The Patriarchate of Alexandria: From Equality with the Old Rome to the “Shadow” of Constantinople (original) (raw)

This chapter explores the historical evolution and ecclesiastical dynamics of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, from its ancient prominence to its reduced autonomy under the shadow of the Patriarchate of Constantinople during the Ottoman period. The authors highlight how Alexandria once vied for spiritual authority within the Christian East, particularly against Constantinople and Antioch. However, following the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517 and through a series of political and ecclesiastical maneuvers by Constantinople, the Patriarchate of Alexandria gradually lost much of its self-governance. The chapter examines key periods where Alexandrian leaders sought to assert their influence, illustrating the complex interplay of religious and political forces that shaped the Church’s jurisdictional authority and its relationship with other Eastern Patriarchates.