Eastern Catholic churches are divided into five main traditions. They are: Alexandrean, Antiochean, Armenian, Chaldean and Byzantine (Constantinopolitan). Each of these main traditions are again subdivided into individaul churches which are ranked as Metropolitan Churches, Major Archiepiscopal Churches or Patriarchal Churches. The names of these churches and the number of catholics belonging to each church are given below:
**No information is available about Albanian and Russian Catholic Churches because of the previous communist rule. Ukranian Church with more than four million faithful is the largest Eastern Cathollic Church. The Syro-Ma1abar Church is the second largest Eastern Catholic Church with nearly 3 million faithful. The Latin Church or Roman Church has a following of 880 million.
Patriarch is the head of a patriarchal church. Patriarchates have existed from ancient times. Pope, the head of the Universal Church is also the Patriarch of the Roman Church. Six of the 21 Eastern Churches are Patriarchal now. They are: Coptic, Syrian, Maronite, Armenian, Chaldean and Melkite.
Major Archbishop is the head of a Major Archiepiscopal Church, which has the same structure and autonomy as a Patriarchal Church. The main difference is that the election of a Major Archbishop needs confirmation by the Pope, while that of a Patriarch has only to be notified to the Pope and other Patriarchs. Two of the Eastern Churches are Major Archiepiscopal Churches. They are: Ukranian and Syro-Malabar. The remaining thirteen are Metropolitan Churches.
Syro-Malabar Church was elevated to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church on May 20, 1993 with His Eminence Cardinal Antony Padiyara as the First Major Archbishop.