)

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Patriarchal churches|

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|

Junior patriarchates|

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Major archiepiscopal churches|

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