Eutychius of Constantinople
Eutychius of Constantinople | |
---|---|
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople | |
Installed | 552 |
Term ended | 565 577–582 |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 512 |
Died | 5 April 582 Constantinople, Byzantine Empire (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) |
Denomination | Chalcedonian Christianity |
Eutychius (
Early life
Eutychius' career is well documented: a full biography, composed by his chaplain Eustathius of Constantinople, was preserved intact.
First patriarchate
Eutychius had, so far, stood by the Emperor throughout. He composed the decree of the Council against The Chapters. In 562, he consecrated the new church of
Eutychius, in a long address, argued the incompatibility of the Aphthartodocetic beliefs with Scripture. Emperor Justinian insisted that he subscribe to it anyway. When Eutychius refused to compromise, Justinian ordered his arrest. On 22 January 565, Eutychius was celebrating the feast day of
Arrest and exile
Eutychius was first removed to a monastery called Choracudis, and the next day to the monastery of
Return and second patriarchate
Upon the death of John Scholasticus, whom Justinian had put in the patriarchal chair, the people of Constantinople demanded the return of Eutychius. Justin II had succeeded Justinian in 565 and had associated with himself the young Tiberius, who was made Caesar in 574. In October 577 the two emperors sent a delegation to Amasea to bring Eutychius back to Constantinople.[3] Contemporary reports claim that as he entered the city, a large group of people met him, shouting aloud, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord," and "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace".[3] In imitation of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem (recorded in Matthew 21:1–11 and John 12:12–18), he entered the city on an ass's colt, over garments spread on the ground, the crowd carrying palms, dancing, and singing. The whole city was illuminated, public banquets were held, and new buildings were inaugurated.[3]
The next day he met with the two emperors and was given "conspicuous honor" at the
Late beliefs and death
Toward the end of his life, Eutychius maintained an opinion that after the resurrection the body will be "more subtle than air" and no longer a tangible thing.
Eutychius died quietly on the Sunday after Easter, at the age of 70. Some of his friends later told Pope Gregory that a few minutes before his death he touched the skin of his hand and said, "I confess that in this flesh we shall rise again",[8] (a rough quote of Job 19:26).
Among his pupils was
Extant works by Eutychius
His literary remains are:[3]
- Letter to Pope Vigilius (Migne, P. L., LXIX, 63, P.G. LXXXVI, 2401)
- "Discourse on Easter" (fragment) (Mai: Class. Auct. X, 488, and Script. Vet. Nov Coll. IX, 623); and other fragments found in P.G., LXXXVI.
References
- ^ (Grat., I pars., Dist. XVI, Cap. x)
- ^ The chronology of his life followed by Sinclair (and this article) is that fixed by Henschen in his introductory argument to the Life by Eustathius (Sinclair 1911 citing Boll. Acta SS. 6 Ap. i. 550).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sinclair 1911.
- ^ William Hazlitt, ed. The Classical Gazetteer: A Dictionary of Ancient Geography, Sacred and Profane, (1851) gives only "Theium, a fortress of Athamania, Ætolia, on Achelous fl[umen], n.w. of Cranon;" see also Livy, Book 38.
- ^ a b c d Fortescue 1909.
- ^ Sinclair 1911 cites cf. du Cange, Cpolis. Chr. lib. ii. p. 96, lib. iv. p. 93, ed. 1729)
- ^ Fortescue 1909 cirs Eustathius, Vita S. Eutych., 4, 5.
- ^ Sinclair 1911 cites Paul. Diac. Vit. Greg. Mag. lib. i. capp. 9, 27–30; Vit. Greg. ex ejus Script
Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Fortescue, Adrian (1909). "Eutychius I". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Sinclair, W. M. (1911). "Eutychius". In Wace, Henry; Piercy, William C. (eds.). Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century (3rd ed.). London: John Murray.