GO Patriarch questions

[Digitonomy]

The recent death of the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria while travelling to Mt Athos raised some questions for me, which I asked in another thread discussing his death over in Politics II. These went unanswered, and I think the questions are more appropriate for this forum.

1. 
   *]Was the patriarch specifically Greek Orthodox, as opposed to being part of an autocephalous church in Africa similar to the Serbian Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc?
   *]Considering the above, was he in a sense a rival to the Copts for the see of Alexandria? Are there any groups other than the Catholic Copts who also claim this, or does the rivalry top out at three?
   *]Whatever happened to the standoff at Mount Athos, where the patriarch of Constantinople ordered the monks out, after they challenged his authority when he met the pope?

 

[Pani_Rose]

I will post this on another forum for you and see if I can get your answers. Irish Melkite and Pilgram where are you?

 

[Pani_Rose]

Here is one reply:

1. The Patriarch was the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, which is an Autocephalous Orthodox Church with jurisdiction over the whole African Continent.
2. Yes. Alexandia is the Patriarchal See of the Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Catholics, Greek Orthodox. The Melkite Catholic Patriarch also has Alexandria as a personal title.
3. The standoff continues as far as I know.

 

[Irish_Melkite]

digitonomy:

The recent death of the Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria while travelling to Mt Athos raised some questions for me,

Digit,

My sister, Rose, has basically answered your questions, I think (she rarely needs the help of others, her appeals to Al and me notwithstanding ). Let me toss in a couple of comments, though, because I never know when to shut up and leave well enough alone .

Was the patriarch specifically Greek Orthodox, as opposed to being part of an autocephalous church in Africa similar to the Serbian Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc?

If you are asking whether he is in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch, the answer is “yes”, although he heads an autocephalus church, as Rose stated.

Considering the above, was he in a sense a rival to the Copts for the see of Alexandria? Are there any groups other than the Catholic Copts who also claim this, or does the rivalry top out at three?

There really isn’t a rivalry. The Copts (Orthodox and Catholic) share a religious tradition (Coptic) different from that of the Greek Orthodox and Melkite Catholics (Byzantines). I suppose one could look at there being two potential rivalries there - one of each tradition, but I think it would be a mistake to consider the relationship among the Churches as one of rivalry. All four of the Patriarchs in question deem themselves to be successors of Saint Mark.

Many years,

Neil

 

[Brain]

From the old article about Mt. Athos

Their spiritual leader, Patriarch Bartholomew, accuses them of creating a schism within the Greek Orthodox church by refusing to recognise his authority.

Well that’s ironic.