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==History==
Historically, the [[local church]] was a [[bishop]] of a city, with the [[parish]]es within an area in or near that city. This was the bishop’s see. The bishops were required to meet in a [[synod]], or council of nearby bishops, chaired by the bishop of the most prestigious city. The area, of all the bishops at these synods, became to be known as the see of the bishop of the prestigious city, sometimes called a [[metropolia]]. Larger synods were held among bishops of many metropolias, chaired by the bishop of the most prestigious city among them. The area, of all the bishops at these ''supper synods'', patriarchates, became to be known as the see of the bishop of the prestigious city.
===The Five Great Sees ===
The organization of the Church, the five great sees or patriarchates, was recognized by the [[Ecumenical Councils]].
The [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of NicaeaNicea]] singled out three great centers: [[Church of Rome|Rome]], [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]], and [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] (Canon 6). It also laid down that the see of [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], while remaining subject to the Metropolitan of [[Caesarea]], should be given the next place in honor after these three (Canon 7). ([[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] naturally was not mentioned, since it was not officially inaugurated as the new capital until five years later; it continued to be subject, as before, to the Metropolitan of [[Heraclea]].).
Canon 28 of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] confirmed Canon 3 of the [[Second Ecumenical Council|Council of Constantinople]], assigning to Constantinople (New Rome) the place next in honor after Old Rome. The Council of [[Chalcedon ]] also freed Jerusalem from the jurisdiction of Caesarea and gave it the fifth place among the great sees.
This system is now known among Orthodox as the [[Pentarchy]], whereby the five great sees of the Church were held in honor, and established a particular order of precedence among them:
===Moscow the Third Rome or the New Fifth Great See===
Some saw [[Church of Russia|Moscow]] as the [[Third Rome]], and the [[primate]] of the Russian Church senior to the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople. But this seniority has never been granted, and Russia has always ranked no higher than fifth among the Orthodox churches, after Jerusalem. The concept of Moscow the Third Rome also encouraged a kind of Muscovite Messianism, and led Russians sometimes to think of themselves as a chosen people who could do no wrong; and if taken in a political as well as religious sense, it could be used to further the ends of Russian secular imperialism. This may have led to the schism of the [[Old Believers]].
==See also==
*[[Local church]]
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Ecclesiology]]
[[ro:Scaun]]