PATRIARCH (Lat. pat riareka, pafriarelies, from Gk. Trarpaip,m, patriarch, chief of a tribe, from Ireerahr, patria. lineage, from Trarim, patr7.
father apyriv, arrhein, to rule). The name given n -, to ten personage in the diluvian period of biblical history. who are, how ever. supposed by many modern scholars to rep resent traditional epochs or dynasties, similar in character to and standing in some connection with Berosus's list of antediluvian dynasties in Babylonia. See METIWSFIAIL In the history of the Christian Church, the title is applied to the bishops of certain great metropolitan sees of a wider jurisdiction than other metropolitans. The three earliest instances seem to lie directly connected with a tradition of the establishment of those sees by Saint Peter. These ale the three which the First Council of Niexa asserts to be recognized by ancient custom —Rome. Antioch, and Alexandria. After the translation of the seat of empire to Byzantium, thenceforward called Constantinople, that see, which had originally been subject to the Metro politan of Beraelea. obtained first metropolitan and then patriarchal rank, and eventually estab lished a precedence over Antioch and Alexandria, being ranked second only to Rome. To these four patriarchates was added in 451 that of Jerusalem. which was formed out of the ancient Patriarchate of Antioch. The limits of these five patriarchates can only be loosely assigned. There patriarchs had authority to consecrate the metropolitans under their jurisdiction, and to preside over councils and high judicial tribunals within the same limits. After the Greek schism,
and particularly after the establishment of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, Latin prelates were appointed with the rank and title of pa triarch in each of the four great Eastern sees. Since then there have been a number of patriarchs in the East, among the Greek Orthodox (one for Russia created in 1589 and removed by Peter the Great), among the Nestorian and Eutychian communities. and among those who have returned to union with Rome.
Besides the five greater patriarchates, there have been others in the West known by the name of minor patriarchates. The controversy of the Three Chapters (see CHAPTERS, THE THREE) gave the Bishop of Aquileia an opportunity to assume this title. whereupon the orthodox Bishop of Grado asserted an equal right to it. It remained in the former line even after the first bearer made his submission. until Benedict XIV. abolL fished it : that of Grado was transferred to Venice in 1451. In France the Bishop of Bourges at times claimed the title, and Napoleon had the idea of creating a French patriarch. Pope Paul III. granted the dignity of Patriarch of the Indies to the grand chaplain of the King of Spain. and the King of Portugal asked a similar dignity for his grand chaplain, with his see in Lisbon. As a matter of fact, by the concordat of ISS6 which regulated the relations between Church and State in the Portuguese East In dies. the honorary title was conceded to the Archbishop of Goa.