Patriarch Anthimus II of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Anthimus II was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for a few months in 1623.
to a noble and rich family. Before he was elected as Patriarch of Constantinople he was Metropolitan of Adrianople.
His short reign has to be considered in the context of the clash between the pro-Calvinist Patriarch Cyril Lucaris
, supported by the Dutch
and English
ambassador
s, and his opponents supported by the French
, Austrian
and Venetian
ambassadors to the Ottoman capital. The latter were successful at persuading the Grand Vizier
to depose Cyril Lucaris on 12 April 1623 and to appoint in his place the blind and old Gregory IV. The Metropolitans
and the bishops were unsatisfied with Gregory IV because he had not been canonically elected by the Holy Synod
. Thus on 18 June 1623 the Holy Synod deposed Gregory IV and formally elected Anthimus II as Patriarch of Constantinople.
Anthimus II, even if politically supported by the Catholic governments, remained a strong and good Orthodox. He sent metropolitans to Rhodes
, where Lucaris was temporarily exiled, to persuade him to retire to Mount Athos
, but without success. On the contrary, Lucaris, thanks to the Calvinist Dutch ambassador, returned to Constantinople and produced false instruments of credit for 20,000 Livres
on the Patriarchate. Anthimus could not find such large amount and was forced to abdicate on 22 September 1623. Subsequently Lucaris returned on the patriarchal throne for the third time.
After his resignation, Anthimus retired on Mount Athos
where he died in 1628.
Life
Anthimus was born in ConstantinopleIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to a noble and rich family. Before he was elected as Patriarch of Constantinople he was Metropolitan of Adrianople.
His short reign has to be considered in the context of the clash between the pro-Calvinist Patriarch Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris
Cyril Lucaris born Constantine Lukaris or Loucaris was a Greek prelate and theologian, and a native of Candia, Crete . He later became the Greek Patriarch of Alexandria as Cyril III and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as Cyril I...
, supported by the Dutch
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and English
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s, and his opponents supported by the French
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
, Austrian
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
and Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
ambassadors to the Ottoman capital. The latter were successful at persuading the Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
to depose Cyril Lucaris on 12 April 1623 and to appoint in his place the blind and old Gregory IV. The Metropolitans
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
and the bishops were unsatisfied with Gregory IV because he had not been canonically elected by the Holy Synod
Holy Synod
In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod...
. Thus on 18 June 1623 the Holy Synod deposed Gregory IV and formally elected Anthimus II as Patriarch of Constantinople.
Anthimus II, even if politically supported by the Catholic governments, remained a strong and good Orthodox. He sent metropolitans to Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, where Lucaris was temporarily exiled, to persuade him to retire to Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
, but without success. On the contrary, Lucaris, thanks to the Calvinist Dutch ambassador, returned to Constantinople and produced false instruments of credit for 20,000 Livres
Livre tournois
The livre tournois |pound]]) was:#one of numerous currencies used in France in the Middle Ages; and#a unit of account used in France in the Middle Ages and the early modern period.-Circulating currency:...
on the Patriarchate. Anthimus could not find such large amount and was forced to abdicate on 22 September 1623. Subsequently Lucaris returned on the patriarchal throne for the third time.
After his resignation, Anthimus retired on Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
where he died in 1628.