Patriarch ofAlexandria | |
|---|---|
| Christian | |
| Information | |
| First holder | Saint Mark |
| Denomination | Catholic,Oriental Orthodox,Eastern Orthodox, |
| Sui iuris church | Coptic Orthodox,Coptic Catholic,Melkite,Greek Orthodox |
| Rite | Coptic Rite,Byzantine Rite |
| Established | 42 (founded) 381 (granted title of patriarch) |
ThePatriarch of Alexandria is thearchbishop ofAlexandria,Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation "pope" (etymologically "Father", like "Abbot").[1]
The Alexandrianepiscopate was revered as one of the three majorepiscopal sees (along withRome andAntioch) beforeConstantinople andJerusalem were granted similar status (in 381 and 451, respectively).[2] Alexandria was elevated tode factoarchiepiscopal status by theCouncils of Alexandria, and this status was ratified byCanon Six of theFirst Council of Nicaea, which stipulated that all the Egyptian episcopal provinces were subject to the metropolitan see of Alexandria. In the sixth century, these five archbishops were formally granted the title of "patriarch" and were subsequently known as thePentarchy.[3]
Due to severalschisms within Christianity, the title of the Patriarch of Alexandria is currently claimed by different churches (two of which are part of theCatholic Church) and held respectively by four persons: theCoptic Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, theCoptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria, theMelkite Patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and all the East, and theGreek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria.[2] Each of the respective churches consider their patriarch as the successor to the original early bishops of Alexandria.[2] The title was also previously held by theLatin Patriarch of Alexandria. The vast majority of the population of Christians within Alexandria and Egypt, as well as almost all of the Egyptian monastic communities, are part of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.[4]
According to church tradition, the patriarchate was founded in 42 AD byMark the Evangelist. It was the centre from which Christianity spread throughout all Egypt. Within its jurisdiction, during its most flourishing period, were included about 108 bishops; its territory embraced the six provinces ofLibya Superior,Libya Inferior, theThebaid, Egypt,Heptanomis, andAugustamnica. In the beginning the successor of St. Mark was the onlymetropolitan bishop, and he governed ecclesiastically the entire territory. As the Christians multiplied, and other metropolitan sees were created, he became known the arch-metropolitan. The title of patriarch did not come into use until the fifth century.[5]
Up to the time of theFirst Council of Constantinople (381) the Patriarch of Alexandria ranked next to theBishop of Rome. By the third canon of this council, afterwards confirmed by the twenty-eighth canon of theCouncil of Chalcedon (451), thePatriarch of Constantinople, supported by imperial authority and by a variety of concurring advantages, was given the right of precedency over the Patriarch of Alexandria. But neither Rome nor Alexandria recognized the claim until many years later. During the first two centuries of the Church little is known of the ecclesiastical history of its chief see, beyond a barren list of the names of its patriarchs, handed down chiefly through the church historianEusebius.[5]
All denominations acknowledge thesuccession of church leaders until the time of theSecond Council of Ephesus of 449 and theCouncil of Chalcedon in 451, which gave rise to the non-ChalcedonianCoptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the ChalcedonianGreek Orthodox Church of Alexandria.[citation needed]
This office has historically held the title of Pope—Πάπας (Papas), which means "Father" in Greek andCoptic—sincePope Heraclas of Alexandria, the 13th Alexandrine Bishop (227–248), was the first to associate "Pope" with the title of the Bishop of Alexandria.
The wordpope derives from theGreekπάππας "father". In the early centuries of Christianity, this title was applied informally (especially in the east) to all bishops and other senior clergy. In the west it began to be used particularly for the Bishop of Rome (rather than for bishops in general) in the sixth century; in 1075,Pope Gregory VII issued a declaration widely interpreted as stating this by-then-established convention.[6][7][8][9][10] By the sixth century, this was also the normal practice in the imperial chancery of Constantinople.[6]
The earliest record of this title was regardingPope Heraclas of Alexandria (227–240) in a letter written by his successor,Pope Dionysius of Alexandria, to Philemon (a Romanpresbyter): "τοῦτον ἐγὼ τὸν κανόνα καὶ τὸν τύπον παρὰ τοῦ μακαρίου πάπα ἡμῶν Ἡρακλᾶ παρέλαβον."[11] This is translated, "I received this rule and ordinance from our blessed father/pope, Heraclas."[12] According to theOxford English Dictionary, the earliest recorded use of "pope" in English is in anOld English translation (c. 950) ofBede'sEcclesiastical History of the English People, "Þa wæs in þa tid Uitalius papa þæs apostolican seðles aldorbiscop."[13] In modern English, "At that time,Pope Vitalian was chief bishop of the apostolic see."
ThePope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa in the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle leads theCoptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, but has resided in Cairo since Christodoulos moved the residence in the mid-eleventh century. His full titles arePope and Archbishop of the Great City of Alexandria andPatriarch of all Africa, the Holy Orthodox and Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist (Egypt,Libya,Nubia,Sudan,Ethiopia,Eritrea and allAfrica) and Successor ofSt. Mark theEvangelist, Holy Apostle and Martyr, on the Holy Apostolic Throne of the Great City ofAlexandria.
ThePatriarch of Alexandria of the Copts leads theCoptic Catholic Church in communion with theHoly See.
ThePatriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, who leads theMelkite Greek Catholic Church in communion with theHoly See, also has the titles ofTitular Patriarch of Alexandria of the Greek-Melkites and Titular Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Greek-Melkites.
TheLatin Patriarch of Alexandria was head of thetitular Patriarchal See of Alexandria of theCatholic Church, established byPope Innocent III. The title was last held by Luca Ermenegildo Pasetto until his death in 1954; it remained vacant until its abolition as aLatin Church see in 1964.
TheGreek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa leads theGreek Orthodox Church of Alexandria. His full title is "His Divine Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, All Egypt and All Africa, Father of Fathers, Pastor of Pastors, Prelate of Prelates, the Thirteenth of the Apostles and Judge of the Universe".[14]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Patriarch and Patriarchate".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "The Church of Alexandria".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.