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| Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
| Classification | Eastern Orthodox |
| Orientation | Greek Orthodoxy |
| Scripture | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Theology | Eastern Orthodox theology |
| Polity | Episcopal polity |
| Primate | Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria |
| Language | Greek, Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Swahili, Yoruba and many other African languages |
| Headquarters | Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt |
| Territory | Africa |
| Possessions | None |
| Founder | Mark the Evangelist (according to tradition) |
| Independence | Apostolic Era |
| Recognition | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Members | 500,000 – 2,950,000[1][2][3][4][5][6] |
| Official website | www.patriarchateofalexandria.com |
| Part of a series on the |
| Eastern Orthodox Church |
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| Overview |
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa (Ancient Greek: Πατριαρχεῖον Ἀλεξανδρείας καὶ πάσης Ἀφρικῆς, romanized: Patriarkheîon Alexandreías ke pásīs Afrikês, lit. 'The Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa'), also known as the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, is an autocephalous patriarchate that is part of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Its seat is in Alexandria and it has canonical responsibility for the entire African continent.
It is commonly called the Greek or Eastern Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria to distinguish it from the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria. Members of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate were once referred to as "Melkites" by non-Chalcedonian Christians because they remained in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople after the schism that followed the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Mark the Evangelist is considered the founder of the See, and the Patriarchate's emblem is the Lion of Saint Mark.
The head bishop of the Patriarchate of Alexandria is the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, currently Theodore II of Alexandria. His full title is "His Most Divine Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, all the land of Egypt, and all Africa, Father of Fathers, Shepherd of Shepherds, Prelate of Prelates, thirteenth of the Apostles, and Judge of the Œcumene". Like the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, he claims to have succeeded the Apostle Mark the Evangelist in the office of Bishop of Alexandria, who founded the church in the 1st century, and therefore marked the beginning of Christianity in Africa. It is one of the five ancient patriarchates of the early church, called the Pentarchy. The seat of the patriarchate is the Cathedral of the Annunciation, also known as the Cathedral of Evangelismos, in Alexandria.
- ^ "Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa | World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. January 1, 1948.
- ^ "President Lauds Orthodox faith on 100 Years | Uganda Media Centre".
- ^ "Kenya: A Fruitful Land". 4 December 2019.
- ^ "Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa - Construction - Stavros Niarchos Foundation".
- ^ "Ορθόδοξη Διασπορά και Ιεραποστολή στην Αφρική".
- ^ ""Metropolis of Cameroon - Η ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ"".