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The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop
Archbishop

In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others, this means that they lead a diocese of particular importance called an archdiocese, or in the Anglican Communion an Ecclesiastical Province, but this is not always the case....
 of Alexandria
Alexandria

Alexandria , with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports....
 and Cairo
Cairo

Cairo , which means "the triumphant", is the Cairo and largest city of Egypt.It is the most populous metropolitan area in Egypt and is also one of the most populous in the world....
, Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
 (etymologically 'Father', like Abbot etc.), and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome
Bishop of Rome

The Bishop of Rome is the Bishop of the Holy See, more often referred to in the Catholic Church tradition as the Pope. The first Bishop of Rome to bear the title of "Pope" was Pope Boniface III in 607, the first to assume the title of "Universal Bishop" by decree of Phocas....
. The first Bishop to be called Papa was the thirteenth Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria Papa Heraclas
Heraclas of Alexandria

Pope Heraclas of Alexandria served as the thirteenth Pope of Alexandria between 232 and 248.He followed Origen as head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria....
.

At first the position was an Episcopate, which was revered as one of the three most ancient Episcopates, along with Rome and Antioch, a century before Jerusalem or Constantinopole attained that status in 381; the five subsequently came to be known as the Pentarchy
Pentarchy

In the History of Christianity, the Pentarchy is "the proposed government of universal Christendom by five Patriarch under the auspices of a single universal empire....
.






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Timeline

189   Demetrius of Alexandria becomes Patriarch of Alexandria.

300   Peter of Alexandria becomes Patriarch of Alexandria.

319   Arius travels to Nicomedia at the invitation of Eusebius, after having been accused of heresy and condemned by Alexander, the Patriarch of Alexandria. This gave rise to the Arian Controversy.

337   Constantius II announces the restoration of Athanasius to the Patriarch of Alexandria.

381   Timothy succeeds Peter as Patriarch of Alexandria.

412   Cyril of Alexandria becomes Patriarch of Alexandria.

449   The Second Council of Ephesus (the "Robber Council") opens, chaired by Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria. Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Domnus II, Patriarch of Antioch, are deposed on August 8.

460   Gennadius I, Patriarch of Constantinople, banishes Timothy Aelurus, the monophysite Patriarch of Alexandria.

484   Pope Felix III excommunicates Peter Mongus, patriarch of Alexandria, and Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople, causing a schism between eastern and western Christianity that lasted 35 years (the ''Acacian schism'').

610   St. John the Merciful becomes Patriarch of Alexandria.






Encyclopedia


The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop
Archbishop

In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others, this means that they lead a diocese of particular importance called an archdiocese, or in the Anglican Communion an Ecclesiastical Province, but this is not always the case....
 of Alexandria
Alexandria

Alexandria , with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports....
 and Cairo
Cairo

Cairo , which means "the triumphant", is the Cairo and largest city of Egypt.It is the most populous metropolitan area in Egypt and is also one of the most populous in the world....
, Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
 (etymologically 'Father', like Abbot etc.), and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome
Bishop of Rome

The Bishop of Rome is the Bishop of the Holy See, more often referred to in the Catholic Church tradition as the Pope. The first Bishop of Rome to bear the title of "Pope" was Pope Boniface III in 607, the first to assume the title of "Universal Bishop" by decree of Phocas....
. The first Bishop to be called Papa was the thirteenth Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria Papa Heraclas
Heraclas of Alexandria

Pope Heraclas of Alexandria served as the thirteenth Pope of Alexandria between 232 and 248.He followed Origen as head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria....
.

At first the position was an Episcopate, which was revered as one of the three most ancient Episcopates, along with Rome and Antioch, a century before Jerusalem or Constantinopole attained that status in 381; the five subsequently came to be known as the Pentarchy
Pentarchy

In the History of Christianity, the Pentarchy is "the proposed government of universal Christendom by five Patriarch under the auspices of a single universal empire....
. It was, de facto, elevated to an Archiepiscopal status by the local Alexandrine Council on the one hand and it was then regulated by canon law
Canon law

Canon law is internal ecclesiastical law governing the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church churches, and the Anglicanism of churches....
 of the First Ecumenical Council stipulating that all the Egyptian episcopal and metropolitan provinces be subjected to this Metropolitan See of Alexandria, as was already the prevailing custom.

The office was acknowledged as a Patriarchate
Patriarchate

A patriarchate is the office or Jurisdiction#Executive jurisdiction of a patriarch. A patriarch, as the term is used here, is either* one of the highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, the original five of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, but now nine, including patriarchs of Serbia, Russia, Georgia , Bulgaria...
 by the time of the Third Ecumenical Council, and was officially ratified as such by the Fourth Ecumenical Council. The title Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
 was originally used in a capacity of an appellation rather than a title and eventually it became a title, but contrary to the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
 of Rome, the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
 of Alexandria had no distinction in his Papal/Pontifical and Patriarchal titles. They were used together in the same capacity and this dual title did not put him on a higher ecclesiastical/hierarchical level than the other Patriarchs of the Pentarchy
Pentarchy

In the History of Christianity, the Pentarchy is "the proposed government of universal Christendom by five Patriarch under the auspices of a single universal empire....
. Also the use of the title by the Roman Bishop did not restrict it to himself or deprive it from his Alexandrian colleague.

Papa has been the specific designation for the Archbishop of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the See of Saint Mark. Historically, this office has held the title of Pope, "?apa?", which means "Father" in the Greek and the Coptic languages, since Pope Heracleus, the 13th Alexandrine Bishop (232-249 AD), to whom, was the first time to associate the appellation of Pope with the title of the Bishop of Alexandria three centuries before it was assumed by John I
Pope John I

Pope Saint John I was Pope from 523 to 526. He was a native of Tuscany , and was very old and frail by the time he was elected to the papacy....
, Bishop of Rome (523- 526), who ratified the Alexandrian computation of the date of Easter. Bestowing the title on Rome's Pontiff did not strip it from Alexandria's, and the Roman Catholic Church recognizes this ecclesiastical fact.

According to church tradition, the Patriarchate was founded in 42 by the Apostle Saint Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist

Saint Mark the Evangelist , also known as John Mark, is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark and a companion of Saint Peter....
. All churches acknowledge the same succession
List of Patriarchs of Alexandria

The bishop or Patriarch of Alexandria is the highest-ranking bishop of Egypt and exists separately in both the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Eastern Orthodox Church....
 of church leaders up to about the dividing Council of Chalcedon
Council of Chalcedon

The Council of Chalcedon is believed to have been the fourth ecumenical council by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. It was held from 8 October to 1 November 451 at Chalcedon , today the district of Kadik?y on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, incorporated into the city of Istanbul....
 451, that gave rise to the non-chalcedonian Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, and to the chalcedonian
Chalcedonian

Chalcedonian describes churches and theologians which accept the definition given at the Council of Chalcedon of how the divine and human relate in the person of Jesus Christ....
 Greek Orthodox
Greek Orthodox Church

The term Greek Orthodox Church refers to several churches within the larger full communion of Eastern Orthodox Church Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition and whose liturgy is traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament....
 Church of Alexandria
Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria

The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, also known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is one of the autocephaly Eastern Orthodox Churches....
.

Jurisdictional claimants to the title of Patriarch of Alexandria


Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria


  • The Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle
    List of Coptic Popes

    The following is a list of all the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria who have led the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the Church in the 1st century, and therefore marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa....
     leads the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, but resides in Cairo since Christodoulos moved the residence in mid eleventh century. His full title is:


Pope and Archbishop of the Great City of Alexandria
List of Coptic Popes

The following is a list of all the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria who have led the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the Church in the 1st century, and therefore marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa....
 and Patriarch of all Africa, the Holy Orthodox and Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist
List of Coptic Popes

The following is a list of all the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria who have led the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the Church in the 1st century, and therefore marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa....
 that is, in Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
, Pentapolis
Pentapolis

A pentapolis, from the Ancient Greek words penta 'five' and polis 'city' is geographic and/or institutional grouping of five cities....
, Libya
Libya

Libya , officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya , is a country located in North Africa. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya lies between Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Nubia
Nubia

Nubia is a region in Southern Egypt along the Nile and in what is now northern Sudan. Most of Nubia is situated in Sudan with about a quarter of its territory in Egypt....
, Sudan
Sudan

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It is the largest in the African continent and the Arab World, and List of countries and outlying territories by total area by area....
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia

Ethiopia , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the east and Djibouti to the northeast....
, Eritrea
Eritrea

Eritrea , officially the Country of Eritrea, is a country in Northeast Africa. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast....
 and all Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
.
The Successor of St. Mark the Evangelist
Four Evangelists

The Four Evangelists refers to the authors of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following ancient titles*Gospel according to Matthew ,...
, Holy Apostle and Martyr, on the Holy Apostolic Throne of the Great City of Alexandria
Alexandria

Alexandria , with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports....
Diocesan Bishop
Bishop

A bishop is an ordination or consecration member of the Clergy#Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight....
 of Alexandria
Elder Metropolitan Archbishop of the Egyptian Province
Primate
Primate (religion)

Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christianity churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
 of Pentapolis
Pentapolis

A pentapolis, from the Ancient Greek words penta 'five' and polis 'city' is geographic and/or institutional grouping of five cities....
, Libya
Libya

Libya , officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya , is a country located in North Africa. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya lies between Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Nubia
Nubia

Nubia is a region in Southern Egypt along the Nile and in what is now northern Sudan. Most of Nubia is situated in Sudan with about a quarter of its territory in Egypt....
 and Sudan
Sudan

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa. It is the largest in the African continent and the Arab World, and List of countries and outlying territories by total area by area....
Patriarch
Patriarch

Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised Autocracy authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy....
 of all Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
The Pillar and Defender of the Holy, Catholic
Catholic

Catholic is an adjective derived from the Greek language adjective , meaning "whole" or "complete". In the context of Christianity ecclesiology, it has a rich history and several usages....
, Apostolic
Apostolic

Apostolic may refer to*The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them*Apostolic Succession, the doctrine connecting the Church to the original Twelve Apostles...
 and Orthodox
Orthodox Christianity

KAHThe term Orthodox Christianity may refer to* The Eastern Orthodox Church: the Eastern Christianity churches of Byzantine Rite tradition that adhere to the first seven Ecumenical Councils, and are in full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and with each other....
 Faith
The Dean of the Great Catechetical School of Theology of Alexandria
Alexandrian school

The Alexandrian school is a collective designation for certain tendencies in literature, philosophy, medicine, and the sciences that developed in the Hellenistic civilization cultural center of Alexandria, Egypt during the Hellenistic era and Roman periods....
The Ecumenical (Universal) Judge (Arbitrator) of the Holy Apostolic and Catholic (Universal) Church
The Thirteenth among the Holy Apostles
Twelve Apostles

In Christianity, apostles were missionaries among the leaders in the Early Christianity and, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus Christ himself....
Father of Fathers, Shepherd
Shepherd

A shepherd is a person who tends to, feeds or guards sheep, especially in flocks. The word may also refer to one who provides religious guidance, as a pastor....
 of Shepherds
Hierarch of all Hierarchs
Bishop (Archpriest) of Bishops (Archpriests)
The Thirteenth Apostle
Judge (Arbitrator) of the Universe (the Oecumene)


Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria

The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, also known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is one of the autocephaly Eastern Orthodox Churches....


  • The Greek Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa leads the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
    Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria

    The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, also known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is one of the autocephaly Eastern Orthodox Churches....
    . His full title is:


Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, the Pentapolis, Ethiopia and All Africa
Father of Fathers
Shepherd of Shepherds
Bishop
Bishop

A bishop is an ordination or consecration member of the Clergy#Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight....
 (Archpriest) of Bishops (Archpriests)
The Thirteenth Apostle
Judge (Arbitrator) of the Universe (the Oecumene)


Eastern Catholic Churches


Coptic Catholic Church of Alexandria
  • The Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts, who leads the Coptic Catholic Church
    Coptic Catholic Church

    The Coptic Catholic Church is an Alexandrian Rite sui juris particular Church in full communion with the Pope of Rome rather than the Pope of Alexandria....
     in full communion with the Holy See
    Holy See

    The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church....
    , can also be bestowed by the Pope
    Pope

    The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
     the title of Cardinal Bishop
    Cardinal (Catholicism)

    A cardinal is a senior Ecclesiology official, usually a Bishop , of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope....
     but also reserving is Patriarchal status.


Melkite Greek Catholic Church
  • The Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, who leads the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
    Melkite Greek Catholic Church

    The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic sui juris particular Church in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. The church's origins lie in the Near East, but, today, Melkite Catholics are spread throughout the world....
     in full communion with the Holy See
    Holy See

    The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church....
    , also carries the titles of the Titular
    Titular see

    A titular see in the Roman Catholic Church is a Diocese or Archdiocese that now exists in title only. Until 1882, such titular sees, were distinguished by the Latin phrase in partibus infidelium or more often simply in partibus....
     Patriarch of Alexandria of the Greek-Melkites     and the Titular Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Greek-Melkites.


Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population....


  • The Latin Patriarch of Alexandria
    Latin Patriarch of Alexandria

    This is a list of The Latin Patriarchs of Alexandria established in 1215 during the pontificate of Pope Innocent III. This titular office was abolished in 1964....
     was the head of the Titular Patriarchal See of Alexandria
    Titular see

    A titular see in the Roman Catholic Church is a Diocese or Archdiocese that now exists in title only. Until 1882, such titular sees, were distinguished by the Latin phrase in partibus infidelium or more often simply in partibus....
     of the Roman Catholic Church
    Roman Catholic Church

    The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population....
     established by Pope Innocent III
    Pope Innocent III

    Pope Innocent III was born in either 1160 or 1161, and died on July 16, 1216 at Perugia. He was born with the name Lotario de Conti, and he was pope from January 8, 1198 until his death....
    . The title was last held by Luca Ermenegildo Pasetto until his death in 1954 and remained vacant until its suppression in 1964.


See also

See the linked articles for lists of the primatial patriarchs of each church.
  • Pentarchy
    Pentarchy

    In the History of Christianity, the Pentarchy is "the proposed government of universal Christendom by five Patriarch under the auspices of a single universal empire....