Of its several patriarchates four reminiscent the pentarchy, while its autocephalous and autonomous churches reflect or variety of hierarchical organisation. |
The Patriarchate is one of the four ancient Patriarchates within the Orthodox Church today C the others being the Patriarchates of Jerusalem, Alexandria and Constantinople. |
Today there are sixteen separate Orthodox churches and patriarchates. |
The Byzantine Empire soon lost the lands of the eastern patriarchates of Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch and was reduced to that of Constantinople, the empire's capital. |