WI: An Alternate Christian "Pentarchy"?

IOTL, the theory of the metropolitans of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch (the 3 Petrine churches) and the additions of Jerusalem and Constantinople was pushed forth by the Eastern Romans, particularly by Justinian. Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople would become the heads of 3 major Christian denominations (Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox) which had competing patriarchs for Jerusalem and Antioch.

What if things had gone differently and the bishops of other cities gained greater prominence leading to their church as part of the "pentarchy"? One major church in communion with itself was the Church of the East, aka the Nestorians, headquartered in Seleukia-Ctesiphon, split off during the Nestorian schism. Another region with a famous schism was Africa with the Donatists in Carthage. Within the Eastern Roman Empire, other prominent bishops included Ephesus(diocese of Asia) and Caesarea in Cappadocia(diocese of Pontus) which were both absorbed into Constantinople's jurisdiction. How would this effect the development of the early church?
 
I think Carthage has been the most repeated on the forum, given the region's importance and distance from mainland Rome. Could have covered Iberia too. Maybe one for Gaul and Britannia?
 
I think Carthage has been the most repeated on the forum, given the region's importance and distance from mainland Rome. Could have covered Iberia too. Maybe one for Gaul and Britannia?
I do remember reading a thread a while back more or less covering the same thing... but yeah, Carthaginian dominance over the Iberian church would be likely if we butterfly away the invasion of the Arian Visigoths and Vandals as well as perhaps a more lenient ruling on the Donatists, perhaps if the bishop of Rome did not appoint bishops to the provinces outside of Italia
 
Despite much romanticizing, especially by Paradox players, the Pentarchy has never really been a thing: both Rome and Constantinople ended up staking different claims to a leading position, and when the idea was first pitched Alexandria was already in Schism over Chalcedonian Christology.

Now, how early are we talking? The Pentarchy, as noted, is in Justinian's era; but I would argue at Nicaea (325) it was already clear which seats would go on defining the growing faith's tenets.

I think that, with the obvious exception of Jerusalem (which was inserted more out of geohistorical relevance), the criteria for any further Patriarchy to form: it has to be seated in a major cultural or political center (Antiochia was the biggest city of Roman Asia, Alexandria was by far the biggest in Egypt).

So, this leaves the two candidates you yourself stated - Ctesiphon and Carthage. Why were they excluded?
The first, despite being a major missionary center, lacked a certain cultural element - Nestorius went there, but he grew to prominence in Antiochia. And while Ctesiphon had political power, it was the capital of the enemy Sasanids; even in a strongly universalist religion such as Early Christianity, political differences have found their way in as heresies. So, either Ctesiphon becomes so big it can secure recognition before politicization, the city becomes stably part of the Roman world (perhaps when the Parthians fell) or Christianity remains a relevant but minority cult.
Now, Carthage had the cultural and, to a lesser but acceptable level, political relevance to fit. Again, the lack of OTL recognition was from politics - by the time the Pentarchy was declared, focus on the East was more relevant: Rome just couldn't be cut, Carthage could. So obviously, an early declaration could see her make the cut as part of an extended Hexarchy or Heptarchy; but rivalry from Rome will keep her jurisdiction fairly small (North Africa, maybe some Iberia, nothing more).
The same problem applies to any Balkans/Anatolia/Italy seat; as you noted, Constantinople gobbled up various rivals (Ephesus, Caesarea, and I would add Nicaea and Smyrna to the list).

Now, onto the consequences. Averting the politicization of OTL the easiest and biggest change; but if we look at each Patriarchy's background, Carthage's main focus was on rigorism, so you can expect a generally higher opposition to heresy; Ctesiphon would likely offer further insights on Christology, reducing the strong conflux of Rome and Christianity that happened IOTL. Though I don't think it can really make it an universalist Church...
 
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