Early bishops of Jerusalem


This is a list of the bishops of Jerusalem before the Council of Chalcedon, which provoked a schism.

Jewish bishops of Jerusalem

The early Christian community of Jerusalem was led by a Council of Elders, and considered itself part of the wider Jewish community. This collegiate system of government in Jerusalem is seen in and.
Eusebius of Caesarea provides the names of an unbroken succession of thirty-six Bishops of Jerusalem up to the year 324. The first fifteen of these bishops were of Jewish origin. After the Bar Kokhba revolt, Judas ceased to be bishop and all subsequent bishops were Gentiles:
  1. James the Just
  2. Simeon I
  3. Justus I
  4. Zaccheus
  5. Tobias
  6. Benjamin I
  7. John I
  8. Matthias I
  9. Philip
  10. Senecas
  11. Justus II
  12. Levis
  13. Ephram
  14. Joseph I
  15. Judas

Bishops of Aelia Capitolina

As a result of the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135, Hadrian was determined to erase Judaism from Iudaea Province. The province was renamed Syria Palaestina. Jerusalem was left in total ruin, and a new city built nearby called Aelia Capitolina. These gentile bishops, were appointed under the authority of the Metropolitans of Caesarea. Until the setting up of the Patriarchates in 325, Metropolitan was the highest episcopal rank in the Christian church.
  1. Marcus
  2. Cassianus
  3. Poplius
  4. Maximus I
  5. Julian I
  6. Gaius I
  7. Symmachus
  8. Gaius II
  9. Julian II
  10. Capion
  11. Maximus II
  12. Antoninus
  13. Valens
  14. Dolichianus
  15. Narcissus
  16. Dius
  17. Germanion
  18. Gordius
Narcissus
  1. Alexander
  2. Mazabanis
  3. Imeneus
  4. Zamudas
  5. Ermon
  6. Macarius I, since 325 Bishop of Jerusalem

Bishops of Jerusalem

Jerusalem received special recognition in Canon VII of First Council of Nicaea in 325, without yet becoming a metropolitan see. Also, the council for the first time established the Patriarchates. The Bishops of Jerusalem were appointed by the Patriarchs of Antioch.
In 451 or 452, the anti-Chalcedonian clergy elected a rival bishop, Theodosius, who was forced into exile in 453. For the rival episcopal successions after this date: