Pentarchy

Pentarchy is a historic leadership structure in the early Christian Church, where five major bishops—Roman, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem—held special authority and influence. These five sees were considered the primary centers of Christianity, each serving as a key hub for governance, theology, and regional leadership. Over time, especially with political and theological developments, the concept emphasized a degree of unity and cooperation among these leaders to maintain church order and doctrine across the Christian world. Today, the notion reflects how early church authority was organized and how different regions contributed to shaping Christianity.