Patriarch Cosmas I of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Cosmas I of Jerusalem was Patriarch of Constantinople
from 2 August, 1075 to 8 May, 1081. Originally from Antioch
, he 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 monastery near or in Jerusalem.
He crowned the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros III
. He disapproved of Nikephoros' marriage to the ex-wife of the previous Emperor Michael VII
but took no further action than degrading the priest who performed the service.. Later he used his influence to try and convince him to resign as his popularity declined and the empire entered a period of instability.
Cosmas likewise crowned Alexios I Komnenos
in 1081. When Alexios attempted to repudiate his wife Irene Ducaena to marry the ex-empress Maria Alania, Cosmas successfully blocked the move as she had already been twice married. Cosmas resigned or was forced out soon after, as Alexius' mother, Anna Dalassena
, disliked Irene's link to the Doukas
family and resented this interference. 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
. According to Anna Comnena, Cosmas resigned voluntarily on the condition that he be allowed to crown Irene empress first, which he did and then left.Hussey, p. 140.
The most important synodal action taken by Cosmas was the condemnation, in 1076-1077, of certain heretical views taken by John Italus
, a scholar connected to the Ducas family. In a more general sense, Cosmas' retirement is said to mark a period where, between Alexios I and the emperor Manuel I, the Church was moved to a position of dependence on, identification with, and subservience to the state, reversing the greater self-determination the Church had exercised through the eleventh century. John Skylitzes
(continuatus) speaks poorly of Cosmas, suggesting that the emperor selected him for his lack of greatness, writing that after the death of the previous patriarch, Michael VII "chose another, not from those of the senate, nor from those of the Great Church
, nor any other of the Byzantines famed for word and deed, but a certain monk Cosmas sprung from the Holy City, and honoured by the Emperor... although he was without wisdom or taste...."
He was proclaimed a saint by the Orthodox Church, with his feast day on 2 January (new calendar).
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
from 2 August, 1075 to 8 May, 1081. Originally from Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
, he 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 monastery near or in Jerusalem.
He crowned the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros III
Nikephoros III
Nikephoros III Botaneiates, Latinized as Nicephorus III Botaniates was Byzantine emperor from 1078 to 1081. He belonged to a family which claimed descent from the Byzantine Phokas family.- Early career :...
. He disapproved of Nikephoros' marriage to the ex-wife of the previous Emperor Michael VII
Michael VII
Michael VII Doukas or Ducas , nicknamed Parapinakēs , was Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078.- Life :...
but took no further action than degrading the priest who performed the service.. Later he used his influence to try and convince him to resign as his popularity declined and the empire entered a period of instability.
Cosmas likewise crowned Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
in 1081. When Alexios attempted to repudiate his wife Irene Ducaena to marry the ex-empress Maria Alania, Cosmas successfully blocked the move as she had already been twice married. Cosmas resigned or was forced out soon after, as Alexius' mother, Anna Dalassena
Anna Dalassena
Anna Dalassene was an important Byzantine noblewoman who played a significant role in the rise of the Komnenoi in the eleventh century. As Augusta, a title bestowed upon her rather than the empress by her son, Alexios I Komnenos, she guided the empire during his many absences for long military...
, disliked Irene's link to the Doukas
Doukas
Doukas, latinized as Ducas , from the Latin tile dux , is the name of a Byzantine Greek noble family, whose branches provided several notable generals and rulers to the Byzantine Empire...
family and resented this interference. 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
Eustratius Garidas
Eustratius Garidas , was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople between 1081 and 1084. A monk, he was elevated to the patriarchal throne through the influnce of mother of the emeperor Alexios I, Anna Dalassene, to whom he had become an intimate advisor. He was a eunuch.Anna Comnena and other...
. According to Anna Comnena, Cosmas resigned voluntarily on the condition that he be allowed to crown Irene empress first, which he did and then left.Hussey, p. 140.
The most important synodal action taken by Cosmas was the condemnation, in 1076-1077, of certain heretical views taken by John Italus
John Italus
John Italus, also Johannes Italos, Ioannis Italos, Ioánnes Italós was a Neoplatonic Byzantine philosopher of the eleventh century. He was Calabrian in origin, his father being a soldier. He came to Constantinople, where he became a student of Michael Psellus in classical Greek philosophy. He...
, a scholar connected to the Ducas family. In a more general sense, Cosmas' retirement is said to mark a period where, between Alexios I and the emperor Manuel I, the Church was moved to a position of dependence on, identification with, and subservience to the state, reversing the greater self-determination the Church had exercised through the eleventh century. John Skylitzes
John Skylitzes
John Skylitzes, latinized as Ioannes Scylitzes was a Greek historian of the late 11th century. He was born in the beginning of 1040's and died after 1101.- Life :Very little is known about his life...
(continuatus) speaks poorly of Cosmas, suggesting that the emperor selected him for his lack of greatness, writing that after the death of the previous patriarch, Michael VII "chose another, not from those of the senate, nor from those of the Great Church
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
, nor any other of the Byzantines famed for word and deed, but a certain monk Cosmas sprung from the Holy City, and honoured by the Emperor... although he was without wisdom or taste...."
He was proclaimed a saint by the Orthodox Church, with his feast day on 2 January (new calendar).
Sources
- J.M. Hussey. The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire. Oxford: University Press, 1986.
- Paul Magdalianio. The Empire of Manuel Komnenos. Cambridge: University Press, 1993.
- Norwich, John Julius. "Byzantium: The Decline and Fall". (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996) p. 7.