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This church, which had always had a strong missionary zeal, has suffered greatly under the heel of [[Islam]].  Also, the catastrophic effect of the Roman Catholic invasion of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade can not be overstated.  That event saw most of the relics carted away or destroyed, and a Roman Catholic pretender put in the place of the Orthodox [[patriarch]]. Nevertheless, in the last hundred years this Church has recaptured its missionary heritage, establishing churches in Singapore, Malaysia, [[Australia]], India, Korea, New Zealand, North America, Mexico, and South America.  The Church of [[Constantinople]] also provides arch-pastoral services for some Orthodox in the U.S. who are not part of the Orthodox Church in America.  This Church was established by [[Andrew the Apostle|St. Andrew]] but was a very small and almost insignificant Church until [[Constantine]] moved the capital of the [[Roman Empire]] to this city and the [[Council of Nicea]] gave the Church there second place after [[Rome]].

This church, which had always had a strong missionary zeal, has suffered greatly under the heel of [[Islam]].  Also, the catastrophic effect of the Roman Catholic invasion of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade can not be overstated.  That event saw most of the relics carted away or destroyed, and a Roman Catholic pretender put in the place of the Orthodox [[patriarch]]. Nevertheless, in the last hundred years this Church has recaptured its missionary heritage, establishing churches in Singapore, Malaysia, [[Australia]], India, Korea, New Zealand, North America, Mexico, and South America.  The Church of [[Constantinople]] also provides arch-pastoral services for some Orthodox in the U.S. who are not part of the Orthodox Church in America.  This Church was established by [[Andrew the Apostle|St. Andrew]] but was a very small and almost insignificant Church until [[Constantine]] moved the capital of the [[Roman Empire]] to this city and the [[Council of Nicea]] gave the Church there second place after [[Rome]].

With the Great Schism, Rome was removed from the [[pentarchy]], and Constantinople was elevated into its place as "first among equals" with the Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem patriarchates (not superior over them).  But according to its understanding of church tradition, it considers itself to have the sole right to declare another church body [[autocephalous]] (or not).<br>

With the [[Great Schism]], Rome was removed from the [[pentarchy]], and Constantinople was elevated into its place as "first among equals" with the Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem patriarchates (not superior over them).  But according to its understanding of church tradition, it considers itself to have the sole right to declare another church body [[autocephalous]] (or not).<br>

Bartholomew I [[Ecumenical Patriarch]], Patriarch of Constantinople and First Among Equals.

Bartholomew I [[Ecumenical Patriarch]], Patriarch of Constantinople and First Among Equals.

====Church of Constantinople Archdioceses====

====Church of Constantinople Archdioceses====