Church Administration
“And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” Acts 11:26
Apostolic Succession
The Holy Orthodox Church traces its origins to the First Century Church through its unbroken line of bishops going back to the apostles. This apostolic line of succession was divinely ordained to preserve Jesus’ teachings and protect the Church from heresies and divisions. The Apostle Paul warned: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29-30)
For the first ten centuries, Christians were united through five major Christian communities, or patriarchates, each under the authority of a bishop with the title of patriarch: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. The Orthodox Church does not have one supreme leader, or pope. Instead, it follows the conciliar spirit of bishops belonging to holy synods that fall within the jurisdictions of a patriarchate. We do not believe in the infallibility of any one church hierarch, but that the Holy Spirit works through the conscience of the whole Body of Christ. See below for a more thorough explanation and a listing of the current Orthodox patriarchates.
The Ancient Church of Antioch
His Beatitude presides over the patriarchal see in Damascus, Syria with jurisdictional oversight over the Arab Orthodox Christian churches in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, parts of Turkey, and North and South America. He received the degree of Bachelor of Theology from the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology at Balamand in 1978. He then studied at the University of Thessaloniki in Greece and received the degree of Doctor of Theology with Distinction in the year 1983.
His Beatitude, John X
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East
Patriarchal Succession to the Apostolic See of Antioch
Sts. Peter and Paul (c.45-c.53)
St. Euodios (c.53-c.68)
St. Ignatius I (c.68-100)
Heros I (100-c.127)
Cornelius (c.127-c.151)
Heros II (c.151-c.169)
Theophilus (c.169-182)
Maximianus I (182-191)
Serapion (191-212)
Aslipiades (212-218)
Philetos (218-231)
Zebinnus Ozniophios (232-240)
St. Babylas (240-253)
Fabius (253-256)
Demetrianos (256-263)
Amphilokhos (263-267)
Paul of Samosata (267-270)
Domnus I (270-273)
Timaeos (273-277)
Cyril (277-299)
Tyrannos (299-308)
Vitalius I (308-314)
St. Philogonius (314-324)
Paulinus of Tyre (324-325)
St. Eustathius (325-332)
Paulinus of Tyre (332)
Eulalios (332)
Euphronios (333-334)
Philaclus (334-341)
Stephen I (341-345)
Leontius (345-350)
Eudoxius (350-354)
Meletius (354)
Eudoxius (354-357)
Annias or Ammianus (357-360)
Eudozius (360-370)
Dorotheus (370-371)
Paulinus (371-376)
Vitalius (376-384)
St. Flavian I (384–404)
Porphyrus (404–408)
Alexander (408–418)
Theodotus (418-427)
John I (427-443)
Domnus II (443-450)
Maximus II (450-455)
The episcopacy of Antioch was raised to the rank of a Patriarchate by the Council of Chalcedon in 451.Basil (455-459)
Acacius (459-461)
Martyrius (461-465)
Peter the Fuller (465-466)
Julian (466-474)
Peter the Fuller (474-475)
John II (475-490)
Stephen II (490-493)
Stephen III (493-495)
Callandion (495)
John III (Codonatus) (495-497)
Palladius (497-505)
Flavian II (505-513)
Severus (513-518)
Paul II (518-521)
Euphrasius (521-526)
St. Ephraim (526-546)
Domnus III (546-561)
St. Anastasius the Sinaite (561-571)
Gregory (571-594)
St. Anastasius the Sinaite (594-599)
St. Anastasius II (599-610)
Gregory II (610-620)
Anastasius III (620-628)
Macedonius (628-640)
George I (640-656)
Macarius (656-681)
Theophanes (681-687)
Sebastian (687-690)
George II (690-695)
Alexander II (695-702)
Vacancy due to the Muslim conquests: 702-742Stephen IV (742-748)
Theophylact (748-767)
Theodore I (767-797)
John IV (797-810)
Job I (810-826)
Nicholas (826-834)
Simeon (834-840)
Elias (840-852)
Theodosius I (852-860)
Nicholas II (860-879)
Michael (879-890)
Zacharias (890-902)
George III (902-917)
Job II (917-939)
Eustratius (939-960)
Christopher (960-966)
Theodorus II (966-977)
Agapius (977-995)
John IV (995-1000)
Nicholas III (1000-1003)
Elias II (1003-1010)
George Lascaris (1010-1015)
Macarius the Virtuous (1015-1023)
Eleutherius (1023-1028)
Peter III (1028-1051)
John VI, also known as Dionysus (1051-1062)
Aemilian (1062-1075)
Theodosius II (1075-1084)
Nicephorus (1084-1090)
John VII the Oxite (1090-1155)
John IX (1155-1159)
Euthymius (1159-1164)
Macarius II (1164-1166)
Athanasius I (1166-1180)
Theodosius III (1180-1182)
Elias III (1182-1184)
Christopher II (1184-1185)
In 1185, due to the Crusades, the Patriarchate moved into exile at Constantinople.Theodore IV (Balsamon) (1185-1199)
Joachim (1199-1219)
Dorotheus (1219-1245)
Simeon II (1245-1268)
Euthymius II (1268-1269)
In 1269, the Patriarchate returned to Antioch.Theodosius IV (1269-1276)
Theodosius V (1276-1285)
Arsenius (1285-1293)
Dionysius (1293-1308)
Mark (1308-1342)
In 1342, with the city of Antioch in ruins due to numerous battles, the Patriarchate permanently moved to Damascus.Ignatius II (1342-1386)
Pachomius (1386-1393)
Nilus (1393-1401)
Michael III (1401-1410)
Pachomius II (1410-1411)
Joachim II (1411-1426)
Mark III (1426-1436)
Dorotheus II (1436-1454)
Michael IV (1454-1476)
Mark IV (1476)
Joachim III (1476-1483)
Gregory III (1483-1497)
Dorotheus III (1497-1523)
Michael V (1523-1541)
Dorotheus IV (1541-1543)
Joachim IV (Ibn Juma) (1543-1576)
Michael VI (Sabbagh) (1577-1581)
Joachim V (1581-1592)
Joachim VI (1593-1604)
Dorotheus V (1604-1611)
Athanasius II (Dabbas) (1611-1619)
Ignatius III (Attiyah) (1619-1634)
Euthymius III (1634-1635)
Euthymius IV (1635-1648)
Macarius III (Zaim) (1648-1672)
Neophytos (1673-1684)
Athanasius III (Dabbas) (1685-1694)
Cyril III (Zaim) (1694-1720)
Athanasius III (Dabbas) (1720-1724)
Sylvester (1724-1766)
Philemon (1766-1767)
Daniel (1767-1791)
Euthymius V (1792-1813)
Seraphim (1813-1823)
Methodius (1823-1850)
Hierotheos (1850-1885)
Gerasimus (1885-1891)
Spyridon (1892-1898)
Meletius II (Doumani) (1899-1906)
Gregory IV (Haddad) (1906-1928)
Alexander III (Tahan) (1928-1958)
Theodosius VI (Abourjaily) (1958-1970)
Elias IV (Muawad) (1970-1979)
Ignatius IV (Hazim) (1979-2012)
John X (Yazigi) (2012-present)
The Ancient Church of Jerusalem
Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine (known in the world as Elias Giannopoulos, was born in Gargalianes of the County of Triphylia-Messinia, in 1952. He arrived in Jerusalem in July 1964 and enrolled at the School of the Patriarchate, graduating in 1970. On June 28, 1970, he was tonsured a monk, receiving the name Theophilos, by Benedictos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the Great Hall of the Patriarchate.
On July 1, 1970, according to the Synod’s decision, he was ordained Deacon in the Holy Golgotha by Archbishop Vasilios of Jordan, and served in the Holy Church of the Resurrection.
Later, he served as the Patriarch’s Deacon. On July 1, 1975, he was ordained Priest at the Holy Golgotha by Archbishop Diodoros of Hierapolis. According to the Synod’s decision (27-02-1975) he was sent to Athens, to pursue higher education at the Theological Faculty. On February 14, 2005 he was elected and ordained Archbishop of Tabor. On August 9/22, 2005, he was unanimously elected Patriarch of the ancient Patriarchate of Jerusalem, by the Holy and Sacred Synod.
His enthronement took place on 9th /22nd November 2005 at the Holy Church of the Resurrection, in the presence of representatives from all Orthodox Churches, as well as from the Jordanian Government and the Palestinian Authority.
After His enthronement, Patriarch Theophilos III has been actively involved in the restoration of the smooth operation of the Patriarchate and the improvement in the spiritual life of its Flock, as well as in the proprietary stability of the Holy Shrines.
What is more, He made sure to enhance the participation of the Church of Jerusalem in inter-Orthodox and inter-faith proceedings in order to guard both the ecclesiastical order and the Holy Canons of the Church, and to strengthen the international rights and the role of the Church of Jerusalem.
His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilos III
Patriarch Succession of to the Apostolic See of Jerusalem
James the Just - The Stepbrother of our Lord (until 62)
Simeon I (62–107)
Justus I (107–113)
Zaccheus (113–???)
Tobias (???–???)
Benjamin I (???–117)
John I (117–???)
Matthias I (???–120)
Philip (???–124)
Senecas (???–???)
Justus II (???–???)
Levis (???–???)
Ephram (???–???)
Joseph I (???–???)
Judas (???–135)
Marcus (135–???)
Cassianus (???–???)
Poplius (???–???)
Maximus I (???–???)
Julian I (???–???)
Gaius I (???–???)
Symmachus (???)
Gaius II (???–162)
Julian II (162–???)
Capion (???–???)
Maximus II (???–???)
Antoninus (???–???)
Valens (???–???)
Dolichianus (???–185)
Narcissus (185–???)
Dius (???–???)
Germanion (???–???)
Gordius (???–211)
Narcissus (restored) (???–231)Alexander (231–249)
Mazabanis (249–260)
Imeneus (260–276)
Zamudas (276–283)
Ermon (283–314)
Macarius I (314–333), since 325 Bishop of Jerusalem
Maximus III (333–348)
Cyril I (350–386)
John II (386–417)
Praulius (417–422)
Juvenal (422–458), since 451 Patriarch
Anastasius I (458–478)
Martyrius (478–486)
Sallustius (486–494)
Elias I (494–516)
John III (516–524)
Peter (524–552)
Macarius II (552, 564–575)
Eustochius (552–564)
John IV (575–594)
Amos (594–601)
Isaac (601–609)
Zacharias (609–632)
Modestus (632–634)
Sophronius I (634–638)
vacant (638–681?/692)
Patriarchal Vicar Stephen of Doraassisted by John of Philadelphia (after 649–?)
Anastasius II (681?/692–706)
John V (706–735)
Theodore (745–770)
Elias II (770–797)
George (797–807)
Thomas I (807–820)
Basileus (820–838)
John VI (838–842)
Sergius I (842–844)
vacant (844–855)
Solomon (855–860)
vacant (860–862)
Theodosius (862–878)
Elias III (878–907)
Sergius II (908–911)
Leontius I (912–929)
Athanasius I (929–937)
Christodolus (937–950)
Agathon (950–964)
John VII (964–966)
Christodolus II (966–969)
Thomas II (969–978)
vacant (978–980)
Joseph II (980–983)
Orestes (983–1005)
vacant (1005–1012)
Theophilus I (1012–1020)
Nicephorus I (1020–???)
Joannichius (???–???)
Sophronius II (???–1084)
Euthemius I (1084)
Simeon II (1084–1106)
Savvas (1106–11??)
John VIII (11??–11??)
Nicolas (11??–11??)
John IX (1156–1166)
Nicephorus II (1166–1170)
Leontius II (1170–1190)
Dositheos I (1187–1189)
Marcus II (1191–???)
vacant (???–1223)
Euthemius II (1223)
Athanasius II (ca. 1231–1244)
Sophronius III (1236–???)
Gregory I (???–1298)
Thaddaeus (1298)
vacant (1298–1313)
Athanasius III (1313–1314)
vacant (1314–1322)
Gregory II (1322)
vacant (1322–1334)
Lazarus (1334–131368)
Dorotheus I (1376–1417)
Theophilus II (1417–1424)
Theophanes I (1424–1431)
Joachim (1431–???)
vacant (???–1450)
Theophanes II (1450)
vacant (1450–1452)
Athanasius IV (1452–???)
vacant (???–1460)
Jacob II (1460)
vacant (1460–1468)
Abraham I (1468)
Gregory III (1468–1493)
vacant (1493–1503)
Marcus III (1503)
Dorotheus II (1505–1537)
Germanus (1537–1579)
Sophronius IV (1579–1608)
Theophanes III (1608–1644)
Paiseus (1645–1660)
Nectarius I (1660–1669)
Dositheos II (1669–1707)
Chrysanthus (1707–1731)
Meletius (1731–1737)
Parthenius (1737–1766)
Ephram II (1766–1771)
Sophronius V (1771–1775)
Abraham II (1775–1787)
Procopius I (1787–1788)
Anthemus (1788–1808)
Polycarpus (1808–1827)
Athanasius V (1827–1845)
Cyril II (1845–1872)
Procopius II (1872–1875)
Hierotheus (1875–1882)
Nicodemus I (1883–1890)
Gerasimus I (1891–1897)
Damian I (1897–1931)
Timotheus I (1935–1955)
vacant (1955–1957)
Benedict I (1957–1980)
Diodoros I (1980–2000)
Irenaios I (2000–2005)
Theophilos III (2005–present)
The Ancient Church of Alexandria
His Beatitude, Theodoros II
Theodoros II was born on the Greek island of Crete in 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens and holds a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa.
He ordained as Deacon in 1975 and the Archbishopric on 23 April 1978 by Metropolitan of Lambis and Sfakion Theodore Tzedakis. From 1975 to 1985 he served as Archdeacon and Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion in Crete, where he developed significant Preaching and Philanthropic activities (hostels for needy youth, etc.). From 1985 to 1990 he served as Patriarchal Exarch in Russia, based in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, during the tenure of Patriarchs Nicholas VI and Parthenios. Theodoros was unanimously elected on October 9, 2004 by the Synod of the Alexandrian Throne as Patriarch. The enthronement ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Annunciation in Alexandria, on Sunday, October 24, 2004, in the presence of distinguished religious and civilian representatives and a great number of faithful.
The Ancient Church of Constantinople
Bartholomew I is the 270th and current archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, since 2 November 1991. In accordance with his title, he is regarded as the primus inter pares (first among equals) in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and as the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.
Bartholomew I was born as Dimitrios Arhondonis, in the village of Agios Theodoros on the island of Imbros (later renamed Gökçeada by Turkey. After his graduation, he held a position at the Patriarchal Theological Seminary of Halki, where he was ordained a priest. Later, he served as metropolitan of Philadelphia and Chalcedon and he became a member of the Holy Synod as well as other committees, prior to his enthronement as ecumenical patriarch.
His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
Structure of the Orthodox Jurisdictions
Autocephalous Orthodox churches
Four Ancient Patriarchates
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
Rome – No longer in communion with the Eastern Orthodox Churches
Junior Patriarchates
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church of Georgia
Serbian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
Romanian Orthodox Church
Autocephalous Archbishoprics
Church of Cyprus
Church of Greece
Orthodox Church of Albania
Autocephalous Metropolis
Polish Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia
Orthodox Church in America
Autonomous Orthodox churches
Under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Self-governing Monastic Community of Mount Athos
Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church of Finland
Under the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Under the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai
Under the Russian Orthodox Church
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Belarusian Orthodox Church
Latvian Orthodox Church
Metropolis of Chișinău and All Moldova
Orthodox Church in Japan
Chinese Orthodox Church
Under the Serbian Orthodox Church
Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric
Under the Romanian Orthodox Church
Metropolis of Bessarabia
Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas
Semi-Autonomous churches
Under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Church of Crete
Under the Russian Orthodox Church
Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate*
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Orthodox churches with limited self-government but without autonomy
Under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta
Korean Orthodox Church
Exarchate of the Philippines
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Under the Russian Orthodox Church
Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox churches in Western Europe
