Patriarch George II of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
George II Xiphilinos or Xiphilinus, was the Patriarch of Constantinople between 1191 and 1198 AD. According to Balsamon, George, during the reign of Alexios I Komnenos
, added one member to the Exocatacoeli
(an office similar to the Catholic
cardinal
in the Greek Church of the time), making it six.
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,...
, added one member to the Exocatacoeli
Exocatacoeli
Exocatacœli was a name given to some important offices in the church of Constantinople, who were of great authority and, in public assemblies, took precedence of the bishops and corresponded to modern Cardinals. Balsamon tell us that they were five and a sixth was added under George II Xiphilinus,...
(an office similar to the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
in the Greek Church of the time), making it six.