List of patriarchs of Alexandria

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The Patriarch of Alexandria (also known as the Bishop of Alexandria or Pope of Alexandria) is the highest-ranking bishop of Egypt. The Patriarchs trace back their lineage to Mark the Evangelist.

Following the Council of Chalcedon in 451, a schism occurred in Egypt, between those who accepted and those who rejected the decisions of the council. The former are known as Chalcedonians and the latter are known as miaphysites. Over the next several decades, these two parties competed on the See of Alexandria and frequently still recognized the same Patriarch. But after 536, they permanently established separate patriarchates, and have maintained separate lineages of Patriarchs. The miaphysites became the Coptic Church (part of Oriental Orthodoxy) and the Chalcedonians became the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria (part of the wider Eastern Orthodox Church).

Therefore, this list only contains those Patriarchs who served up until 536. For later Popes and Patriarchs, follow the links at the bottom of this page.

List of patriarchs (prior to 536)

  1. Mark the Evangelist (43–68)
  2. Anianus (68–85)
  3. Avilius (85–98)
  4. Kedron (98–109)
  5. Primus (109–121)
  6. Justus (121–131)
  7. Eumenes (131–141)
  8. Markianos (142–152)
  9. Celadion (152–166)
  10. Agrippinus (167–178)
  11. Julian (178–189)
  12. Demetrius I (189–232)
  13. Heraclas (232–248)
  14. Dionysius (248–264)
  15. Maximus (265–282)
  16. Theonas (282–300)
  17. Peter I (300–311)
  18. Achillas (312–313)
  19. Alexander I (313–326), First Ecumenical Council occurred
  20. Athanasius I (328–373) Served as a Deacon for the First Council; later became Pope of Alexandria
  21. Pistos (336 or 338), an Arian appointee.
  22. Gregory of Cappadocia (339–346), an Arian appointee.
  23. Georgius (357-361), an Arian appointee.
  24. Lucius of Alexandria (365, 375-378), an Arian appointee.
  25. Peter II (373–380)
  26. Timothy I (380–385), Second Ecumenical Council occurred
  27. Theophilus I (385–412)
  28. Cyril I (412–444), Third Ecumenical Council occurred.
  29. Dioscorus I (444–451), Second Council of Ephesus occurred. Pope Dioscorus was later deposed by the Council of Chalcedon but still recognized by Miaphysites until his death in 454. Non-Chalcedonian
  30. Proterius (451–457) Deposed by Coptic (Alexandrian) Synod under Timothy II Aelurus, Chalcedonian
  31. Timothy II Aelurus (457–460), Non-Chalcedonian
  32. Timothy III Salophakiolos (460–475), Chalcedonian but not recognized by Miaphysites who continued to recognise Timothy II Aelurus
  33. Timothy II Aelurus (restored) (475–477), presided the Third Council of Ephesus , that condemned Chalcedon and Eutychian Monophysitism in favor of "Miaphysite" Monophysitism (without mentionning Eutyches by Name) Non-Chalcedonian
  34. Peter III Mongus (477), Non-Chalcedonian chosen by the Miaphysite faction after the death of Timothy II, quickly deposed by imperial authority.
  35. Timothy III Salophakiolos (restored) (477–481), Chalcedonian
    Peter III Mongus (477–489), Non-Chalcedonian
  36. John I Talaia, (481–482), Chalcedonian but not recognized by Miaphysites who continued to recognise Peter III Mongus Deposed by Heraclius for his refusal to sign the Henoticon
    Peter III Mongus (477–489), Non-Chalcedonian
  37. Peter III Mongus (restored) (482–489), Non-Chalcedonian Restored by Heraclius, signed the Henoticon, rejected by the monophysite Acephali faction for it
  38. Athanasius II Kelites (489–496), Non-Chalcedonian
  39. John II (I) (496–505), Non-Chalcedonian
  40. John III (II) (505–516), Non-Chalcedonian
  41. Dioscorus II (516–517), Non-Chalcedonian
  42. Timothy III (517–535), Non-Chalcedonian
  43. Theodosius I (535–536), Non-Chalcedonian.

After 536, the Chalcedonians and Non-Chalcedonians (Miaphysites) recognised different patriarchs.

For the later succession of Miaphysite (Coptic) patriarchs and Greek (Chalcedonian) patriarchs, see:

See also

Bibliography