Church Hierarchy

The supreme head of the Syrian Orthodox Church is the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. 

He also presides over the Holy Synod, the assembly of all bishops. The local head of the church in Malankara (India) is the Catholicos of the East Aboon Mor Baselious Thomas I. The Catholicos is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch and is accountable to the Holy Synod and the local Malankara Synod. He is consecrated by the Patriarch and presides over the local Holy Synod. The local head of every archdiocese is an archbishop. He is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch and is accountable to the Holy Synod. The archbishop is ordained by the Patriarch and at least two bishops. Some archdioceses are ‘patriarchal vicarates’; the patriarchal vicar, regardless of ecclesiastical office, is accountable directly to the Patriarch.