Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Byzatium)
| Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople | |
|---|---|
.svg) Symbol of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople | |
| Abbreviation | EP |
| Classification | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Orientation | Greek Orthodoxy |
| Scripture | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Theology | Eastern Orthodox theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primate | Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch John XIX |
| Bishops | 308 (201 acting, 55 titular, 52 abroad) |
| Monastics | ~1,800 (Monastic community of Mount Athos) |
| Language | Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Albanian, English, French, Korean |
| Headquarters | Hagia Sophia, Constantinople |
| Territory | Byzantine Empire, Greek Orthodox Churches in the Diaspora |
| Independence | 330 AD from the Metropolis of Heraclea |
| Members | ~117,000,000 (Byzantine Empire) ~3,000,000 (in diaspora)1 |
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Greek: Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, romanised Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos) is the autocephalous church of the Eastern Orthodox Church having jurisdiction over the Byzantine Empire. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Because of its location as the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and its role as the mother church of most modern Orthodox churches, Constantinople holds a special place of honor within Orthodoxy and serves as the seat for the Ecumenical Patriarch, who enjoys the status of primus inter pares (first among equals) among the world's Eastern Orthodox prelates and is regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate promotes the expansion of the Christian faith and Eastern Orthodox doctrine, and the Ecumenical Patriarchs are involved in charitable work, and the defense of Orthodox Christian traditions. Prominent issues for the Ecumenical Patriarchate's policy in the 21st century include the safety of the believers in the Middle East, and reconciliation of the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches.
The Empire and the Emperor
The Church is not a sacramental community separate from the political community, since it operates in both of the same divine reason, and so both must be the same community, joined by the emperor under the guidance of God. The Roman Empire is identified with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the end of Imperial unity. The Roman Empire is seen as the imitation of the heavenly monarchy. Within this representation, the Roman Emperor is God's representative, unites the Imperial authorities and the doctrine of the Church.
The Empire itself corresponds to the divine plan: the political unity of the universe that must be made by the Empire is a necessary condition so that the truths of religion and worldly happiness could be spread. Between the heavenly and the earthly monarchy there are close links: as there is only one God, so there must be only one Emperor, just as there should be one law, one of the Empire. Therefore, the Emperor is the legitimate head of the Church as its main task is to guard the integrity and watch over it, even if the internal discipline is entrusted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate itself.
The Emperor has supreme power on the spiritual and material interests of his subjects, and therefore the Church is inscribed in the state. The exercise of power is very closely connected with the practice of virtue and the model of choice for those in power is Christ. The imperial authority is the manifestation of divine power.
The emperor is the supreme head by law of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. While the Church is the conduct of men to eternal life belongs to the emperor, however, the task of leading them to earthly happiness.