Patriarch of the Church of the East

The patriarch of the Church of the East (also known as patriarch of the East, patriarch of Babylon, the catholicose of the East or the grand metropolitan of the East) is the patriarch, or leader and head bishop (sometimes referred to as Catholicos or universal leader) of the Church of the East. The position dates to the early centuries of Christianity within the Sassanid Empire, and the Church has been known by a variety of names, including the Church of the East, Nestorian Church, the Persian Church, the Sassanid Church, or East Syrian.

Catholicos–Patriarch of the Church of the East
Holy See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
Taq Kasra, Sasanian ruins in Seleucia-Ctesiphon
Location
CountryIraq
HeadquartersSeleucia-Ctesiphon (410 – 775)
Baghdad (775 - 1317)
Information
First holderThomas the Apostle (church tradition)
Papa bar Aggai (as bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon)
DenominationChurch of the East
RiteEast Syriac Rite
CathedralChurch of Kokhe, Veh-Ardashir
LanguageSyriac
This article is about the history of the patriarchal office. For a list of patriarchs, see List of patriarchs of the Church of the East.
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Since 1552, rival patriarchal lines were established, traditionalist on one side and pro-Catholic on the other. In modern times, patriarchal succession is claimed from this office to the patriarchal offices of the successor churches: the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Ancient Church of the East.

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