Patriarch

Oversimplified

• In the Old Testament, the founding fathers of Israel — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (and the twelve sons); in the Church, the senior bishops of the historic apostolic sees.
• One word, two related senses: forefathers of the covenant people, and fathers presiding over the Church's regional families.

Summary

"Patriarch" (Greek patriarchēs, "ruling father") first names the ancestors of Israel — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Jacob's twelve sons (Acts 7.8) — whom the Church commemorates as forefathers of Christ according to the flesh.

Patriarchs in the Church

In Church order, "Patriarch" is the title of the presiding bishops of the ancient and later great sees — historically Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem (the Pentarchy), with others added (Moscow, etc.). A patriarch is first among the bishops of his church but not above the episcopal college; Orthodoxy has no single universal head, holding rather to conciliarity.[^1] See Bishop, Abraham, The Church, Councils, Apostolic Succession.

[^1]: The canons on the historic apostolic sees — Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem (the Pentarchy).