The 5 Tier Hierarchy of the Orthodox Church:
(Ecumenical Patriarch, Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Bishops, Priests)
Learn from the Bible Blueprint, how the church was organized by the apostles!
Find a local congregation of the New Testament church that is organized exactly as the Bible says
30-606 AD: The gradual historical Development of the Papal and Patriarchal Systems of Centralized Church Government away from the organization found in the Bible.

Hierarchy of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches (Constantinople)

The office of Elders, pastors and bishops

 The New Testament Church has no world headquarters!

There are fourteen Orthodox churches that are generally accepted as "autocephalous," which in Greek means "self-headed." An autocephalous church possesses the right to resolve all internal problems on its own authority and the ability to choose its own bishops, including the Patriarch, Archbishop or Metropolitan who heads the church. While each autocephalous church acts independently, they all remain in full sacramental and canonical communion with one another. Today these autocephalous Orthodox churches include the four ancient Eastern Patriarchates (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem), and ten other Orthodox churches that have emerged over the centuries in Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania, and the Czech and Slovak Republics. On its own initiative, the Patriarchate of Moscow has granted autocephalous status to most of its parishes in North America under the name of the Orthodox Church in America. But since the Patriarchate of Constantinople claims the exclusive right to grant autocephalous status, it and most other Orthodox churches do not recognize the autocephaly of the American church. Nine of these autocephalous churches are Patriarchates: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Georgia. The others are headed by an Archbishop or Metropolitan. At the level of church government, Orthodoxy is a communion of churches, all of which recognize the Patriarch of Constantinople as primus inter pares, or "first among equals." Although he does not have authority to intervene in the affairs of local churches outside his own Patriarchate, he is considered first in honor and the symbolic center of all the Orthodox churches. Thus the Patriarchate of Constantinople (also known as the Ecumenical Patriarchate) enjoys a certain priority among the various Orthodox churches. (CNEWA)

I just laugh when Roman Catholics and Orthodox both claim their church has the authority to determine doctrine and that the Protestants are divided into many factions. Of course, the Orthodox claim they, not the Roman Catholic church are the one true apostolic church and depict the Roman Catholics "falling away" in 1054 AD. Roman Catholics use the same chart but have the Orthodox "falling away" from them. But the point remains, that Roman Catholics claim they are the apostolic church based upon tradition and Orthodox claim they are the apostolic church based upon tradition. Let me quote an Orthodox Father named Raymond L. Zell, in his booklet called, "Scripture and tradition." Pg. 2: "Wait a minute! How can so many contradictory statements be based upon" apostolic tradition? "How can intelligent and sensible people" claim to be the apostolic church, "yet arrive at such opposite conclusions?"

There is a consistent terminology of titles that corresponds to various positions that are through out this group of churches. A leaders rank can easily be determined by his title. Now rank in Autocephalous Orthodox Churches, is different than in the vertically structured, military like, monolithic organization of the Roman Catholic church. In Autocephalous churches, people of varying titles all have the same power to vote in church matters and policy making. The Roman Catholic church is organized from the top down and the Autocephalous orthodox churches are organized from the bottom up. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is called, "first among equals".

There are Six Orthodox churches which, although functioning independently on a day-to-day basis, are canonically dependent on an autocephalous Orthodox church. In practice this means that the head of an autonomous church must be confirmed in office by the Holy Synod of its mother autocephalous church. The Orthodox churches of Finland and Estonia are dependent on the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Mount Sinai is dependent on the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In addition, the Moscow Patriarchate has granted autonomous status to its Orthodox daughter churches in Japan and China, but these actions have not been recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. (CNEWA)

These are churches which, because of special circumstances or political turmoil in their countries of origin, have been received under the canonical protection of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Patriarchate provides these churches with Holy Chrism and confirms the election of their bishops. (CNEWA)

1. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada: His Beatitude Wasyly, Metropolitan of all Canada, Archbishop of Winnipeg and Central Diocese, Primate of The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (Canonical Church Under Constantinople)
His Eminence John, Archbishop of Edmonton and the Western Diocese, The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
His Eminence Yurij, Archbishop of Toronto, Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

2. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA: His Beatitude Constantine, Metropolitan of all USA, Eparchial Bishop: Central Eparchy (Canonical Church Under Constantinople)
His Eminence Archbishop Antony, Eparchial Bishop: Eastern Eparchy, The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
His Eminence Archbishop Vsevolod, Eparchial Bishop: Western Eparchy, The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

3. The American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA: His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, Titular Metropolitan of Amissos; (Canonical Church Under Constantinople)

4. Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe: His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel de Vylder; (Canonical Church Under Constantinople)

5. Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America: Reverend Ilia Katre, Vicar General; (Canonical Church Under Constantinople)

6. Belarusan Council of Orthodox Churches in North America: Very Reverend Sviatoslaw Kous, Administrator; (Canonical Church Under Constantinople)\

The Orthodox Church of Finland; His Beatitude Archbishop Leo; Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland, Autonomous but canonically dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople; His Eminence; Ambrosius: Metropolitan of Oulu and Lapland

The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Stephanos, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia; Autonomous but canonically dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople

1. His Eminence Chrysostom: Metropolitan of the Senior See of Ephesus
2. His Eminence Joachim: Metropolitan of the Senior See of Chalcedon
3. His Eminence Iakovos: Metropolitan of Laodicea
4. His Eminence Meliton: Metropolitan of Philadelphia
5. His Eminence Emilianos: Metropolitan of Silybria
6. His Eminence Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Tyroloi and Serentia
7. His Eminence John: Metropolitan of Pergamon
8. His Eminence Apostolos: Metropolitan of Moschonision
9. His Eminence Demetrios: Metropolitan of Sebasteia
10. His Eminence Paisios: Metropolitan of Tyana
11. His Eminence Spyridon
12. His Grace Vikentios: Bishop of Apamea
13. His Eminence Sotirios: Metropolitan, Archbishop, Prelate; Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)
14. His Eminence Timotheos III, Archbishop of Crete
15. His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of America, Primate of The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
    His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church in America
16. His Eminence: Stylianos, Archbishop, The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia
    His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia
    His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apollonias, The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia
    His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Dorileou, The Greek Orthodox Church in Australia
17. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of Hong Kong and South-east Asia
18. His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, The Orthodox Archdioces of New Zealand, Exarch of Korea and Japan.
    The Orthodox Church in Korea
    The Orthodox Church in Japan
19. His Eminence the Metropolitan Jeremias of France.

1. His Eminence Paul: Metropolitan of Memphis
2. His Eminence Dionysios: Metropolitan of Leontopolis
3. His Eminence Ireneos: Metropolitan of Pelusion
4. His Eminence Petros: Metropolitan of Axum
5. His Eminence Chrysostomos: Metropolitan of Carthage
6. His Eminence Theodoros: Metropolitan of Zimbabwe
7. His Eminence Ionas: Metropolitan of Kampala and All Uganda
8. His Eminence Makarios: Metropolitan of Kenya and Irinoupolis
9. His Eminence Seraphim: Metropolitan of Johannesburg and Pretoria
10. His Eminence Sergios: Metropolitan of Good Hope
11. His Eminence Kallinikos: Metropolitan of Khartoum & All Sudan
12. His Eminence Nikolaos: Metropolitan of Hermopolis
13. His Eminence Proterios: Metropolitan of Dar Es Salaam
14. His Eminence Dimitrios: Metropolitan of Cameroon
15. His Eminence Ignatios: Metropolitan of Central Africa

1. His Eminence Elias: Metropolitan of Tripoli and el-Koura
2. His Eminence Philip: Metropolitan of New York and North America
3. His Eminence Spyridon: Metropolitan of Zahle and Baalbek
4. His Eminence Constantine: Metropolitan of Baghdad and Kuwait
5. His Eminence George: Metropolitan of Byblos and Batroun (Mount Lebanon)
6. His Eminence John: Metropolitan of Lattakya
7. His Eminence Elias: Metropolitan of Beirut
8. His Eminence Paul: Metropolitan of Akkar
9. His Eminence Elia: Metropolitan of Hamah
10. His Eminence Elias: Metropolitan of Tyre and Sydon and Marjiyoun
11. His Eminence Sergios: Metropolitan of Chile
12. His Eminence Antonios: Metropolitan of Mexico
13. His Eminence Kyrillos: Metropolitan of Argentina
14. His Eminence Damaskinos: Metropolitan of Sao Paolo
15. His Eminence Saba: Metropolitan of Bosra, Hawran and Jabal el-Arab
16. His Eminence Gabriel: Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe
17. His Eminence Paul: Metropolitan of Aleppo
18. His Eminence Paul: Metropolitan of Sydney and All Australia
19. His Eminence George: Metropolitan of Homs
20. His Grace Antoun: Bishop of Seleucia: Auxiliary Bishop of North America
21. His Grace Joseph: Auxiliary Bishop of North America
22. His Grace Basil: Bishop of Enfeh al-Koura: Auxiliary Bishop of North America
23. His Grace Demetri: Auxiliary Bishop of North America
24. His Grace Luke: Bishop of Saydnaya
25. His Grace Ghattas: Titular Bishop of Kara, Patriarchal Vicar
26. His Grace Yuhanna: Bishop of El-Hosn

The Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai; His Eminence Archbishop Damianos; Abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery, Archbishop of Sinai, Pharan, and Raitho; Autonomous but canonically dependent on the Patriarchate of Jerusalem

1. His Eminence; Cornelius: Metropolitan of Petras
2. His Eminence; Amvrosios: Metropolitan of Neapoli
3. His Eminence; Arkadios: Metropolitan of Ashqelon
4. His Eminence; Arkadios: Metropolitan of Skithopolis
5. His Eminence; Damaskinos: Metropolitan of Jaffa
6. His Eminence; Christodoulos: Metropolitan of Eleutheroupoli
7. His Eminence; Palladios: Metropolitan of Ptolemais
8. His Eminence; Timotheos: Metropolitan of Bostra
9. His Eminence; Alexios: Archbishop of Tiberias
10. His Eminence; Benedict: Archbishop of Gaza
11. His Eminence; Aristarchos: Archbishop of Constantinis
12. His Eminence; Methodios: Archbishop
13. His Eminence; Silvestros: Archbishop of Kiriakoupoli
14. His Eminence; Theophylaktos: Archbishop
15. His Grace Daniel: Bishop

1. His Eminence; Constantine: Metropolitan of Margveti
2. His Eminence; Atanase: Metropolitan of Rustavi
3. His Eminence; Kalistrate: Metropolitan of Kutais-Gaenati
4. His Eminence; Tadeoz: Archbishop of Bolnisi and Dmanisi
5. His Eminence; Anania: Archbishop of Manglisi and Tsalka
6. His Eminence; Vakhtang: Archbishop of Samtavisi and Gori
7. His Eminence; Zosime: Archbishop of Tsilkani
8. His Eminence; Giorgi: Archbishop of Tchkondidi
9. His Eminence; Job: Archbishop of Urbnisi and Ruisi
10. His Eminence; Daniel: Archbishop of Tskhum-Apkhazeti
11. His Eminence; Daviti: Archbishop of Alaverdi
12. His Eminence; Abraam: Archbishop of Chiatura
13. His Eminence; Sergi: Archbishop of Nekresi
14. His Grace Ioseb: Bishop of Shemokmedi
15. His Grace Isaia: Bishop of Nikozi and Tskhinvali
16. His Grace Seraphim: Bishop of Borjomi and Akhalkalaki
17. His Grace Elise: Bishop of Nikortsminda
18. His Grace Grigoli: Bishop of Poti
19. His Grace Nikolozi: Bishop of Bodbe
20. His Grace Theodore: Bishop of Akhaltsikhe
21. His Grace Saba: Bishop of Khoni
22. His Grace Dimitri: Bishop of Batumi and Skhalta
23. His Grace Antoni: Bishop of Vani and Bagdati
24. His Grace Gerasime: Bishop of Zugdidi and Tsaishi
25. His Grace Daviti: Bishop of Tsageri and Svaneti
26. His Grace Andria: Bishop of Sagarejo and Gurjaani

1. His Eminence; Jovan: Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana

2. His Eminence; Amfilohije: Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coastlands

3. His Eminence; Christopher: Metropolitan of Midwestern America

4. His Grace Lavrentije: Bishop of Shabac-Valjevo

5. His Grace Georgije: Bishop of Canada

6. His Grace Mitrophan: Bishop of Eastern America

7. His Grace Dositej: Bishop of Great Britain and Sweden

8. His Grace Artemije: Bishop of Raska and Prizren

9. His Grace Konstantin: Bishop of Central Europe

10. His Grace Luka: Bishop of Western Europe

11. His Grace Justin: Bishop of Timok

12. His Grace Jovan: Bishop of Western America

13. His Grace Ignatije: Bishop of Branicevo

1. His Eminence; Serafim: Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe

2. His Eminence; Daniel: Metropolitan of Moldavia

3. His Eminence; Teofan: Metropolitan of Oltenia

4. His Eminence; Joseph: Archbishop of Western and Central Europe

5. His Eminence; Nicolae: Archbishop of America and Canada

6. His Grace Ambrozie: Bishop of Sinaitul

1. His Eminence; Grigory: Metropolitan of Lovetch
2. His Eminence; Kalinik: Metropolitan of Vratza
3. His Eminence; Arsenii: Metropolitan of Plovdiv
4. His Eminence; Dometiyan: Metropolitan of Vidin
5. His Eminence; Kyrill: Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav
6. His Eminence; Simeon: Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe
7. His Eminence; Grigory: Metropolitan of Veliko Turnovo
8. His Eminence; Neofit: Metropolitan of Dorostol and Tcherven
9. His Eminence; Nathanail: Metropolitan of Nevrokrop

The Orthodox Church of Japan; His Eminence Daniel; Archbishop of Tokyo, Metropolitan of All Japan; Autonomous but canonically dependent on the Patriarchate of Moscow

Orthodox Church of China; Autonomous but canonically dependent on the Patriarchate of Moscow

The Orthodox Church in America: His Beatitude Herman: Archbishop of Washington,: Metropolitan of All America and Canada; Autonomous but canonically dependent on the Patriarchate of Moscow

1. His Beatitude Vladimir: Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine
2. His Eminence; Vladimir: Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg and Ladoga
3. His Eminence; Yuvenalii: Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomena
4. His Beatitude Filaret: Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk; Exarch of All Belorussia
5. His Eminence; Kirill: Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad
6. His Eminence; Sergii: Archbishop of Solnechnogorsk
7. His Eminence; Leontii: Metropolitan of Orenburg and Buzuluk
8. His Eminence; Nikodim: Metropolitan of Kharkov and Bogodukhov
9. His Eminence; Nikolai: Metropolitan of Nizhegorod and Arzamas
10. His Eminence; Feodosii: Metropolitan of Omsk and Tarsk
11. His Eminence; Pitirim: Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuriev; Vicar of the Diocese of Moscow
12. His Eminence; Antonii: Metropolitan of Chernigov and Nezhinsk
13. His Eminence; Irinei: Metropolitan of Vienna and Austria
14. His Eminence; Feodosii: Metropolitan of Poltava and Kremenchuga
15. His Eminence; Gedeon: Metropolitan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz
16. His Eminence; Serapion: Metropolitan of Tula and Belev
17. His Eminence; Agafangel: Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail'sk
18. His Eminence; Mefodii: Metropolitan of Voronezh and Lipetsk
19. His Eminence; Vladimir: Metropolitan of Kishinev and All Moldova
20. His Eminence; Nifont: Metropolitan of Lutsk and Volyna
21. His Eminence; Melkhisedek: Archbishop of Bryansk and Sevsk
22. His Eminence; Nikolai: Archbishop of Ramena; Vicar of the Diocese of Moscow
23. His Eminence; German: Archbishop of Volgograd and Kamyshin
24. His Eminence; Makarii: Archbishop of Vinnitsa and Mogilev-Podol'e
25. His Eminence; Maksim: Archbishop of Mogilev and Mstislav
26. His Eminence; Khrizostom: Archbishop of Vilnius and Lithuania
27. His Eminence; Anatolii: Archbishop of Kerchensk; Vicar of the Diocese of Sourozh
28. His Eminence; Simon: Archbishop of Ryazan and Kasimov
29. His Eminence; Platon: Archbishop of Argentina and South America
30. His Eminence; Iov: Archbishop of Chelyabinsk and Zlatoustov
31. His Eminence; Irinei: Archbishop of Dnepropetrovsk and Pavlograd
32. His Eminence; Yuvenalii: Archbishop of Kursk and Ryla
33. His Eminence; Varnava: Archbishop of Cheboksary and Chuvash

1. His Eminence; Chrysostomos: Metropolitan of Paphos
2. His Eminence; Chrysostomos: Metropolitan of Kitium
3. His Eminence; Pavlos: Metropolitan of Kyrenia
4. His Eminence; Athanasios: Metropolitan of Limassol
5. His Eminence; Neophytos: Metropolitan of Morphos
6. His Grace Varnavas: Bishop of Salamis
7. His Grace Vassilios: Bishop of Trimithous
8. His Grace Georgios: Bishop of Arsinoe
9. His Grace Nikephoros: Bishop of Kykko

1. His Eminence; Chrysostom: Metropolitan of Messinia
2. His Eminence; Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Corinth
3. His Eminence; Stefanos: Metropolitan of Triphylia and Olympia
4. His Eminence; Synesios: Metropolitan of Kassandreia
5. His Eminence; Dorotheos: Metropolitan of Syros, Tinos, Kea and Milos
6. His Eminence; Thekletos: Metropolitan of Aitolia and Acarnania
7. His Eminence; Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Thessaloniki
8. His Eminence; Nikodemos: Metropolitan of Patrai
9. His Eminence; Dionysios: Metropolitan of Drama
10. His Eminence; Ioannis: Metropolitan of Siderokastron
11. His Eminence; Spyridon: Metropolitan of Lagkadas
12. His Eminence; Apostolos: Metropolitan of Poliana and Kilkis
13. His Eminence; Nikephoros: Metropolitan of Leukas and Ithaki
14. His Eminence; Serapheim: Metropolitan of Karystia and Skyros
15. His Eminence; Theophilos: Metropolitan of Gortys and Megalopolis
16. His Eminence; Serapheim: Metropolitan of Stagoi and Meteora
17. His Eminence; Agathonikos: Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki
18. His Eminence; Bartholomew: Metropolitan of Megara and Salamis
19. His Eminence; Spyridon: Metropolitan of Zichnai and Nevrokopion
20. His Eminence; Damaskinos: Metropolitan of Maroneia and Komotini
21. His Eminence; Antonios: Metropolitan of Sisanion and Siatista
22. His Eminence; Prokopios: Metropolitan of Philippoi, Neapolis and Thasos
23. His Eminence; Prokopios: Metropolitan of Nea Krini and Kalamaria
24. His Eminence; Dionysios: Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis
25. His Eminence; Anthimos: Metropolitan of Alexandroupolis
26. His Eminence; Ambrose: Metropolitan of Paronaxia
27. His Eminence; Titus: Metropolitan of Paramythia, Philata, Geromerion and Parga
28. His Eminence; Agathangelos: Metropolitan of Nea Smyrni
29. His Eminence; Kallinikos: Metropolitan of Piraeus
30. His Eminence; Theokletos: Metropolitan of Ioannina
31. His Eminence; Chrysostom: Metropolitan of Peristerion
32. His Eminence; Spyridon: Metropolitan of Kephallinia
33. His Eminence; Chrysostom: Metropolitan of Zakynthos
34. His Eminence; Ambrose: Metropolitan of Kalavryta and Aigialeia
35. His Eminence; Alexios: Metropolitan of Trikki and Stagoi
36. His Eminence; Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Attica
37. His Eminence; Nicholas: Metropolitan of Karpenision
38. His Eminence; Meletios: Metropolitan of Nikopolis and Preveza
39. His Eminence; Eustathios: Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta
40. His Eminence; Nikodemos: Metropolitan of Ierissos, Agion Oros and Ardamerion
41. His Eminence; Germanos: Metropolitan of Eleia and Oleni
42. His Eminence; Hieronymos: Metropolitan of Thebes and Levadeia
43. His Eminence; Maximos: Metropolitan of Serrai and Nigrita
44. His Eminence; Alexander: Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kynouria
45. His Eminence; Chrysostom: Metropolitan of Methymna
46. His Eminence; Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Thera, Amorgos and Nisoi
47. His Eminence; Evdokimos: Metropolitan of Eleutheroupolis
48. His Eminence; Chrysostom: Metropolitan of Edessa, Pella and Almopia
49. His Eminence; Iakovos: Metropolitan of Argolis
50. His Eminence; Agathonikos: Metropolitan of Kitros and Katerini
51. His Eminence; Nikephoros: Metropolitan of Didymoteichon and Orestias
52. His Eminence; Iakovos: Metropolitan of Mytilene, Eressos and Plomarion
53. His Eminence; Ignatios: Metropolitan of Arta
54. His Eminence; Hierotheos: Metropolitan of Lemnos and Agios Eustratios
55. His Eminence; Demetrios: Metropolitan of Goumenissa, Axioupolis and Polykastron
56. His Eminence; Ignatios: Metropolitan of Larissa and Tyrnavos
57. His Eminence; Constantine: Metropolitan of Nea Ionia and Philadelphia
58. His Eminence; Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Veroia and Naousa
59. His Eminence; Andrew: Metropolitan of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa
60. His Eminence; Panteleimon: Metropolitan of Xanthi and Peritheorion
61. His Eminence; Alexios: Metropolitan of Nikaia
62. His Eminence; Hierotheos: Metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Agios Vlasios
63. His Eminence; Vasileios: Metropolitan of Elassona
64. His Eminence; Eusevios: Metropolitan of Samos and Ikaria
65. His Eminence; Serapheim: Metropolitan of Kastoria
66. His Eminence; Nicholas: Metropolitan of Phthiotis
67. His Eminence; Chrysostom: Metropolitan of Gytheion and Oitylon
68. His Eminence; Ignatios: Metropolitan of Demetrias
69. His Eminence; Ambrose: Metropolitan of Servia
70. His Eminence; Cyril: Metropolitan of Kythira
71. His Eminence; Thekletos: Metropolitan of Thessaliotis and Phanariophersala
72. His Eminence; Daniel: Metropolitan of Kaisariani, Vyron and Ymittos
73. His Eminence; Thekletos: Metropolitan of Florina, Prespai and Eordaia
74. His Eminence; Ephraim: Metropolitan of Ydra, Spetsai and Aigina

1. His Eminence; Ignatios: Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora and Kanina
2. His Eminence; John: Metropolitan of Korça
3. His Grace Kosma: Bishop of Apollonia

1. His Eminence; Simon: Archbishop of Lodz and Poznan
2. His Eminence; Jeremiah: Archbishop of Wroclaw and Szczecin
3. His Eminence; Adam: Archbishop of Przemyshl and Novy Sandets
4. His Eminence; Abel: Archbishop of Ljublin and Kholm
5. His Grace Jacob: Bishop of Bialystok and Gdansk
6. His Grace Miron: Bishop of Gaj Nowy; Vicar of Diocese of Warsaw and Bialy
7. His Grace Gregory: Bishop of Bialy; Vicar of Diocese of Warsaw and Bialy

1. His Eminence; Christopher: Archbishop of Prague and the Czech Lands
2. His Grace Simeon: Bishop of Olomouts and Brno

1. Old Believers: Mr. Moisey Ovchinnikoff

2. Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia: Metropolitan Laurus: Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

3. Ukrainian Orthodox Church: Kiev Patriarchate and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

4. Belarusan Autocephalous Orthodox Church

5. Macedonian Orthodox Church: Archbishop Stefan; Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia

6. Old Calendar Orthodox Churches

1. The Maronite Catholic Church: Patriarch Nasrallah Cardinal Sfeir; Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, The Maronite Catholic Church

2. Italo-Albanian Catholic Church: Italo-Albanian Byzantine Rite

3. The Chaldean Catholic Church: Patriarch Raphael I Bidawid; Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans; (A splinter group from the Assyrian Church of the East)

4. Catholic Eastern Churches: Churches with No Counterpart - Italo-Albanian Catholic Church

5. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church: Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly; Archbishop Varkey Vithayathil, Apostolic; The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (A splinter group from the Assyrian Church of the East)

6. Armenian Catholic Church: Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians; Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni (A splinter group from the Oriental Orthodox Churches)

His Holiness, Mar Kh'nanya Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East.

"How is Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East organized? The Church of the East is governed according to the Apostolic model of bishops, presbyters, and deacons. At the turn of the fourth century (c. AD 310) Papa bar Gaggai, the bishop of the capital city of the Persian Empire, Seleucia-Ctesiphon, organized the bishops of the Church in a form which resembled the model developed in the West. He centralized the administration of the Church under his own jurisdiction and assumed the title "Catholicos of the East." From that time on, the bishop of the imperial capital held this office. The Catholicos became the presiding bishop over the entire Church, and his dignity and power were subsequently added to in the fifth century when he received the title "Patriarch". This was done at a general synod called by the Catholicos, Isaac, at Seleucia-Ctesiphon in AD 410. At this synod Marutha, a representative from the Roman Emperor, brought to the assembled bishops the canons and creed of the Council of Nicea, and they were officially approved and received by the Church of the East. Historically, the Catholicos-Patriarch governed the general synod of the bishops. The general synod was made up of all "Metropolitans" (Archbishops) and bishops. The Metropolitans were in charge of provinces, which each contained four to eight bishops. This historic model no longer exists due to the greatly reduced numbers within the Church and the dislocations of its membership. A bishop is considered legitimate if he has been ordained into the Apostolic succession by at least two (preferably more) other bishops who are themselves properly ordained and in full communion with their fellow bishops. A bishop's legitimacy endures only so long as he himself maintains such full communion." (CNEWA)

Rev. Abraham Thomas Vazhayil Cor-Episcopa is currently the Administrator of the diocese, which has nine parishes in the USA and Canada. In addition, there are three Catholic Knanaya communities in the United States. (CNEWA)

The term "Oriental Orthodox churches" is now generally used to describe a group of six ancient eastern churches. Although they are in communion with one another, each is fully independent and possesses many distinctive traditions. The common element among these churches is their rejection of the christological definition of the Council of Chalcedon (451), which asserted that Christ is one person in two natures, undivided and unconfused. For them, to say that Christ has two natures was to overemphasize the duality in Christ and to compromise the unity of his person. Yet they reject the classical monophysite position of Eutyches, who held that Christ's humanity was absorbed into his single divine nature. They prefer the formula of St. Cyril of Alexandria, who spoke of "the one incarnate nature of the Word of God" During the period following Chalcedon, those who rejected the council's teaching made up a significant portion of the Christians in the Byzantine Empire. Today, however, they are greatly reduced in number. Some of these churches have existed for centuries in areas where there is a non-Christian majority, and more recently others have suffered from many decades of persecution by communist governments. Because they denied Chalcedon's definition of two natures in Christ, these Christians have often erroneously been called "monophysites," from the Greek word meaning "one nature." The group has also been referred to as "the Lesser Eastern churches," "the Ancient Oriental churches," "the Non-Chalcedonian churches," or "the Pre-Chalcedonian churches." Today it is widely recognized by theologians and church leaders on both sides that the christological differences between the Oriental Orthodox and those who accepted Chalcedon were only verbal, and that in fact both parties profess the same faith in Christ using different formulas. (CNEWA)

His Holiness, Supreme Patriarch Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians, The Armenian Apostolic Church

In 506 an Armenian synod rejected the christological teachings of the Council of Chalcedon (451), which no Armenian bishop had attended. At that time the Armenian Church was more concerned with countering the nestorianizing tendencies of the neighboring church in the Persian Empire. (CNEWA)

Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria, Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, The Coptic Orthodox Church
The foundation of the church in Egypt is closely associated with St. Mark the Evangelist who, according to tradition, was martyred in Alexandria in 63 AD. Eventually Egypt became a Christian nation and Alexandria an extremely important center of theological reflection. Moreover, monks in the Egyptian desert provided the first models for the Christian monastic tradition, having been nourished by the spiritual insights of the early "desert fathers." But the christological teachings of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, partially because of opposition to Byzantine domination, were rejected by much of the Egyptian hierarchy and faithful. Persecutions intended to force acceptance only reinforced the resistance. Eventually a separate "Coptic" (from the Arabic and Greek word for "Egyptian") Church emerged with a distinct theological and liturgical tradition. From the 5th to the 9th centuries the Greek Patriarchs lived in the city of Alexandria, while the Coptic Patriarchs resided in the desert monastery of St. Macarius. (CNEWA)

Patriarch Paulos, The Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Around the year 480 the "Nine Saints" arrived in Ethiopia and began missionary activities. According to tradition they were from Rome, Constantinople and Syria. They had left their countries because of their opposition to Chalcedonian christology and had probably resided for a time at St. Pachomius monastery in Egypt. Their influence, along with its traditional links with the Copts in Egypt, probably explains the origin of the Ethiopian Church's rejection of Chalcedon. The Nine Saints are credited with largely wiping out the remaining paganism in Ethiopia, with introducing the monastic tradition, and with making a substantial contribution to the development of Ge'ez religious literature by translating the Bible and religious works into that classical Ethiopian language. Monasteries quickly sprang up throughout the country and became important intellectual centers. (CNEWA)

Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East; The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
The Syriac Church traces its origins back to the early Christian community at Antioch, which is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. The Antiochian Church became one of the great centers of Christianity in the early centuries. But the Council of Chalcedon in 451 provoked a split in the community. The council's teachings were enforced by the Byzantine imperial authorities in the cities, but they were largely rejected in the countryside. (CNEWA)

Catholicos of the East: Baselius Mar Thoma Matthews II, Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan; The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

In the mid-17th century, most of the Thomas Christians in India (see Assyrian Church of the East, I) had become increasingly upset with the latinization of their church by the Portuguese. This led thousands of faithful to gather at the Coonan Cross in Mattancherry on January 16, 1653, and take an oath to submit no longer to the authority of Rome. The leader of the dissidents may have attempted to reestablish communion with the Assyrian Church of the East, but in any case this was not achieved. Then in 1665, the Syrian Patriarch agreed to send a bishop to head the community on the condition that its leader and his followers agree to accept Syrian christology and follow the West Syrian rite. This group was eventually administered as an autonomous church within the Syrian Patriarchate. However, in 1912 there was a split in the community when a significant section declared itself an autocephalous church and announced the re-establishment of the ancient Catholicosate of the East in India. This was not accepted by those who remained loyal to the Syrian Patriarch. The two sides were reconciled in 1958 when the Indian Supreme Court declared that only the autocephalous Catholicos and bishops in communion with him had legal standing. But in 1975 the Syrian Patriarch excommunicated and deposed the Catholicos and appointed a rival, an action that resulted in the community splitting yet again. In June 1996 the Supreme Court of India rendered a decision that (a) upheld the Constitution of the church that had been adopted in 1934 and made it binding on both factions, (b) stated that there is only one Orthodox church in India, currently divided into two factions, and (c) recognized the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch as the spiritual head of the universal Syrian Church, while affirming that the autocephalous Catholicos has legal standing as the head of the entire church, and that he is custodian of its parishes and properties. (CNEWA)

Patriarch of Eritrea: Patriarch Yacob I; Eritrean Orthodox Church

Christianity in Eritrea, which is located along the southwest coast of the Red Sea, dates back to at least the 4th century when the ancient Christian kingdom of Aksum flourished in what is now Eritrea and Ethiopia. The kingdom began to decline in the 7th century in the wake of Muslim invasions, but a portion of the Eritrean population always remained Christian. Subsequently the coastal areas were dominated by various regional powers, and fell under Ottoman rule in the 16th century. Eritrea was an Italian colony from 1890 to 1941, when it was captured by the British. It entered a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, and was annexed as an Ethiopian province in 1962. A lengthy struggle for self-rule culminated with the country's declaration of independence on May 24, 1993. At that time the country's Orthodox population formed a single diocese within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. (CNEWA)

A. Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts; Patriarch Stephanos II Ghattas (A splinter group from the Oriental Orthodox Churches)

B. Ethiopian Catholic Church: Archbishop of Addis Ababa of the Ethiopians; Archbishop Berhane-Yesus Demerew Souraphiel (A splinter group from the Oriental Orthodox Churches)

C. Syrian Catholic Church: Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians; Patriarch Ignatius Peter VIII (A splinter group from the Oriental Orthodox Churches)

D. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church: Metropolitan of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankarese; Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios Malancharuvil (A splinter group from the Oriental Orthodox Churches)

These Eastern Catholic churches adhere to the Byzantine liturgical, spiritual and theological traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy, from which they derive. Because of the Greek origin of that tradition, most of these churches prefer to call themselves "Greek Catholic," which was their legal name in the Austrian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and other states of Eastern Europe. Although this term has largely fallen out of use in the United States, where many parishes are called "Byzantine Catholic," the older term "Greek Catholic" is still used in the homeland of most of these churches. The two terms are used here interchangeably. (CNEWA)

A. Melkite Catholic Church: Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkites; Patriarch Gregory III Laham (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

B. Ukrainian Catholic Church: Major Archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians; Lubomyr Cardinal Husar (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

C. Ruthenian Catholic Church: Bishop of Mukaèevo of the Byzantines; Bishop Ivan Semedi (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

D. Romanian Catholic Church: Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Iulia; Metropolitan Lucian Muresan (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

E. Greek Catholic Church: Apostolic Exarch for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite in Greece: Bishop Anarghyros (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

F. Byzantine Catholics in former Yugoslavia: Bishop of Krizevci; Bishop Slavomir Miklovš (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

G. Bulgarian Catholic Church: Apostolic Exarch for Catholics of the Byzantine-Slav Rite in Bulgaria; Bishop Christo Proykov (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

H. Slovak Catholic Church: Bishop of Prešov of Catholics of the Byzantine Rite; Bishop Ján Hirka (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

I. Hungarian Catholic Church: Bishop of Hajdúdorog, Apostolic Administrator of Miskolc; Bishop Szilárd Keresztes (A splinter group from the Orthodox Church)

Learn from the Bible Blueprint, how the church was organized by the apostles!
Find a local congregation of the New Testament church that is organized exactly as the Bible says
30-606 AD: The gradual historical Development of the Papal and Patriarchal Systems of Centralized Church Government away from the organization found in the Bible. 

Edited and compiled by Steve Rudd

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