Here is a page of explanation from the Web site of page of St. Anthony's Monastery. There is a little background on Elder Ephraim there as well.

I didn't mean to be taking credit away from Rome. Rome and the Eastern Orthodox Church were one through the first thousand years of Christianity. We still pray for the return of Rome to the Church. Even in the ancient Church the term Pope [Middle English, from Old English pāpa, from Late Latin, from Latin, father (title of bishops), from Greek pappās.] was applied to the Patriarch of Rome. Although the Episcopate of the ancient Church (as today) was collegial—each bishop encompased the totality of the Church—the Patriarch of Rome was called “first among equals.” He had no authority over doctrine but could be called upon to help adjudicate ecclesiastical controversies.

Perhaps the best and clearest introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy is a book by Timothy Ware (now Bishop Kallistos Ware) called The Orthodox Church. Ware was an Anglican layman when he researched and wrote this insightful, easy reading introduction. He talks about Church history, worship, doctrine, Icons and a host of other topics of interest to anyone wanting to learn more about Eastern Orthodoxy.

      - Mark