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Questions & Answers

Apostolic Leadership

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Church › Apostolic Leadership

The question

I am Eastern Orthodox. I know the Orthodox world is aware of the possible schism in the Eastern Church. To say I am struggling with this is probably an understatement. What is the Coptic Church view of this? I have always had the idea of all bishops being equal with a first among equals and not a first above equals. I do realize there are differences in duties but an absolute dictatorial situation sounds out of place to me. Saint Peter even referred to himself as co-elder and not absolute ruler. Also, at the first council, he was in accord with the council in which he took part but not presided over it. What are we to make of it?  What is the Coptic understanding of apostolic leadership in the Church?

The answer

Apostolic leadership is vital in Orthodoxy. The pope, in the Coptic Orthodox Church, is considered the first among equals; the highest authority is the Holy Synod, and not the pope. Every member of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church ought to be respected and revered, even if there are differences of opinion. For the sake of safeguarding the doctrine, we must set aside all pride and differences and reach a consensus on important matters. We submit to our highly esteemed patriarch and the hierarchies of the Church. This is God's will, as the prophet Samuel adamantly declared:

"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22). 

The devil tried to destroy the Church through vicious persecutions in the first four centuries. When the Christians overcame, Satan turned to instigating strife within the Church by causing schisms, and this has been his wicked pattern since then, persecutions and schisms. Thus, we must pray wholeheartedly for the Church, metropolitans, bishops, hegumens, presbyters, deacons, monastics, and laity in every Divine Liturgy. We must pray for our clergy, rather than criticize them. 

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2544 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.