The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is the highest Orthodox authority in the Coptic Orthodox Church.It formulates the rules and regulations regarding matters of the Church's organisation and faith. The synod is chaired by the patriarch of Alexandria and the members are the Church's metropolitan archbishops, metropolitan bishops, diocesan bishops, …

Melkites view themselves as the first Christian community, dating the Melkite Church back to the time of the Apostles. According notably to Vatican historiographers and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, this first community is said to have been a mixed one made up of individuals who were Greek, Roman, Syriac, and Jewish. Secular historians like Edward Gibbon …