Cosmas I of Constantinople
Cosmas I of Constantinople | |
---|---|
Church of Constantinople | |
In office | 2 August 1075 – 8 May 1081 |
Predecessor | John VIII of Constantinople |
Successor | Eustratius Garidas |
Personal details | |
Born | ? |
Died | after 1081 |
Cosmas I of Constantinople (Greek: Κοσμᾶς; died after 1081) was Patriarch of Constantinople from 2 August 1075 to 8 May 1081.
Biography
Originally from Antioch, Cosmas was educated and resided in Jerusalem for a large part of his life, earning his geographic epithet. He may have been appointed to the patriarchate out of a monastery near or in Jerusalem.[1]
He crowned the Byzantine Emperor
Cosmas likewise crowned Alexios I Komnenos in 1081. When Alexios attempted to repudiate his wife Irene Doukaina to marry the ex-empress Maria of Alania, Cosmas successfully blocked the move as she had already been twice married. Cosmas resigned or was forced out soon after, as Alexios' mother, Anna Dalassene, disliked Irene's link to the Doukas family and resented this interference.[3] She further pressed for the resignation as she wished to place her favourite on the patriarchal throne, which she achieved with the appointment of the ill-educated Eustratius Garidas.[4] According to Anna Komnene, Cosmas resigned voluntarily on the condition that he be allowed to crown Irene empress first, which he did and then left.[5]
The most important synodal action taken by Cosmas was the condemnation, in 1076–1077, of certain heretical views taken by
He was proclaimed a saint by the Orthodox Church, with his feast day on 2 January (new calendar).
Sources
- Buckler, Georgina. Anna Komnena: A Study. Oxford: University Press, 1929.
- J.M. Hussey. The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire. Oxford: University Press, 1986.
- Paul Magdalino. The Empire of Manuel Komnenos. Cambridge: University Press, 1993.
- John Julius Norwich. "Byzantium: The Decline and Fall". (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996) p. 7.