Metrophanes III of Constantinople

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Metrophanes III
Aya Paraskevi
Died9 August 1580 (aged 59–60)
Constantinople
Previous post(s)Metropolitan of Caesaria

Metrophanes III of Byzantium (Greek: Μητροφάνης ὁ Βυζάντιος; 1520 – 9 August 1580) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople two times, from 1565 to 1572 and from 1579 to 1580.

Life

Metrophanes was born in 1520 to a

Agia Paraskevi (now part of Istanbul),[1] from where he took the sobriquet Byzantios ("of Byzantium"). His original name is variously given as Manuel[1] or George[2]
.

In 1546 he was appointed Metropolitan of

Patriarch Dionysius II, who sent him to Venice mainly to raise funds, but Metrophanes went also to Rome and met the Pope. In 1548 this news caused a great concern in a part of the Greek population of Constantinople, with riots and an attempt to murder Dionysius who was considered as guilty as Metrophanes.[2] Dionysius was on the point of being deposed, but no actions was taken against him because he enjoyed the support of Suleiman the Magnificent.[3] Metrophanes was deposed from his See of Caesarea, but in 1551 he was forgiven and he went to live in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the island of Chalki where he took care and enlarged the library.[1]

He was elected Patriarch the first time in January or February 1565

Jesus Christ in the Gospels said do not oppress or accuse anyone falsely; do not make any distinction or give room to the believers to injure those of another belief."[5]

He was deposed on 4 May 1572 when Michael Cantacuzene transferred his support to the young and brilliant

Chios, and he returned to live in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the island of Chalki, near the capital.[2]

After his attempts to return to the throne, in 1573 he was exiled to Mount Athos. Six years later, after the execution of Michael Cantacuzene and the murder of the Great Vizier Mehmed, Jeremias lost his supporters and Metrophanes was successfully restored on the throne on 25 November 1579.[6] He died a few months later, on 9 August 1580, and was buried in the Pammakaristos Church, at the time the patriarchal cathedral.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Μητροφάνης Γ´". Ecumenical Patriarchate. Retrieved 19 June 2011.(in Greek)
  2. ^ a b c d Moustakas Konstantinos. "Metrophanes III of Constantinople". Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. .
  4. .
  5. ^ An Orthodox Christian View of Non-Christian Religions by Rev. Dr. George C. Papademetriou; Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
  6. .

Sources

Religious titles
Preceded by
Joasaph II
Patriarch of Constantinople

1565–1572
Succeeded by
Jeremias II
Preceded by
Jeremias II
Patriarch of Constantinople

1579–1580