Try “Becket”, “Moscow” or a year such as “1492”.

← The three churches

Oriental Orthodox churches

After 451, churches rejecting the Council of Chalcedon parted from Rome and Constantinople alike. Armenia’s church rejected the council later, in 506.

Shown through selected figures; click ‘+ more’ beside a century to see every holder.

Also in this family: Ethiopian Orthodox

Coptic OrthodoxPopes of Alexandria
Syriac OrthodoxPatriarchs of Antioch
Armenian ApostolicCatholicoi of All Armenians

Or: Ethiopian Orthodox

Mark the Apostle, Evangelist and Martyr30–68 · 1stApostle of Jesus.
Thaddeus the Apostle43–66Apostle of Jesus.Bartholomew the Apostle60–68Apostle of Jesus.
Dionysius the Great246–264 · 14thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.
Gregory I the Illuminator288–301Catholicos of All Armenians.
Nerses I the Great353–373Catholicos of All Armenians.
Cyril the Pillar of Faith412–444 · 24thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.
Severus I512–538Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
Komitas I615–628Catholicos of All Armenians.
Abraham975–978 · 62ndCoptic Pope of Alexandria.
Ignatius III David1222–1261Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
John IX1320–1327 · 81stCoptic Pope of Alexandria.
Abraham III1734–1737Catholicos of All Armenians.
Mark VIII1796–1809 · 108thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.
Ignatius Peter IV1872–1894Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
Mkrtich I Khrimian1892–1907Catholicos of All Armenians.
Ignatius Jacob III1957–1980Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
21st c.
Tawadros II2012– · 118thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.
Ignatius Aphrem II2014–Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.
Karekin II1999–Catholicos of All Armenians.

Mark the Apostle, Evangelist and MartyrCoptic · 30–68 · 1stApostle of Jesus.Thaddeus the ApostleArmenian · 43–66Apostle of Jesus.Bartholomew the ApostleArmenian · 60–68Apostle of Jesus.

Dionysius the GreatCoptic · 246–264 · 14thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.Gregory I the IlluminatorArmenian · 288–301Catholicos of All Armenians.

Nerses I the GreatArmenian · 353–373Catholicos of All Armenians.

Cyril the Pillar of FaithCoptic · 412–444 · 24thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.

Severus ISyriac · 512–538Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

Komitas IArmenian · 615–628Catholicos of All Armenians.

AbrahamCoptic · 975–978 · 62ndCoptic Pope of Alexandria.

Ignatius III DavidSyriac · 1222–1261Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

John IXCoptic · 1320–1327 · 81stCoptic Pope of Alexandria.

Abraham IIIArmenian · 1734–1737Catholicos of All Armenians.

Mark VIIICoptic · 1796–1809 · 108thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.Ignatius Peter IVSyriac · 1872–1894Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.Mkrtich I KhrimianArmenian · 1892–1907Catholicos of All Armenians.

Ignatius Jacob IIISyriac · 1957–1980Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

21st century

Karekin IIArmenian · 1999–Catholicos of All Armenians.Tawadros IICoptic · 2012– · 118thCoptic Pope of Alexandria.Ignatius Aphrem IISyriac · 2014–Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch.

Figures are placed in the century in which most of their tenure fell. Source: Wikipedia, September 2026.

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