[Cronos]

You're incorrect -- the "Eastern Orthodox" claim that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is "primus inter pares."

No, ask any of the Eastern Orthodox, they will tell you that the primus inter pares is the Pope and the second is the EP. However, since the schism, they don't meet with the Pope, so the Patriarch who occupies the next position of respect has the highest position of respect.

[Poe White Trash]

No, ask any of the Eastern Orthodox, they will tell you that the primus inter pares is the Pope and the second is the EP. However, since the schism, they don't meet with the Pope, so the Patriarch who occupies the next position of respect has the highest position of respect.

More correctly, according to the Eastern Orthodox position the primus inter pares would be the Bishop of Rome IF the two churches were not in schism and IF the Bishop of Rome were to give up his claims to extra-special status: Vicar of Christ, etc.

The primus inter pares certainly WAS the Bishop of Rome BEFORE 1054, although you could qualify the matter further because there was a lot of haggling over what the content of the status was, not to mention the existence of schisms before 1054. But you know this.