Patriarch of Alexandria

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The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope (etymologically 'Father', like Abbot etc.), and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome. The first Bishop to be called Pope was the thirteenth Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria Pope Heraclas.^[1]

At first, it was an Episcopate, that was revered as one of the five most ancient Episcopates, known as the Pentarchy. 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 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.

Acknowledged as a Patriarchate by the time of the Third Ecumenical Council, which was officially ratified by the Fourth Ecumenical Council. The title Pope was originally used in a capacity of an appelation rather than a title and eventually it became a title, but contrary to the Pope of Rome, the Pope 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. Also the use of the title by the Roman Bishop did not restrict it to himself or deprive it from his Alexandrian colleague.

According to church tradition, the Patriarchate was founded in 42 by the Apostle Saint Mark the Evangelist. All churches acknowledge the same succession of church leaders up to about the dividing Council of Chalcedon 451.

1 Jurisdictional claimants to the title of Patriarch of Alexandria
2 See also
3 References

[edit] Jurisdictional claimants to the title of Patriarch of Alexandria

[edit] The Coptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria

The leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria , known as Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle. His full title is:

Pope and Lord Archbishop of the Great City of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Orthodox and Apostolic Throne of Saint Mark the Evangelist and Holy Apostle that is, in Egypt, Pentapolis, Libya, Nubia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and all Africa.

The Successor of St. Mark the Evangelist, Holy Apostle and Martyr, on the Holy Apostolic Throne of the Great City of Alexandria

Diocesan Bishop of Alexandria

Elder Metropolitan Archbishop of the Egyptian Province

Primate of Pentapolis, Libya, Nubia and Sudan

Patriarch of all Africa

The Pillar and Defender of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Orthodox Faith

The Dean of the Great Catechetical School of Theology of Alexandria
The Ecumenical (Universal) Judge (Arbitrator) of the Holy Apostolic and Catholic (Universal) Church

The Thirteenth among the Holy Apostles

Father of Fathers, Shepherd of Shepherds

Hierarch of all Hierarchs

[edit] The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria

The leader of the Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt and throughout the African continent, known as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. 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 (Archpriest) of Bishops (Archpriests)

The Thirteenth Apostle

Judge (Arbitrator) of the Universe (the Oecumene)

[edit] The Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria

The leader of the Coptic Catholic Church, known as Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts. This Uniate Patriarch, however does not hold the dual Title of Pope and Patriarch. He holds only the title of Patriarch and could, if bestowed upon him from the Pope of Rome, hold the title of Cardinal Bishop.

Furthermore: