Three Petrine Sees

The Three Petrine Sees, or Petrine Triumvirate, is a model of Church organization during the Early Christian. In this model, the Christian church is governed by the heads (patriarchs) of Apostolic sees founded or related by Saint Peter, being Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch (in that order of primacy) the 3 main metropolitans.

Papal primacy, supremacy and infallibility
Overview Primacy of Peter & Papal primacy Papal supremacy Papal infallibility First Vatican Council § Papal infallibility
Patriarchs compared to popes Papal primacy Episcopal see § Catholic Church Apiarius of Sicca § Appeal to the bishop of Rome Pentarchy § After the East–West Schism Pope John XIX § Life Gregory II Youssef § First Vatican Council Ravenna Document Eastern Orthodox opposition to papal supremacy
Ecumenical councils compared to popes Conciliarity Conciliarism § Modern conciliarism Ecumenical council § Acceptance of the councils To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation § The Third Wall: Authority to Call a Council Ultrajectines
Catholic episcopal councils compared to popes Febronianism Christus Dominus § Controversy The Ratzinger Report
Political rulers compared to popes Gallicanism Patronato real Josephinism Febronianism Cisalpinism Appointment of Catholic bishops § Centralization of papal power Concordat § List Papal deposing power
Existing dogma compared to popes Development of doctrine Second Vatican Council § Objections to the council Cum ex apostolatus officio Pascendi Dominici gregis
Objections and controversy Ecclesiastical differences between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church § Papal authority Ignaz von Döllinger § Papal authority Ultramontanism § Position of other apostolic churches Papal infallibility § Objections Old Catholic Church § First Vatican Council, Old Catholic Union of Utrecht Sedevacantism Josip Juraj Strossmayer § Catholic diplomacy Ultrajectine

According to Catholic and Eastern Orthodox oral tradition, the Apostle Peter set up 3 primary city-churches (later called "patriarchates"), these were: Rome, founded by Peter and Paul (Peter being his first bishop); Antioch, founded by Peter, and of which Peter was bishop for a very short time until he gave up his place to his brother the apostle Andrew and Evodius; and Alexandria initially led by Mark the Evangelist. All three patriarchates have their origin or direct connection to Peter (which was considered Prince of the Apostles), including Alexandria, as Evodius and Mark were Peter's disciples. About Mark, Peter called him "my son".

Background

So that from very ancient times there were three bishops-patriarchs [Petrine Triumvirate] in charge of managing the Churches of the three known continents: Rome for Europe ("the West"), Alexandria for Africa known until then and Antioch for what until that time was known from Asia ("Orient"). However, it is clear that even among them there is an order of primacy reflected in this text of Pope Damasus I (382 AD), during Council of Rome (a regional one), like this.

"1. After all these [writings of] the prophets and the evangelical and apostolic scriptures which we discussed above, on which the catholic church is founded by the grace of God, we also have thought necessary to say what, although the universal catholic church diffused throughout the world is the single bride of Christ, however the holy Roman church is given first place by the rest of the churches without [the need for] a synodical decision, but from the voice of the Lord our saviour in the gospel obtained primacy: 'You are Peter,' he said, 'and upon this rock I shall build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to you I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you shall bind upon Earth shall be bound also in heaven and whatever you release upon Earth shall also be released in heaven' (Mt.16, 18-19).

2. In addition there is also the presence of the blessed apostle Paul, 'the chosen vessel', who not in opposition, as the heresies jabber, but on the same date and the same day was crowned in glorious death with Peter in the city of Rome suffering under Nero Caesar; and equally they made the above-mentioned holy Roman church special in Christ the Lord and gave preference in their presence and veneration-worthy triumph before all other cities in the whole world.

3. Therefore first is the seat at the Roman church of the apostle Peter 'having no spot or wrinkle or any other [defect]'.

However the second place was given in the name of blessed Peter to Mark his disciple and gospel-writer at Alexandria, and who himself wrote down the word of truth directed by Peter the apostle in Egypt and gloriously consummated [his life] in martyrdom.

Indeed the third place is held at Antioch of the most blessed and honourable apostle Peter, who lived there before he came to Roma and where first the name of the new race of the Christians was heard"

While Byzantine church was trying to establish the Pentarchy and see the bishop of Rome as merely "Patriarch of the West", Rome still favored the idea of the three Petrine episcopal sees during this times. This was because there were reservations from the Pope to recognize the claims of Jerusalem and Constantinople of a Pentarchy, specially from the reservatios of Leo the Great with the resolutions of the Council of Chalcedon, in which canon 28 (about see of Constantinople having a patriarchal status with "equal privileges" to Rome) was declared null and void because the reason for its status of power was due to being an important city in the empire rather than have an origin from the apostolic tradition.

For example, Saint Gregory I (Pope of Rome and recognized saint for the Eastern Orthodox Church) in the Epistle XL, sended to Pope Eulogius (Patriarch of Alexandria), reaffirmed the Triumvirate of the Petrine Sees:

"Your most sweet Holiness [Eulogius of Alexandria] has spoken much in your letter to me about the chair of Saint Peter, Prince of the apostles, saying that he himself now sits on it in thepersons of his successors.

And indeed I acknowledge myself to be unworthy, not only in the dignity of such as preside, but even in the number of such as stand. But I gladly accepted all that has been said, in that he has spoken to me about Peter’s chair who occupies Peter’s chair. ...And to him it is said by the voice of the Truth, “To thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matth. xvi. 19). And again it is said to him, “And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (xxii. 32). And once more, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Feed my sheep” (Joh. xxi. 17).

Wherefore though there are many apostles, yet with regard to the principality itself the See of the Prince of the apostles alone has grown strong in authority, which in three places is the See of one.

For he himself [Peter] exalted the See in which he deigned even to rest and end the present life [Rome]. He himself adorned the See to which he sent his disciple as evangelist [Alexandria]. He himself established the See in which, though he was to leave it, he sat for seven years [Antioch]. Since then it is the See of one, and one See, over which by Divine authority three bishops now preside, whatever good I hear of you, this I impute to myself."

— Pope St. Gregory the Great, (Book VII, Epistle XL)

Of these three headquarters, Pope Saint Gelasius I teached, a century ago, that the Roman Church has been placed in the first place, obtaining the Primacy by the evangelical voice of Lord Jesus Christ.

"After (all these) prophetic and evangelical and apostolic writings (which we have set forth above), on which the Catholic Church by the grace of God is founded, we have thought this (fact) also ought to be published, namely that, although the universal Catholic Church spread throughout the world has the one marriage of Christ, nevertheless the holy Roman Church has not been preferred to the other churches by reason of synodical decrees, but she has held the primacy by the evangelical voice of the Lord and Savior saying: Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven[ Matt. 16:18 f.]. There is added also the association of the most blessed Paul the Apostle, the vessel of election, who not at a different time, as the heretics say, but at the one time, on one and the same day, while contending for the prize together with Peter was crowned with a glorious death under Caesar Nero in the City of Rome; and equally have they consecrated the above-mentioned Church of Rome to Christ the Lord and have raised it above all other cities in the whole world by their presence and their venerable triumph. Accordingly the see of Peter the Apostle of the Church of Rome is first, having neither spot, nor wrinkle, nor anything of this kind[Eph. 5:27]. But the second see at Alexandria was consecrated in the name of blessed PETER by Mark his disciple and evangelist . . . but the third in honor is considered the see of the most blessed Apostle Peter at Antioch..."

— Pope Gelasius I, Decretal De recipiendis et non recipiendis libris (year 495)

References

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