| Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East | 
Coat of arms | | Founder | Apostles Peter and Paul | | Independence | Apostolic Era | | Recognition | Orthodox | | Primate | Patriarch of Antioch and all the East Ignatius IV (Hazim) | | Headquarters | Damascus, Syria | | Territory | Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, parts of Turkey, (formerly Cyprus) | | Possessions | United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Great Britain, Western Europe. | | Language | Arabic, Greek, English | | Adherents | Estimated 750,000 to 1,000,000 People[1] | | Website | http://www.antiochpat.org/ | |
The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, also known as Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, the Eastern Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East, Antiochian Orthodox Church, and the Orthodox Church of Antioch (Arabic:بطريركية أنطاكية وسائر المشرق للروم الأرثوذكس, Greek:Πατριαρχείο Αντιοχείας), according to the Eastern Orthodox Church is one of the five churches that composed the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church before the East-West Schism. It is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, and according to the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is the successor to the Christian community founded in Antioch by the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul.
The claim to the Patriarchate is disputed by the Oriental Orthodox Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Syriac Catholic Church, the Maronite Church, and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, all of them in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, also claim the patriarchate; these three, however, mutually recognize each other as holding authentic patriarchates, being part of the same Catholic communion. The Roman Catholic Church also claimed the patriarchate and appointed titular Latin rite patriarchs for many centuries, until the office was left vacant in 1953 and abolished in 1964 and all claims renounced.
The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch, in what is now Turkey. However, in the 15th century, it was moved to the "Street called Straight" in Damascus, modern-day Syria, in response to the Ottoman invasion of Antioch. Its traditional territory includes Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Turkey. Its territory formerly included the Cypriot Orthodox Church until it became autocephalous in 431. Both the Orthodox Churches of Cyprus and Antioch are members of the Middle East Council of Churches.
Its North American branch is autonomous, although the Holy Synod of Antioch still appoints its head bishop, chosen from a list of three candidates nominated in the North American archdiocese. Its Australasia and Oceania branch is the largest in terms of area.
The head of the Orthodox Church of Antioch is called a Patriarch. The current Patriarch is Ignatius IV.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ CNEWA - The Patriarchate of Antioch
[edit] External links
