Who was the eastern orthodox church leader or authority?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as a Western Orthodox Church. The leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church (in either the East or the West) is called a Patriarch or an Archbishop. There is no one leader, such as the pope in the West, but each country or region has its own leader.

Answer 2

There are fourteen/fifteen "Autocephalous" Orthodox Churches. Depending on who you talk to.... "Autocephalous" means, basically, "self-ruling." So, each of these fourteen/fifteen Churches (1. The Patriarchate of Constantinople; 2. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem; 3. The Patriarchate of Antioch; 4. The Patriarchate of Alexandria; 5. The Patriarchate of Russia; 6. The Patriarchate of Romania; 7. The Patriarchate of Bulgaria; 8. The Patriarchate of Georgia; 9. The Patriarchate of Serbia; 10. The Orthodox Church of Greece; 11. The Orthodox Church of Poland; 12. The Orthodox Church of Czechoslovakia; 13. The Orthodox Church of Cyprus; 14. The Orthodox Church of Albania; 15. The Orthodox Church in America - recognized by the Churches of Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, & Poland as an "Autocephalous Church," and NOT recognized as such by the Churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Serbia, Albania) has its own leader.

Many people seem to think that the Patriarch of Constantinople is the "leader of the Orthodox." The Patriarchate of Constantinople is very fond of spreading that opinion every chance it can get. But, the Patriarch of Constantinople is one of the smaller Churches within Eastern Orthodoxy, and is "leader" only of his own rather small Church, and no other. The Patriarch of Constantinople is known as "the First among Equals," of all Orthodox Bishops. This title is one of HONOR only, it carries absolutely no jurisdictional powers overs the other Orthodox Churches. One reason this question comes up again and again is because the Western media is ignorant of how Eastern Orthodoxy is structured, and the Western mindset simply cannot seem to accept such a large "organization" as the Eastern Orthodox Church as NOT having "leader." While the Patriarch of Constantinople would be more than glad (and attempts to do so continuously, by any means at his disposal...) to be, not simply "the leader of Orthodoxy," but an"infallible Orthodox Pope," this wish will not "come true." The Church of Constantinople is headquartered in a country where it has nolegalrights whatsoever; the Turkish Government has rights of approval over who gets elected as Patriarch of Constantinople; it is not a dynamic Church, but a slowly dying Church. Many in its area of largest jurisdiction-North America-are themselves eager to have their own Autocephalous Church, and "get out from under Constantinople." If the Patriarchate of Constantinople was as interested in the Orthodox Church and Faith as it is in falsely aggrandizing its own status, ecumenical issues, the environment, Greek language, Greek politics (while complaining about the interference of the Turkish government, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, at different periods in its history, has been little more than a department of the Greek government itself-for example, under the Patriarchate of Meletios Metaxakis), interfering in the the internal affairs of other Orthodox Churches- especially the Church of Russia, and spreading its jurisdiction over all the Orthodox outside of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, there would not be such "bad feelings" pointed towards it. Also, the Patriarchate of Constantinople bemoans religious persecution against it by the Turkish government, while freely engaging in religious persecution of dissident monks on Mount Athos! The Eastern Orthodox rejected the Pope nearly 1,000 years ago-they do not want another claimant to "universal jurisdiction and authority."

Answer 3

Yes, he is Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.

Answer 4

Even though there are different patriarchs for the 12 branches of The Orthodox Church, The Ecumenical Patriarch is currently Bartholomew I .

Answer 5

The Ecumenical Patriarch is the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Answer 6

They are under the authority of different Patriarchs.