Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch

The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, also known as Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, the Eastern Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East, Antiochian Orthodox Church, and the Orthodox Church of Antioch (Arabic:بطريركية أنطاكية وسائر المشرق للروم الأرثوذكس, Greek:Πατριαρχείο Αντιοχείας), according to the Eastern Orthodox Church is one of the five churches that composed the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church before the East-West Schism. It is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, and according to the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is the successor to the Christian community founded in Antioch by the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul.
The claim to the Patriarchate is disputed by the Oriental Orthodox Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. The Syriac Catholic Church, the Maronite Church, and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, all of them in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, also claim the patriarchate; these three, however, mutually recognize each other as holding authentic patriarchates, being part of the same Catholic communion. The Roman Catholic Church also claimed the patriarchate and appointed titular Latin rite patriarchs for many centuries, until the office was left vacant in 1953 and abolished in 1964 and all claims renounced.
 
The seat of the patriarchate was formerly Antioch, in what is now Turkey. However, in the 15th century, it was moved to the "Street called Straight" in Damascus, modern-day Syria, in response to the Ottoman invasion of Antioch. Its traditional territory includes Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and parts of Turkey. Its territory formerly included the Cypriot Orthodox Church until it became autocephalous in 431. Both the Orthodox Churches of Cyprus and Antioch are members of the Middle East Council of Churches.
Its North American branch is autonomous, although the Holy Synod of Antioch still appoints its head bishop, chosen from a list of three candidates nominated in the North American archdiocese. Its Australasia and Oceania branch is the largest in terms of area.
The head of the Orthodox Church of Antioch is called a Patriarch. The current Patriarch is Ignatius IV.
==See also==
*Pentarchy
*Eastern Orthodox Church
*Greek Orthodox Church
*List of Patriarchs of Antioch - to 518
*List of Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch - 518 to present day
*Antiochian Greeks
*Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
*Saint John of Damascus
*Saint Joseph of Damascus
*Saint Raphael of Brooklyn
*List of Orthodox Churches
==References==
* “Christian Church to be Filled by a Damascus Preacher” (New York Times, Sept 15 1895)
==External links==
*Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East - Official site
*Church of Antioch (OrthodoxWiki article)
*Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania
*Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
*Antiochian Orthodox Deanery of the United Kingdom and Ireland
Category:Syrian Christians
Category:Syriac Christianity
Category:Arab Christians
Category:Eastern Orthodox church bodies and patriarchates
Category:Greek Orthodoxy
Category:Christianity in Syria
Category:Christianity in Lebanon
Category:Christianity in Turkey
Category:Antiochian Orthodox Church
Category:Members of the World Council of Churches
Category:History of Antioch
Category:Eastern Orthodox church bodies and patriarchates in Asia
ar:بطريركية أنطاكية وسائر المشرق للروم الأرثوذكس
frp:Égllése ortodoxe d’Antioch·e
be:Антыахійская праваслаўная царква
bg:Антиохийска патриаршия
ca:Església Ortodoxa d'Antioquia
ceb:Patriyarkadong Ortodoksong Griyego sa Antioquía
de:Rum-Orthodoxe Kirche
el:Πατριαρχείο Αντιοχείας
es:Iglesia ortodoxa de Antioquía
fr:Patriarcat orthodoxe d'Antioche
it:Chiesa greco-ortodossa di Antiochia
he:הכנסייה האנטיוכית
ka:ანტიოქიის მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია
hu:Antiochiai Ortodox Egyház
nl:Patriarchaat van Antiochië
ja:アンティオキア教会
no:Den ortodokse kirke i Antiokia
pt:Igreja Ortodoxa Grega de Antioquia
ru:Антиохийская православная церковь
fi:Antiokian ja koko Idän patriarkaatti
uk:Антиохійська Православна Церква
zh:安条克牧首