Establishment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1461 Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople

armenian church adjacent patriarchal residence in istanbul

during byzantine period, armenian apostolic church had not been allowed operate in constantinople because 2 churches [armenian church , orthodox church] mutually regarded each other heretical. schism rooted in rejection of council of chalcedon oriental orthodox churches, of armenian church part, while byzantine church , rest of eastern orthodoxy had accepted.

after conquering constantinople, ottoman empire allowed greek orthodox patriarchate of constantinople stay in city. sultan mehmed ii asked armenians establish own church in new ottoman capital, part of millet system. on armenian patriarchate of constantinople acted superior religious institution in ottoman empire, standing on armenian catholicos. short period, syriac orthodox church placed under jurisdiction of armenian patriarchate.

the first armenian patriarch of constantinople hovakim i, @ time metropolitan of bursa. in 1461, brought constantinople sultan mehmed ii , established armenian patriarch of constantinople. hovakim recognized religious , secular leader of armenians in ottoman empire, , carried title of milletbaşı or ethnarch patriarch.

there have been 84 individual patriarchs since establishment of patriarchate:

75 patriarchs during ottoman period (1461-1908)
4 patriarchs in young turks period (1908–1922)
5 patriarchs in current secular republic of turkey (1923–present)