Patriarch Dionysius II of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Dionysius II was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1546 to 1556.
(now part of Istanbul
). In 1516 he was appointed Metropolitan
of Nicomedia
and he was consecrated bishop by Patriarch Theoleptus I
.
Dionysius was designed by Patriarch Jeremias I
as his successor, and, after Jeremias' death, he was actually elected on 17 April 1546 supported by popular manifestations and against the hopes of the Holy Synod
. During his Patriarchate he was blamed for having raised the appointment fee (peshtesh) due to the Ottoman Sultan to three thousand Écus and for the demolition, ordered by the Sultan, of the great cross on the roof of the Pammakaristos Church
, at the time the seat of the Patriarchate.
The more significant event of his patriarchate was the 1546 travel in Italy of the young Metropolitan of Caesaria
, Metrophanes, who years later would become Patriarch. Dionysius sent Metrophanes to Venice
mainly to raise funds, but Metrophanes went also to Rome and met the Pope
. In 1548 these 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. Dionysius was on the point of being deposed, but no actions were taken against him because he enjoyed the support of Suleiman the Magnificent
.
Dionysius reigned until he died. The date of his death is disputed among scholars, and various dates have been proposed, such as 1554 and 1555, but the correct date seems to be July 1556, a conclusion supported by Venetian
documents. He was buried in the Kamariotissa Monastery on the island of Chalki.
Life
Dionysius was born in GalataGalata
Galata or Galatae is a neighbourhood in the Beyoğlu district on the European side of Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Galata is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn, the inlet which separates it from the historic peninsula of old Constantinople. The Golden Horn is crossed by...
(now part of Istanbul
Istanbul
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...
). In 1516 he was appointed Metropolitan
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...
of Nicomedia
Izmit
İzmit is a city in Turkey, administrative center of Kocaeli Province as well as the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. It is located at the Gulf of İzmit in the Sea of Marmara, about east of Istanbul, on the northwestern part of Anatolia. The city center has a population of 294.875...
and he was consecrated bishop by Patriarch Theoleptus I
Patriarch Theoleptus I of Constantinople
-Life:Theoleptus was native of Crete or Epirus and lived as monk beside Pachomius I, who appointed him Metropolitan of Iannina. When Pachomius died poisoned, Theoleptus moved immediately to Adrianople where he found favour with Sultan Selim I. After the payment of the usual fee for any patriarchal...
.
Dionysius was designed by Patriarch Jeremias I
Patriarch Jeremias I of Constantinople
-Further reading:...
as his successor, and, after Jeremias' death, he was actually elected on 17 April 1546 supported by popular manifestations and against the hopes of 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...
. During his Patriarchate he was blamed for having raised the appointment fee (peshtesh) due to the Ottoman Sultan to three thousand Écus and for the demolition, ordered by the Sultan, of the great cross on the roof of the Pammakaristos Church
Pammakaristos Church
Pammakaristos Church, also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos , in 1591 converted into a mosque and known as Fethiye Mosque and today partly a museum, is one of the most famous Byzantine churches in Istanbul, Turkey...
, at the time the seat of the Patriarchate.
The more significant event of his patriarchate was the 1546 travel in Italy of the young Metropolitan of Caesaria
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
, Metrophanes, who years later would become Patriarch. Dionysius sent Metrophanes to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
mainly to raise funds, but Metrophanes went also to Rome and met the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. In 1548 these 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. Dionysius was on the point of being deposed, but no actions were taken against him because he enjoyed the support of Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman I was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the East, as "The Lawgiver" , for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system...
.
Dionysius reigned until he died. The date of his death is disputed among scholars, and various dates have been proposed, such as 1554 and 1555, but the correct date seems to be July 1556, a conclusion supported by 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...
documents. He was buried in the Kamariotissa Monastery on the island of Chalki.