This chart follows five ancient bishoprics ("sees") and the churches that claim to continue them: founding traditions, councils, conquests, divisions and today. It does not trace a verified chain of individual ordinations. The earliest first-bishop links are tradition, and the founding years shown are conventional. A division in communion is not a break in the line of bishops.
Jerusalem
The first Christian community, and the setting of the apostles' council in Acts 15. Nicaea honoured its bishop, and Chalcedon later gave him Palestine. Today it is the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Founder claim: James "the Lord's brother" led the Jerusalem church; later writers call him its first bishop.
- 33 The mother church at Jerusalem
- 70 The destruction of Jerusalem
- 325 Nicaea grants Jerusalem honour
- 451 Raised to a patriarchate
- 637 The Arab conquest of Jerusalem
- 2005 The patriarchate today
Antioch (Greek Orthodox)
The first great Gentile church, where believers were first called "Christians". Ignatius was its bishop. Nicaea recognised its old authority over the East. Its Orthodox patriarch now resides in Damascus.
Founder claim: Peter founded the see and was its first bishop (or, in Eusebius, Evodius was first and Ignatius second after Peter).
- 37 The church of Antioch founded
- 325 Nicaea affirms Antioch’s authority
- 451 Chalcedon divides Antioch
- 637 The Arab conquest of Antioch
- 1342 The see moves to Damascus
- 1724 The Melkite division
- 1899 An Arab patriarch again
- 2012 The patriarchate today
Antioch (Syriac Orthodox)
The anti-Chalcedonian line of Antioch's own church, not a new foundation. It keeps the Syriac liturgy. Its patriarch, enthroned in Damascus, counts himself the 122nd successor of Peter in the see of Antioch.
Founder claim: Peter, as for the whole church of Antioch, before the division.
- 512 Severus of Antioch
- 544 Jacob Baradaeus rebuilds the hierarchy
- 1166 The seat at Deir al-Zafaran
- 1959 The seat moves to Damascus
- 2014 The patriarchate today
Alexandria (Coptic)
A leading centre of early Christian thought (Clement, Origen, Athanasius, Cyril). Nicaea recognised its authority over Egypt. After Chalcedon most Egyptian Christians kept to this line, today the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Founder claim: Mark the Evangelist first preached in Egypt and founded the church of Alexandria.
- 49 The church of Alexandria founded
- 325 Nicaea affirms Alexandria’s authority
- 431 The Council of Ephesus
- 451 Chalcedon and the Miaphysite split
- 642 The Arab conquest of Alexandria
- 2012 The patriarchate today
Alexandria (Greek Orthodox)
The Chalcedonian line of Alexandria's own church, not a new foundation. Once a small, mainly Greek-speaking community, it now leads Eastern Orthodox missions across Africa.
Founder claim: Mark the Evangelist, as for the whole church of Alexandria, before the division.
- 451 A Chalcedonian patriarch at Alexandria
- 642 Under Islamic rule
- 2004 Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa
Rome
The church of the imperial capital, where Peter and Paul were martyred. Irenaeus used its list of bishops as a test of true teaching. Catholics hold that its bishop has primacy over the whole Church.
Founder claim: Peter and Paul founded the Roman church and handed the episcopate to Linus. Calling Peter himself bishop of Rome is a later way of putting it.
- 42 The church of Rome founded
- 180 Irenaeus cites the Roman succession
- 325 The First Council of Nicaea
- 1054 The Great Schism
- 1517 The Protestant Reformation
- 1896 Rome rules on Anglican orders
- 1965 1054 excommunications lifted
- 2025 The see of Rome today
Constantinople
Its standing came from being the imperial capital ("New Rome"), not from an apostolic founding. Councils ranked it after Rome. Today its Ecumenical Patriarch is first in honour among the Orthodox.
Founder claim: The apostle Andrew founded the see of Byzantium and installed Stachys as its first bishop.
- 38 The tradition of Andrew at Byzantium
- 330 Byzantium becomes New Rome
- 381 Elevated at First Constantinople
- 451 Chalcedon confirms its rank
- 1054 The Great Schism
- 1965 1054 excommunications lifted
- 1991 The Ecumenical Patriarchate today
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