Greetings and Bless'ed Love To All, Not to just blaitently ascert my opinion about this matter but, I think everyone has to a certain degree forgot one important fact. Out of all men of the flesh the man known to the world as Jesus Christ is the Only one of his sons that he has come for. Begotten means "to come for" not "to send". So I personally think that the only Patriarch we can stand under is Christ. He clearly states that "we" are all part of the Royal Priesthood those in the diocese as well as us in the Great Congregation. Christ is the only one of us who has gotten the rules right so far. The Covenant is of Old therefore the rules of the Old Covenant apply with the exception of the sacrifice. No blood slaughter is excepted and burnt offering is not required. Burnt offering is accepted but not required.
In the Psalms of David [110] in the NKJV, verse 4, says:
"The Lord has sworn and will not relent, You are priest forever after the order of Melketsidek [Melchizedek]..." As you know, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of all humanity:
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (Hebrews 5)." Therefore, if the Lord Jesus is High Priest, there must priests appointed and ranking beneath Him. He gave the Apostles the keys to Heaven and authority to bind and loosen sins. This is the Orthodox and Christian priesthood...succession of bishops and clerics.
I highly doubt that you will ever regret reading this book:
http://saint-mary.net/books/The%20Priesthood.pdfThis book expounds and clarifies the priesthood and necessity of the New Covenant priesthood in a simplified and exact manner.
Peace,
haile amanuel