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'''Pentarchy''', meaning literally "rule of five" is from a [[Greek]] term ''pentarchia'', from ''pente'' "five" + ''archien'' "to rule". The general meaning of Pentarchy today is as a term designating the five ancient [[patriarch]]ates of the undivided [[Church]] of the first millennium of her history as "''The Pentrarchy''", which includes the Churches of [[Rome]], [[Constantinople]], [[Alexandria]] (Egypt), [[Antioch]], and [[Jerusalem]].<ref>[https://orthowiki.com/Pentarchy Pentarchy (orthowiki.com)]</ref>
These major centers of early [[Christianity]], founded by [[Twelve Apostles|the apostles]], were looked to by their respective regions as leaders in Church life, and eventually their [[bishop]]s (Greek ''episkopoi'') came to be regarded as the primates of their areas<ref>The office of ecclesiastical "Primate" (first in rank and dignity) comes from occupying or holding the "Primacy" or chief position relative to others, the patriarch of a geographically defined inclusive area of ecclesiastical Christian government in the Church. Ecclesiastic is from the Greek word ''ekklesia'' "assembly", usually translated, "church" in the [[New Testament]].</ref>. The members of the Pentarchy all participated in some form in the first eight [[Ecumenical Council]]s, from A.D. 325 to 880.
==See also==
[[Catholic Church]]
[[Orthodox Church]]
[[Pope]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
[[category:Christianity]]
[[category:Orthodox Church]]