Patriachal cross

Early in the Christian era, the bishops of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch exercised certain patriarchal powers over the bishops of their regions. These powers included the right to ordain bishops of subordinate sees, the right to try cases involving such bishops, and the right to hear appeals from the judgments of subordinate bishops. From the sixth century forward the title of patriarch was accorded to the bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. The bishops of these sees exercised jurisdiction not only over their own cities but over surrounding territories and sees as well. The Council of Nicea I (325) acknowledged the patriarchal jurisdictions of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch. The Council of Chalcedon (451) recognized the patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople. The patriarchates of Constantinople in the East and Rome in the West have each claimed primacy over all other patriarchal and other episcopal sees.