1. pentarchy - Noun
2. Pentarchy - Proper noun
A government in the hands of five persons; five joint rulers.
Source: Webster's dictionaryBy the 5th century, Christendom was divided into a pentarchy of five sees with Rome accorded a primacy. Source: Internet
The four Eastern sees of the pentarchy considered this determined by canonical decision and not entailing hegemony of any one local church or patriarchate over the others. Source: Internet
Later, the heads of various national churches became Patriarchs, but they are ranked below the Pentarchy. Source: Internet
Some have held that a council is ecumenical only when all five patriarchs of the Pentarchy are represented at it. Source: Internet
Today, the great majority of Christian churches and organizations are descended from the Pentarchy, and subscribe to Chalcedonian Christianity. Source: Internet