title: Church of Alexandria
text: # Church of Alexandria
  
  The Church of Alexandria in Egypt is the Christian Church headed by the patriarch of Alexandria. It is one of the five sees of the pentarchy, alongside Rome, Antioch, Constantinople and Jerusalem.
  
  Tradition holds that the Church of Alexandria was founded by Saint Mark the Evangelist circa 49 AD and claims jurisdiction over all Christians on the African continent.
  
  Today, three churches claim to be direct heirs of the original Church of Alexandria:
  
  * The Coptic Orthodox Church, an Oriental Orthodox church
  * The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria, part of the wider Eastern Orthodox Church
  * The Coptic Catholic Church, one of 23 Eastern Catholic churches who are in full communion with the Catholic Church led by the bishop of Rome
  
  Formerly, also the Latin Patriarchate of Alexandria did so.
  
  