Alexandria a Petrine episcopal see?

[Digitonomy]

From Zenit:

In the East, under the ecclesiastical imperial system of Justinian (527-565), alongside the four Eastern patriarchates (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem), the Pope was included as the Patriarch of the West. Rome, on the other hand, favored the idea of the three Petrine episcopal sees: Rome, Alexandria and Antioch.

Did Peter visit Alexandria at some point, or serve as its patriarch? Or does the term Petrine refer to those sees extant during the life of St Peter? In which case, wouldn’t Jerusalem also qualify (even though it disappeared for a time not long after)?

 

[benedictgal]

From Zenitid Peter visit Alexandria at some point, or serve as its patriarch? Or does the term Petrine refer to those sees extant during the life of St Peter? In which case, wouldn’t Jerusalem also qualify (even though it disappeared for a time not long after)?

Jerusalem was overseen by St. James the Greater, since he was the Bishop of Jerusalem. By the way, isn’t Jerusalem split down the middle between Rome and the Orthodox? There is a Latin patriarch for Jerusalem.

 

[Digitonomy]

Jerusalem was overseen by St. James the Greater, since he was the Bishop of Jerusalem.

So why is Alexandria a Petrine see, while Jerusalem is not?

benedictgal:

By the way, isn’t Jerusalem split down the middle between Rome and the Orthodox?

There are indeed both Orthodox and Catholics in Jerusalem. If I recall, the local Orthodox population slightly outnumbers the local Catholics.

benedictgal:

There is a Latin patriarch for Jerusalem.

There are a number of patriarchs.

 

[benedictgal]

So why is Alexandria a Petrine see, while Jerusalem is not?

I don’t know. I can only hazard the same guess that I posted earlier regarding St. James the Greater. Of course, his tenure may have been somewhat brief since he was martyred early on in the Acts of the Apostles. Remember, too, that when the Temple fell, the Christians were, more than likely, already gone because Jesus had predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.

 

[FrDavid96]

Historically, the principal Sees of Christianity (the patriarchates) held their status (and ranking) more because of their importance in the Empire as capital cities, than their apostolic origins, as such. Otherwise, every town where an apostle first taught the faith would have to be a patriarchate.

I’ve never heard of Alexandria referred-to as a “Petrine” see before. Apostolic, yes, but Petrine I’ve never heard.

Jerusalem was the one exception because of it’s obvious spiritual and historic value. The city had very little political influence as it was not the capital of any part of the Empire, as Alexandria or Antioch were (the old word was “diocese” but that only causes confusion because our use of that word changed many centuries ago). Unlike the other patriarchs, Jerusalem never had any authority or real influence beyone the area immediately surrounding it, and the status of patriarchate is (and always has been) more “honorary” than anything else.

St. James was the first patriarch of Jerusalem, but it was actually “founded” as a Christian city by Christ Himself, so by the principle of “apostolicity” it should outrank every other city, but the Church has never seen it that way.

 

[Aramis]

So why is Alexandria a Petrine see, while Jerusalem is not?

Jerusalem was under James the Just. Peter left to teach the Gentiles.