Primates of the Ancient Apostolic
See of Antioch

The Patriarchate of Antioch:

Founded by Saints Peter and Paul

iiiiiThe most famous scriptural reference concerning Antioch relates that it was in this city that the followers
iiiiiof Christ were first mockingly referred to as "Christians" (Acts 11:26). In the Book of Acts, which offers
iiii an account of the first years of the Church, we discover that Antioch is the second most frequently
iiii mentioned city. Nicholas, one of the original seven deacons was a convert from Antioch and perhaps the
iiii first Christian from that city (Acts 6:5). During the persecution which occasioned the death of Saint
iiii Stephen the First Martyr, members of the fledgling Christian community in Jerusalem fled to Antioch for
iiii refuge.

iiiiiChurch tradition maintains that the See of Antioch was founded by Saint Peter the Apostle in A.D. 34.
iiii Peter was either followed or joined by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas who preached there to both
iiii Gentiles and to Jews, who seem to have been numerous in the city. It was in Antioch that one of the first
iiii conflicts within the Church developed between Peter and Paul. This conflict regarded the necessity of
iiii circumcision for male Gentile converts to Christianity. It was the resolution of this conflict at the Council
iiii of Jerusalem under Saint James the Apostle that determined the direction of the Antiochian mission to
iiii the Gentiles, and the dynamic nature of that Christian community in its missionary outreach. It was from
iiii Antioch that Paul and Barnabas departed for their great missionary journeys to the Gentile lands (Acts
iiii 13:1).

iiiiiThe Apostles directed a truly universal ministry. After spending some seven years in Antioch, Peter left
iiii for Rome. To succeed him as bishop of Antioch he appointed Euodius, who is thus counted in early
iiii episcopal lists as the first successor to the Antiochian Throne of Peter. The multiple Apostolic
iiii foundation of the See of Antioch, the early missions centered there and the active nature of the
iiii community, as recorded in the New Testament, have been a unique heritage to all who trace their
iiii spiritual and ecclesiastical roots to the Antiochian Patriarchate.

iiiiiThe See of Antioch continued its glorious contributions to the universal Church by the numerous
iiii outstanding personalities it nurtured. Saint Ignatius of Antioch for example, is revered as both a
iiii victorious martyr during the reign of Emperor Trajan (early second century) and as a reliable historical
iiii source for the structure of Church life. Ignatius was the second successor to Peter and may actually
iiii have been consecrated by that Apostle or Saint Paul.

iiiiiThe Church of Antioch has maintained a continuous succession in the Apostolic Faith down to the
iiii present. The current Bishop/Patriarch of Antioch is His Beatitude Ignatius IV.

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