Orthodox Church of Constantinople
Quick Summary
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, often referred to as the Ecumenical Patriarchate, holds an honorary primacy among the Eastern Orthodox churches. Its origins trace back to the bishopric of Byzantium, which was elevated to an archbishopric when Emperor Constantine the Great moved the Roman Empire's capital there, renaming it Constantinople. The Council of Constantinople in 381 recognized the bishop of Constantinople's equal rights to the bishop of Rome, and the Council of Chalcedon in 451 assigned jurisdiction over a large area in the Balkans and Asia Minor.12
The patriarchate played a significant role in spreading Byzantine Orthodox Christianity throughout Eastern Europe. While it represents a challenge to the universal claims of Rome, dialogue and rapprochement have occurred, notably with the lifting of mutual anathemas in 1964. Today, the patriarchate's direct jurisdiction is limited, but it retains influence over various dioceses and autonomous churches globally.134
- Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
- Eastern Orthodoxy - Ecumenical involvement
- ecumenical patriarch
- Eastern Orthodoxy - The Eastern Orthodox Church in the Middle East
- Christology - Oriental Orthodox Christology
- Eastern Orthodoxy - The cultural context
- Eastern Orthodoxy - The episcopate
- Christianity - Eastern Orthodoxy
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