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Patriarch

The head bishop of an autocephalous church — first among equals in his jurisdiction; no universal jurisdiction over other churches.

A patriarch is the bishop who holds the primaeval see of one of the ancient apostolic churches or the head of an autocephalous national church. The ancient patriarchates are Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem — established by the Ecumenical Councils. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople holds the primacy of honor in the Orthodox world — first among equals — without jurisdictional authority over other churches.