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

← The three churches

Orthodox churches

Moscow became a patriarchate in 1589; Georgia’s church is independent by ancient tradition (recognised by Constantinople in 1990); Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria are older sees of equal standing.

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

Also in this family: Antioch · Georgian Orthodox · Alexandria

OrthodoxPatriarchs of Constantinople for context
Russian OrthodoxMetropolitans and Patriarchs of Moscow
JerusalemGreek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem

Or: Antioch · Georgian Orthodox · Alexandria

1st c.
St Andrew1st century, by traditionFounded the see, by tradition.
2nd–3rd c.
Gregory of Nazianzus379–381Preached the Theological Orations.
John Chrysostom398–404Preached reform; died in exile.
AIAnastasius I458–478Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.Martyrius478–486Former monastery in the West Bank.
John IV the Faster582–595Took the title ‘Ecumenical’.
Modestus632–634Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Tarasios784–806Led the Second Council of Nicaea.
Photios I858–867, 877–886Challenged Rome over the Filioque.
Michael I Cerularius1043–1058Condemned the papal legates, 1054.
Peter1308–1326Primate of the Russian Church.Pimen1382–1384Primate of the Russian Church.
Gennadius Scholarius1454–1456First patriarch under the Ottomans.
Theodosius1461Primate of the Russian Church.
Jeremias II1572–1595Made Moscow a patriarchate, 1589.
HEHerman1566Primate of the Russian Church.
Cyril Lucaris1620–1638Sent Codex Alexandrinus to England.
Nikon1652Primate of the Russian Church.
DIDositheos II1669–1707Greek Orthodox theologian.
Ambrosius1768Primate of the Russian Church.
Ephram II1766–1771Greek writer.
Macarius I1879Primate of the Russian Church.
Nicodemus I1883–1890Greek Orthodox priest.
Athenagoras I1948–1972Lifted the anathemas with Paul VI.
Diodoros I1980–2000Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Bartholomew I1991–First among equals in Orthodoxy.
Kirill2009–Primate of the Russian Church.
Theophilos III2005–Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

1st century

St AndrewByzantium · 1st century, by traditionFounded the see, by tradition.

2nd–3rd centuries

Gregory of NazianzusConstantinople · 379–381Preached the Theological Orations.

John ChrysostomConstantinople · 398–404Preached reform; died in exile.AIAnastasius IJerusalem · 458–478Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.MartyriusJerusalem · 478–486Former monastery in the West Bank.

John IV the FasterConstantinople · 582–595Took the title ‘Ecumenical’.

ModestusJerusalem · 632–634Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

TarasiosConstantinople · 784–806Led the Second Council of Nicaea.

Photios IConstantinople · 858–867, 877–886Challenged Rome over the Filioque.

Michael I CerulariusConstantinople · 1043–1058Condemned the papal legates, 1054.

PeterMoscow · 1308–1326Primate of the Russian Church.PimenMoscow · 1382–1384Primate of the Russian Church.

Gennadius ScholariusConstantinople · 1454–1456First patriarch under the Ottomans.TheodosiusMoscow · 1461Primate of the Russian Church.

HEHermanMoscow · 1566Primate of the Russian Church.Jeremias IIConstantinople · 1572–1595Made Moscow a patriarchate, 1589.

Cyril LucarisConstantinople · 1620–1638Sent Codex Alexandrinus to England.NikonMoscow · 1652Primate of the Russian Church.DIDositheos IIJerusalem · 1669–1707Greek Orthodox theologian.

Ephram IIJerusalem · 1766–1771Greek writer.AmbrosiusMoscow · 1768Primate of the Russian Church.

Macarius IMoscow · 1879Primate of the Russian Church.Nicodemus IJerusalem · 1883–1890Greek Orthodox priest.

Athenagoras IConstantinople · 1948–1972Lifted the anathemas with Paul VI.Diodoros IJerusalem · 1980–2000Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Bartholomew IConstantinople · 1991–First among equals in Orthodoxy.Theophilos IIIJerusalem · 2005–Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.KirillMoscow · 2009–Primate of the Russian Church.

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

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