Apostolic Founder Claimed: St. Mark the Evangelist

Only one apostolic founder is claimed for the city of Alexandria: St. Mark. Every denomination connected to Alexandria traces its apostolicity back to him, either directly or indirectly.

DIRECT CLAIMANTS

1. Coptic Orthodox Church – Claims St. Mark founded the church in Alexandria in the first century. – Holds an unbroken episcopal succession from St. Mark to the present Coptic Pope. – This is the oldest and primary claimant.

2. Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria – Also claims the same apostolic foundation by St. Mark. – Shares the same early history as the Coptic Church until the split after the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD). – Maintains its own succession of patriarchs from the same original see.

3. Coptic Catholic Church – Claims apostolic succession through the ancient Coptic line back to St. Mark. – Entered communion with Rome in the 18th–19th century but bases its legitimacy on the Alexandrian succession.

4. Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria – Catholic counterpart to the Greek Orthodox line. – Claims the same pre‑451 apostolic foundation through St. Mark.

INDIRECT INHERITORS

(inherit succession from Alexandria)

5. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church – Historically received its bishops from the Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria. – Apostolic legitimacy flows through the Alexandrian line, not directly from St. Mark.

6. Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church – Same inheritance pattern as Ethiopia. – Apostolic succession is received through Alexandria, not claimed independently.

SUMMARY

Alexandria has one apostolic founder: St. Mark. Four churches claim direct continuity from him. Two additional churches inherit apostolic succession through Alexandria but do not claim St. Mark as their founder.