Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

The Church of Constantinople traces itself to St. Andrew, who by tradition ordained Stachys as bishop of Byzantium. When Constantine made the city his capital in 330, its bishop rose to the second place of honour in the Church, and after the schism with Rome he became first among equals of the Orthodox churches. Since 1601 the Patriarchate has had its seat at the Phanar in Istanbul, in the small cathedral of St. George. Its central door has stayed shut since 1821, when Patriarch Gregory V was hanged there.

• Date: founded 330