Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco
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 Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco | |
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 Coat of Arms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco | |
| Classification | Episemialism |
| Scripture | Holy Bible |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| High Primate | Archbishop of Arciluco and Ecumenical Patriarch Alexander VIII |
| Archbishops | 12 |
| Language | Amathian, Piraean |
| Headquarters | Cathedral of the Holy Apostles, Arciluco |
| Territory | Amathia, Piraea, Amathian and Piraean Churches abroad |
| Founder | Apostle Andrew |
| Origin | 310 AD |
| Independence | 476 AD, from the See of Solaria |
| Merger of | Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco (in exile) Amathian Episemialist Church (1975) |
| Separations | Amathian Episemialist Church Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco (in exile) (1955-1975) |
| Members | 32,895,000 |
| Official website | www.pea.am |
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Arciluco (Amathian: Ⱂⰰⱅⱃⰹⰰⱃⱍⰹⰰ Ⰵⰽⱆⰿⰵⱀⰹⰽⱐ ⰴⰵ Ⰰⱃⰽⰹⰾⱆⰽⱁ, tr. Patriarhia Ecumenică de Arciluco; Piraean: Οἰκουμενικόν Πατριαρχεῖον ᾽Αρκιλυκος, tr. Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Arkilukon) is an Arcilucan rite Sotirian church, one of the autocephalous churches of the larger communion of the Episemialist Church, an apostolic see and one of the four ancient patriarchates of Sotirianity. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Arciluco, currently Alexander VIII, who also holds the titles of Metropolitan of Arciluco and Alikianos and is ceremonially the primus inter pares among all Episemialist bishops, being considered as the senior Patriarch and spiritual leader of Episemialism, a mostly symbolic position with limited authority.
The foundation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is traditionally ascribed to Saint Andrew the Apostle, who was ordained the first bishop, and where his relics where returned, decades later, after his crucifixion. It was granted its autocephaly by Emperor Marcian, and the collapse of the Solarian Empire led to its elevation to the rank of a Patriarchate during the Council of Antaradus. The Arcilucan patriarchs became the main opponents of the doctrine of Papal primacy, proclaiming the equality of all bishops, one of the first major differences between the two sides of Sotirianity. Somewhat isolated from the Eastern world, Arciluco led the theological development of the West and the cultural development of what would become the Arcilucan rite. From its position as the main religious authority of the Empire of Arciluco, the Ecumenical Patriarchate was instrumental in the missionary missions that led to the Sotirianization of much of Western Euclea, and its missionaries also played an important role in the cultural development of the Marolevs, leading to the creation of the Cyrillic script, and of Old Church Marolevic, while the Apsinthian alphabet was adopted as the main religious script of the empire. Growing differences in doctrine and theology led to serious disputes and controversies with Solaria, while Arciluco itself was at the heart of the Iconoclast controversy. The beginning of the Iconoclast Wars, the exile of the Patriarchate and the failed Council of Lenovo led to an attempt by the Pope to assert his authority in the West, which directly provoked the Great Schism, the division between the Episemialist and the Catholic Church. After its restoration and the triumph of Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarchate returned to Arciluco, but it never again regained its earlier authority, with the rise of the influence of junior western Patriarchates like that of Tengaria and Soravia. The ceremonial position of leadership of Arciluco has however been respected ever since with Episemialism, and the Ecumenical Patriarch has often acted as a mediator in the face of church disputes.
The seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch is in the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles in Arciluco, and its main jurisdiction includes Amathia and the autonomous Archbishopric of Piraea and Patriarchate of Nouavanau. It also claims juridstiction over the Archbishopric of All Miruvia, with additional dioceses for the Episemialist diaspora in Eastern Euclea and in both Asterias. As such, the Ecumenical Patriarch has spiritual authority and influence over millions of Episemialists around the world, and he plays an important role in ecumenical matters, promoting dialogue between religions, peace and understanding.
Title
The holder of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is granted the title of "By the Grace of God, in Sotiras, Archbishop of Arciluco and Ecumenical Patriarch"