The Catholicate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Introduction — The word 'Catholicos' means "the general head" or "general bishop". It can be considered as equivalent to "universal Bishop". This title and rank is much more ancient than the title Patriarch in the church. In the ministry of the early church there were only three ranks: Episcopos (Bishop), Priest and Deacon. By the end of the third century certain bishops of important cities gained pre-eminence and came to be known as Metropolitans. The same rank in the Churches outside the Roman Empire was called Catholicos. There were three ancient Catholicates: the Catholicate of the East (Persia), the Catholicate of Armenia and the Catholicate of Georgia.